CDL STUDENTS BEWARE!!!

I think Prime can train you on an automatic and they will feed you and pay you during training. Check them out. Hopefully Rainy D or Turtle will chime in. In my last job one of the drivers who delivered metal to us had only one arm and a nonformed arm. He drove the flatbed metal truck and was able to strap/unstrap, tarp/untarp. Where there's a will, there's a way. Good luck.

If you're that close to being homeless, have you applied for assistance through the state, county, or maybe other charities that help veterans in their time of need? A problem you may also face is the amount of time you've been unemployed. Why didn't you to get a job doing something, even if you felt it was below you. I had a job making $18 an hour but when they closed up shop I went and picked up trash at an apartment community for $10 an hour. It sucked making less, but it motivated me to find something new. All that stuffs in the past though, does the VA have any programs to help?

I have applied for almost 500 jobs since last year. Jobs I had experience in, jobs at minimum wage, everything. I am either over qualified or underqualified. The worst employers I have applied are Universities and Colleges, they wont even to respond to me when I have the exact qualifications. If there was not a 3 month to 1 year backlog to reinstate security clearances, I would already be working. Unfortunately, the backlog is a leftover from 2008 when the government took over from the private firm that was doing the background investigations. Prior to that reinstatements were just a week or two. Yes, I have applied for state assistance, unfortunately we do not have any children which eliminates most of the available aid. Utilities aid is being processed and the bank wont work with me because they already did their once a year payment delay for me. At that time I was sure I would find a job....I was wrong. Now I have to wait another 2 months for that to be eligible to ask for it. Part of my frustration is I have done so much to fix my issues and the harder I try the harder I fail. The Veterans Administration is helping me, but there is a limit to what they can do. Mainly, they cover my medical care. Still trying to get my prescriptions filled. This has been the worst year of our lives.

Roehl would be perfect as they pay you as an employee right from the start in CDL School, but they told me they do not train on automatics. Basically, any trucking solution would need to be like Roehl in that they pay you from the get go, but allow training on automatics. Still searching for that combo.

CR England trains and tests on all automatic trucks. Try them.

CR England and Prime Thanks

FYI...Prime does not train on automatic transmissions:

Message - Does Prime offer CDL training on automatics? Message - Heather@Prime, Inc.: No, they are 10 speeds

FYI...Prime does not train on automatic transmissions:

Message - Does Prime offer CDL training on automatics? Message - Heather@Prime, Inc.: No, they are 10 speeds

tbis is not actually true. Primes entire fleet is changing over to automatics. many new students are training on autos then get a few says of stick and test on sticks. Many are then finishing training im autos. all of the 2018 2017 trucks are autos. i have a 2016 stick, but will be given a new truck in the spring

they originally thought they were going to start testing on autos by sept, but that hasnt happened. once 65% of the fleet is auto, they will test in auto.

call prime and ask for stan kasterke or brooke in the training department. you have a disability that is easy to work with so unless they have a real reason, i dont know what the big deal will be.

and rainy is not my real mame, so domt use it with them lol

George, I believe that Bad Information is hindering you more so than your disability.

As for money/food during training, during your first week of orientation at Prime you are given meal cards which provide you 3 meals per day at the company cafeteria. Your hotel room is also free. You will however need approx $100 to pay for the permit.

Once you successfully obtain your permit and complete your roughly 5-6 days of orientation you begin the initial student phase of training. At this point you will be advanced $200 per week to live on and will be placed with a trainer. It will not be a problem to be paired with a trainer that has an automatic. 2-3 weeks later you will test out for your CDL. Upon passing your CDL exam you will then officially be a Prime employee, with a guaranteed minimum $700 per week paycheck.

My entire training period was on an automatic truck, although I spent a couple days practicing on a manual prior to testing out. Like Rainy said, speak to Stan Kasterke regarding specific company requirements for testing. I honestly don't think it'd be a problem for the right prospective driver.

So it's quite possible to show up at Prime with little more than $100 in yer pocket, yet still be provided with food and lodging throughout the process. Then within 2-3 weeks you can be making either $700, or .14cpm, whichever is greater. To my knowledge, no other company training program is set up quite like this.

I doubt it's changed but, when I was speaking with recruiters for company sponsored training , CR England recruiter told me they ONLY train in automatics. It was the disclaimer since it would be a restriction on the license.

Don't know about any others, Prime would be a decent choice (going off of others posting above) since they offer pay advance during training so you have some funds. Isn't a lot though, mostly just so you can eat while in training. Might also speak with Rhoel, not sure about their training to be able to do only automatic transmission training but they do offer paid training.

Also, as others have said, there are tons of options for government assistance for people in your shoes. You just have to swallow your prude and apply.

Best Wishes to you and hope all goes well.