Training Sponsored Or Not
Topic 1750 | Page 1
I know the forum is not set up to bad mouth trucking companies , but does anyone have any suggestions if going the company sponsored way which companies maybe to stay away from
So you're saying "I know you don't want to badmouth anyone, but will you anyways? 
Nope. 
If you're looking to run regional you'll want to focus on dry van and flatbed companies. They have the best opportunities for those kind of divisions.
As far as the Company-Sponsored Training versus Private Truck Driving Schools, either one can give you a great start in the industry. The main advantage of the company-sponsored schools is that they require little or no money up front. The main advantage to private schooling is that it's a bit slower paced and you'll have your option of companies to work for once you graduate. But one path isn't better than the other. It's really a matter of what suits your situation the best.
If you can find a company-sponsored program that offers what you're looking for then there's no real advantage to going to a private school. You might as well just go through that company's training.
I would take a hard look at the dry van and flatbed companies that offer company-sponsored training programs. If you can find a good fit, go for it. If not, we have a page that lists some trucking companies that hire inexperienced drivers. You can apply for pre-hires for any that sound interesting and attend a private school.
But the choice of company-sponsored versus private schooling normally comes down to whether or not you have the money to pay for private schooling up front. If so, the private schooling would be the better way to go unless you find a company-sponsored program that suits you well.
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
Regional:
Regional Route
Usually refers to a driver hauling freight within one particular region of the country. You might be in the "Southeast Regional Division" or "Midwest Regional". Regional route drivers often get home on the weekends which is one of the main appeals for this type of route.
Dm:
Dispatcher, Fleet Manager, Driver Manager
The primary person a driver communicates with at his/her company. A dispatcher can play many roles, depending on the company's structure. Dispatchers may assign freight, file requests for home time, relay messages between the driver and management, inform customer service of any delays, change appointment times, and report information to the load planners.Dry Van:
A trailer or truck that that requires no special attention, such as refrigeration, that hauls regular palletted, boxed, or floor-loaded freight. The most common type of trailer in trucking.Pre-hire:
What Exactly Is A Pre-Hire Letter?
Pre-hire letters are acceptance letters from trucking companies to students, or even potential students, to verify placement. The trucking companies are saying in writing that the student, or potential student, appears to meet the company's minimum hiring requirements and is welcome to attend their orientation at the company’s expense once he or she graduates from truck driving school and has their CDL in hand.
We have an excellent article that will help you Understand The Pre-Hire Process.
A Pre-Hire Letter Is Not A Guarantee Of Employment
The people that receive a pre-hire letter are people who meet the company's minimum hiring requirements, but it is not an employment contract. It is an invitation to orientation, and the orientation itself is a prerequisite to employment.
During the orientation you will get a physical, drug screen, and background check done. These and other qualifications must be met before someone in orientation is officially hired.
Pre-hires:
What Exactly Is A Pre-Hire Letter?
Pre-hire letters are acceptance letters from trucking companies to students, or even potential students, to verify placement. The trucking companies are saying in writing that the student, or potential student, appears to meet the company's minimum hiring requirements and is welcome to attend their orientation at the company’s expense once he or she graduates from truck driving school and has their CDL in hand.
We have an excellent article that will help you Understand The Pre-Hire Process.
A Pre-Hire Letter Is Not A Guarantee Of Employment
The people that receive a pre-hire letter are people who meet the company's minimum hiring requirements, but it is not an employment contract. It is an invitation to orientation, and the orientation itself is a prerequisite to employment.
During the orientation you will get a physical, drug screen, and background check done. These and other qualifications must be met before someone in orientation is officially hired.
Company-sponsored Training:
A Company-Sponsored Training Program is a school that is owned and operated by a trucking company.
The schooling often requires little or no money up front. Instead of paying up-front tuition you will sign an agreement to work for the company for a specified amount of time after graduation, usually around a year, at a slightly lower rate of pay in order to pay for the training.
If you choose to quit working for the company before your year is up, they will normally require you to pay back a prorated amount of money for the schooling. The amount you pay back will be comparable to what you would have paid if you went to an independently owned school.
Company-sponsored training can be an excellent way to get your career underway if you can't afford the tuition up front for private schooling.
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.
I had the same questions/concerns you had. After doing tons of research and looking at all sides of my situation I made a choice to go for company sponsored training with Roehl. I will have to pay some up front costs, Travel to the site, hotel, etc. It's much less than a private school but in the long run I felt it suited me the best. Total out of pocket will be about $1600.00. They are carrying the 2800 tuition and will forgive it after 120,000 miles solo. Some offer to pay even more than that, but they just didn't fit me. All about the power of choice with what works for you. Hope this helps a little. Best of luck with your decisions!!!!
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
Company Sponsored Training:
A Company-Sponsored Training Program is a school that is owned and operated by a trucking company.
The schooling often requires little or no money up front. Instead of paying up-front tuition you will sign an agreement to work for the company for a specified amount of time after graduation, usually around a year, at a slightly lower rate of pay in order to pay for the training.
If you choose to quit working for the company before your year is up, they will normally require you to pay back a prorated amount of money for the schooling. The amount you pay back will be comparable to what you would have paid if you went to an independently owned school.
Company-sponsored training can be an excellent way to get your career underway if you can't afford the tuition up front for private schooling.
I preferred the 'hands on' and fast paced learning approach, which is why I chose Prime. I have always been a fast learner, and have a show me once and it's mine mentality. Like Brett says, it's really what suits you best, as far as learning style.
I think the biggest hurdle for most new drivers, is the time away from home. It really is more a lifestyle than a job. You are living in a truck 24/7 for weeks at a time. If you can make that adjustment, everything else will be a piece of cake. At least, in my opinion.
Most company sponsored training programs teach you for 'free' so long as you commit to driving for a certain period of time. Some are 1 year, some 2 years. Brett has a great page that details what the different companies expect as far as repayment.
Private companies are generally longer, and more in depth than Company sponsored, from what Ive read. If you go private, make sure that they are accredited, or whatever, making sure that the companies you want to drive for accept their training.
The best thing you can do is read Brett's free book, and decide what type of driver you want to be... flatbed? Dry Van? reefer? Big company? small company? do you want to drive regional? coast to coast? do you mind waiting for loads to be loaded/unloaded? or do you want to drop, hook and drive?
Answering all those questions may help you decide what training you want, and where to go to get it.
Check out all the resources this site has to offer, and I would say 90% of your questions and concerns will be answered.
Just my 2 cents worth.
Peace
Regional:
Regional Route
Usually refers to a driver hauling freight within one particular region of the country. You might be in the "Southeast Regional Division" or "Midwest Regional". Regional route drivers often get home on the weekends which is one of the main appeals for this type of route.
Dry Van:
A trailer or truck that that requires no special attention, such as refrigeration, that hauls regular palletted, boxed, or floor-loaded freight. The most common type of trailer in trucking.Company Sponsored Training:
A Company-Sponsored Training Program is a school that is owned and operated by a trucking company.
The schooling often requires little or no money up front. Instead of paying up-front tuition you will sign an agreement to work for the company for a specified amount of time after graduation, usually around a year, at a slightly lower rate of pay in order to pay for the training.
If you choose to quit working for the company before your year is up, they will normally require you to pay back a prorated amount of money for the schooling. The amount you pay back will be comparable to what you would have paid if you went to an independently owned school.
Company-sponsored training can be an excellent way to get your career underway if you can't afford the tuition up front for private schooling.
Reefer:
A refrigerated trailer.
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.
Either way you should be able to land a job as long as your record is clean(ish) and if you go private make sure they are accredited or legit.
Like the others have said its whatever works for you. Personally I would have rather went to a private school because you get more time learning. I couldn't afford it and went company sponsored with Prime. I'm getting what I need and everything just would have preferred a slower process.
Honestly what it comes down to is your budget and dedication. If you are dedicated to being a driver you can succeed at either side.
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Just can’t shake the desire to become a truck driver, thank god for this site/ Forum, as the internet is full of negatives about trucking. Ok so the more I research the more questions I have which I know is a good thing, like company sponsored training or pay by yourself , will one or the other give you a better choice of jobs/ driving assignments/ miles/ etc, my plan is to get trained get my driving experience and look for a company that has regional routes. I know the forum is not set up to bad mouth trucking companies , but does anyone have any suggestions if going the company sponsored way which companies maybe to stay away from. Thanks for any Advice
Regional:
Regional Route
Usually refers to a driver hauling freight within one particular region of the country. You might be in the "Southeast Regional Division" or "Midwest Regional". Regional route drivers often get home on the weekends which is one of the main appeals for this type of route.
Company Sponsored Training:
A Company-Sponsored Training Program is a school that is owned and operated by a trucking company.
The schooling often requires little or no money up front. Instead of paying up-front tuition you will sign an agreement to work for the company for a specified amount of time after graduation, usually around a year, at a slightly lower rate of pay in order to pay for the training.
If you choose to quit working for the company before your year is up, they will normally require you to pay back a prorated amount of money for the schooling. The amount you pay back will be comparable to what you would have paid if you went to an independently owned school.
Company-sponsored training can be an excellent way to get your career underway if you can't afford the tuition up front for private schooling.