Just A Few Questions

First thanks to Brett for creating such an awesome site/forum for a very much slept on career/industry.

Secondly thanks to the many driver's, retired, current, and future, for the many sacrifices you've made to serve this country.I have mad respect for the profession. Without you our country would not survive.

Now to the purpose of this. I am looking to move into this career, looking to better my family life. Plus I have always thought truckers were kool. I am leaning towards appling to Roehl, Prime and Western Xpress. I have read thru a few threads on here and enjoyed them and just wanted some more information regarding training. From what i read Roehl takes about a month to get you a start date for class, Prime is ASAP ,and im not sure about Western. Which all work for me. I ready to dive in head 1st. My main question is about training pay. Although anything is better than nothing i still have a family that depends on my income. So anyone can give insight on the following (i do plan to go company sponsored training ) : how dies Roehl and Prime pay? I know that prime only offers a 200$advance which is fine just want to know how it accessed. And what is the training pay for Western Xpress. Their site isn't to imformative on that. And also how soon will i start to receive whatever cash benefit that is offered?

Any extra insight on lodging and transportation is accepted as well. How much money should have to feed myself? Just a rough estimate will do. Just want to know how much to save for my family.

Thank you in advance! -Juke

I don't have specific knowledge of those companies but I'd suggest that you call their recruiting departments. You're not obligated to them just from a phone call. They can give you some facts, of course they'll put a positive spin on their own program. I'm sure you know that already. As for food, I spent 3 weeks in company school and 5 weeks with a trainer. I ate a lot of Subway and a few sit down meals. I think I spent less than $500.

You are asking about pay while in training. You do realize that School and Training are not the same thing, right?

You attend school and get your CDL. THEN you attend and pass a company orientation process, are subsequently hired, THEN you go through company training as a paid employee. Training pay varies from company to company but generally ranges from $450-700 a week.

Some company sponsored schools will provide room and board at an additional cost.. some just cover your room and you cover your own meals while in school. I have heard but have no actual knowledge regarding this, that a very tiny number of companies will pay you/advance you money during school, but again... I don't know.

I hope this helps. For accurate information it's always best to contact any companies directly with questions about their schools.

Check out RE West in Lebanon Tn. They pay while you are in training. 3 weeks and then out w trainer. You are required one load of water heaters a week, which you assist in unload..😯. 1-615-466-9020 recruiter.

I did the prime route in September.

While you have your permit you get nothing but have a card to access $200 per week. It is intended for food not for you to send money home. It took me three weeks on the road until I came back to test. Once you get your CDL you are immediately hired at $700 GROSS per week for training. This consists of team driving with a trainer. You are technically paid 14 cpm but guaranteed $700. If 14 cpm times the truck miles exceeds 700 you get the higher pay. The money advanced is paid back $25 per week. Once you get 30k miles you upgrade to solo and are paid either 39.5 cpm or 44.5 cpm depending on the size of the truck you get.

There are a few other fees such as TWIC card... sleep apnea if required...when you upgrade to solo they take weekly payments for load locks... chains...pad lock....and by that time you are paying for health insurance.

So .... for first 3 to 4 weeks you get advance of $200 per week. For the next 30k miles you will clear between 400 to 500 per week. Once you upgrade it depends on your health insurance and miles run. But 39.5 or 44.5 cpm

Some weeks I have cleared 750 others 450. I'm still paying about $150 per week back to prime including a 1000 cat fee

Overall...great company. Best pay per mile. And I don't pay a cent for the training unless I leave before the year is up. I intended on only staying th 3 one y3ar... but love it so much I'm going nowhere

Hey Rainy, I'm also from NJ and just applied to Prime. going to call the recruiter tomorrow. does Prime start deducting the payback fees during your 30k or wait until you're solo? also, how long did you wait to get a trainer? were you given the option lightweight/full and how long did it take to get your truck? thanks!

You are asking about pay while in training. You do realize that School and Training are not the same thing, right?

You attend school and get your CDL. THEN you attend and pass a company orientation process, are subsequently hired, THEN you go through company training as a paid employee. Training pay varies from company to company but generally ranges from $450-700 a week.

Some company sponsored schools will provide room and board at an additional cost.. some just cover your room and you cover your own meals while in school. I have heard but have no actual knowledge regarding this, that a very tiny number of companies will pay you/advance you money during school, but again... I don't know.

I hope this helps. For accurate information it's always best to contact any companies directly with questions about their schools.

I am aware that there are private stand alone schools (which i don't plan to take this route). Then you have companies that contract with schools (such as prime and pam). And then some companies put you through their own "school and training" integrated as one (such as Roehl) and refer to the whole process as training. I was hoping that some "recently graduated" company trained driver could give some insight on the pay during the whole process as I will still have to provide for my family. We (my family and I) are aware that it will be hard the first couple months. I just want to know if there is anything i will be able to send back home till I'm able to go Solo

Roehl will pay you while you train to get your cdl. Look into the get your cdl program. I think it's 500 a week gross. Then you will train with a trainer for x many miles. Then you get cpm when you go solo.

Hey Rainy, I'm also from NJ and just applied to Prime. going to call the recruiter tomorrow. does Prime start deducting the payback fees during your 30k or wait until you're solo? also, how long did you wait to get a trainer? were you given the option lightweight/full and how long did it take to get your truck? thanks!

They start the $25 per week payback right away. They also take two payments of $65 for the TWIC card and $50 for the sleep apnea test if u r overweight. If you need the machine it's another $25 per week.

My orientation finished on Friday and I got a trainer on monday... a smoking guy. I didn't care who trained me as long as they taught me. If u are more particular it might take a little longer. Learn the pre trip before hand and it will impress the good trainers and show them you want to learn.

I was given the choice of the condo or lightweight. They told me if I wanted to wait for the condo I would have to pay the hotel myself... deducted from my pay. It took one night and they didn't charge me the hotel. As far as how long training takes... that could depend on your trainer and how.many miles they run. My trainer took a ton of time off. Two weeks around thanksgiving... two weeks at xmas... a few days in between. Others in my class upgraded a month before me while some upgraded but went team and are still not solo.

My break down: Got to Prime Sept 21st Got finished orientation. Sept 25th Got trainer sept 27th Passed CDL Oct 30th Got TNT trainer same day Upgraded in Feb and rolled out with my truck Valentines Day.

In that time I went home: Nov 19th to 26th (yep was 2 whole months b4 I went home ) Dec 23 to Jan 5 Feb 27th to Mar 2nd April 14th to 18th

My trainer and I also went to Disney world and a couple other places that prevented us from gaining miles. Haha. Keep in mind you don't get paid when u go home. So my last pay was negative $25 cause of hometime. But I'll make it up the following week.

If you stay at prime a year the cost of insurance drops from like $65 per week to $22 per week.depending on the plan you choose but I'm self only.

Another myth about Prime is they will pressure u to lease. Not true. ONE time I was asled " are you going company or lease" that was it. And I have the condo. So it is a lie that company solo drivers only get lightweights