Company CDL Training Programs With Short After-graduation Contract Times?

Richard,

I have a few questions, and I am really trying to be helpful. I feel as if you haven't really researched this business very well. 1. How old are you? 2. How long have you been in the workforce? 3. How many different jobs have you had? 4. What do you currently do for a living? 5. What is your current hourly pay/ annual salary? 6. How many hours per week do you work? 7. Did your current job require any specific training or schooling?

A little about me. I am 56 years old and have been in the workforce for 41 years, most of it in the residential construction industry. It is hard physical work. The MOST I have ever earned in this business was $39000.00 a year. That was as a Production Coordinator for a large sub contractor. I had about 10 years of experience when I got that job.

I know what hard work is. I know how to work 10 hours a day, 6 days a week in 100 degree weather. I'm getting older Richard, its hard to work those hours climbing ladders, bending, lifting, crawling in tight places, etc.

I know it is possible to make a decent living in the trucking business with hard work. But first I have to LEARN the business and PROVE myself before anyone will pay me "Big Bucks" driving a truck. I have chosen to go with Swift and their Company Training. They GIVE me my tuition interest free. If I am GOOD ENOUGH, they will hire me for 30cpm to start. They will take $37.50 per week out of my paycheck for 13 months to pay them back $1950.00 (1/2 of the $3900.00 they lent me interest free). At this point, I have fulfilled my contractual obligation to them. They paid the other $1950.00 for me! By the end of my SECOND year in the business, IF i'm worth a s#!t at it, I have the potential to make upwards of $50000.00. That is more than I have ever made in my life busting my A$$ in construction for 20+ YEARS. Sounds REAL GOOD to me. That is my reality check for the day.

You REALLY need to read BRETTS BOOK available on this site. It will give you an insight to the nuts and bolts of the Trucking Business. It's not for everyone Richard, BUT I think it's for me.

Tractor Man

By the way, I forgot to answer your question on starting pay at .48cpm. NO, you will not get that as a rookie. Here's the math on that. 2500 miles per week x 50 weeks x .48cpm = $60000.00 per year. That would be nice! BUT, if you BUST A$$, totally achievable by year 2-3. By the way, where I come from that is SERIOUS money for a guy with a High School education. It's all a matter of perspective.

I have a question for you Tractor man. What does the OP's age have to do with anything? And before you get started with a post about the older the wiser the more experience type stuff, I'm 22 years old out here doing the same thing as everyone else. Not all young people are ignorant or self entitled little *******s, i would say just about 95% are.

Not a knock on age Nathan. Don,t take it personally. I would assume that you have read this entire thread. Richard seems to want something for nothing. You don't sound like that guy. Yes, Older and Wiser. I have been working almost twice as long as you have been alive, not a knock, just a fact. We learn from our successes and FAILURES! I have plenty of both. Richard seems to think that he can start at the top with no investment of either time or experience. Again that does not sound like you. You started at the bottom and are working your way up in your early 20's. I am going to start at the bottom and work my way up in my mid 50's. His age was only one of 7 questions that I posed to him, then followed up with some of my stats. I'm trying to get the big picture from him so people on this Forum can help him to see if this career is for him, or if his expectations don't match up with reality. That's all. Keep working hard, save lots of money, and you won't end up like this Old Man trying to catch up on the money HE DIDN'T save in his 20's and 30's

Not a knock on age Nathan. Don,t take it personally. I would assume that you have read this entire thread. Richard seems to want something for nothing. You don't sound like that guy. Yes, Older and Wiser. I have been working almost twice as long as you have been alive, not a knock, just a fact. We learn from our successes and FAILURES! I have plenty of both. Richard seems to think that he can start at the top with no investment of either time or experience. Again that does not sound like you. You started at the bottom and are working your way up in your early 20's. I am going to start at the bottom and work my way up in my mid 50's. His age was only one of 7 questions that I posed to him, then followed up with some of my stats. I'm trying to get the big picture from him so people on this Forum can help him to see if this career is for him, or if his expectations don't match up with reality. That's all. Keep working hard, save lots of money, and you won't end up like this Old Man trying to catch up on the money HE DIDN'T save in his 20's and 30's

Haha completely agree with you, I've read this whole post and I'm guessing the OP will not be showing back up here. I was just stating, some people just never grow up even if their age is older.

By the way Nathan, you said 95% of your peers are self entitled little ********s, not me. I was thinking more along the lines of 75. Keep up the good work and stay in that ELITE 5%

Agreed. I've been accused of being 56 goin' on 13 quite a few times!

Ok, the first numbers I pulled out of my ... er ... head. I just checked two early Swift paycheck details. Most are .33, and one each of .35 & .42 for variety. (Those weekly paychecks were $722.03 and $854.85 gross, not take home.)

That's after about 5 weeks of OTR road training, when I was making an average $500/week being paid for my duty and driving hours.

As for hiring on without experience, that's easy. Suppose you buy your own schooling (so you're not tied to one company). Look for the key words "recent grads". But don't try to keep the hiring bonus (which could pay your tuition off), because you'll be under a contract for several months if you take it.

Ok, thanks for advice

Ok, the first numbers I pulled out of my ... er ... head. I just checked two early Swift paycheck details. Most are .33, and one each of .35 & .42 for variety. (Those weekly paychecks were $722.03 and $854.85 gross, not take home.)

That's after about 5 weeks of OTR road training, when I was making an average $500/week being paid for my duty and driving hours.

As for hiring on without experience, that's easy. Suppose you buy your own schooling (so you're not tied to one company). Look for the key words "recent grads". But don't try to keep the hiring bonus (which could pay your tuition off), because you'll be under a contract for several months if you take it.

Tractor Man (wish I knew your real name), I am 32, in a process of completely changing my career. It's not about getting something for nothing, it's a question of is it worth it or not. I have a specific goal, so I am willing to work hard, extremely hard if needed, but I need to know the effort/return relation and the optimal way of doing things before I make a decision. I must consider all factors

Not a knock on age Nathan. Don,t take it personally. I would assume that you have read this entire thread. Richard seems to want something for nothing. You don't sound like that guy. Yes, Older and Wiser. I have been working almost twice as long as you have been alive, not a knock, just a fact. We learn from our successes and FAILURES! I have plenty of both. Richard seems to think that he can start at the top with no investment of either time or experience. Again that does not sound like you. You started at the bottom and are working your way up in your early 20's. I am going to start at the bottom and work my way up in my mid 50's. His age was only one of 7 questions that I posed to him, then followed up with some of my stats. I'm trying to get the big picture from him so people on this Forum can help him to see if this career is for him, or if his expectations don't match up with reality. That's all. Keep working hard, save lots of money, and you won't end up like this Old Man trying to catch up on the money HE DIDN'T save in his 20's and 30's