Company Vs Paying For Your Own Cdl

I know this topic is beat to death. My only fear to company training is I may get enough miles or load's to pay my bills in the first year. Being that I work for a FedEx contractor for small truck PD delivery I currently put 12 to 14 hour's a day. Just trying to figure out what the best path for me is. I'm currently looking at TMC or Melton if I choose company path. Anyone have experience with these two companies?

Not to worry, P.E., the starting pay for first year hovers around $38-40,000 per year. You're on road most of the time. Going to a Paid CDL Training Program will get you financed by your company. Also, you are all but hired when they let you into their training program. Generally, you pay off your training over your first year.

It looks like you should start reading here:

• Truck Driver's Career Guide
• Brett's Book: The Raw Truth About Trucking (free online version)
• High Road CDL Training Program
• CDL Practice Tests

You'll still be putting in something like 12 hour days. But remember you get paid for miles driven, not hours on a clock.

For Melton and TMC specific postings, go to the home page, scroll down to the Topics By Tag bar. Click on that and you will see lots of companies, including those two.

You won't make any more money by paying out of pocket for a private school you will still have to go out with a trainer for a set amount of miles and your pay will start at the bottom. Most companies have several pay raises during that first year. These are usually based on time or mileage.

When you go through Paid CDL Training Programs, your out of pocket is less. Some companies payroll deduct the cost of that training, however you shouldn't feel it.

I went through CFI's paid training and they paid for everything. I didn't suffer financially. Here is a link to my pay. Good luck.

My only fear to company training is I may [not] get enough miles or loads to pay my bills in the first year

Like Errol said, $40,000 your first year should be no problem. In the past few years driver wages have gone up a nice chunk and it's not uncommon to hear of drivers making $50,000 their first year. We have some here in this forum, in fact. But you can count on $40,000 if you perform well, and that's the key.

The way you worded your concern I think gives a little bit of insight into your real concern, which is that the company won't give you the miles you need to make good money. I know that in other places around the Web you'll hear this ridiculous notion that signing a contract makes you a slave to a company. The concern is that they won't give you any freight and you can't leave the company to go work elsewhere.

This thought process is utterly absurd. Why in the world would a company pay up front to train you and then let you sit around surfing the Net in a truck stop parking lot in their brand new $120,000 tractor and $50,000 trailer??? Who would do that???

These carriers that provide CDL training are the largest, most successful companies in the nation. The upper 1%. They are very well run organizations with tons of huge freight contracts and all kinds of opportunities for drivers. Trust me, these companies have all the freight you can handle, and then some.

Your performance and attitude are the keys to your success, not the company you choose to work for. That is at the core of our teachings here at Trucking Truth. You can be happy and successful with any of the major carriers if you perform at a high level and get along with the office personnel.

Take a look at this article if you haven't already:

Why I Prefer Paid CDL Training Over Private CDL Training

Also, listen to this podcast:

Episode 18: Stop The Fear And Doubt, Focus On Your Own Success

PE, I’m in my first year of driving and I can testify to everything Brett and the others advised you. I am on target to bring home 40,000 this year which will translate to a gross of 50,000 to 60,000 in my first year. So you have to determine if that amount of money will pay your bills. As far as staying busy, there are no worries. I always have a new preassignment as soon (or before) I have finished my active one. The company wants to keep me moving because that’s how they make money. They like to see that you are 1) a safe driver 2) an on time driver 3) a driver who follows company policy and has a positive attitude. If you can accomplish these things, the money will follow.

Also, I expect I will make 10,000 more my second year, based on company policy for raises and bonuses. Not too shabby!

Another thought, if you are single, can you pack up your life, and eliminate all the monthly bills that go with that. When I am able to finally make the jump, I will go from making a decent annual income to much less, but without our rent and all that, and with proper planning, I can afford to take a pay cut to get threw the growing pains with learning a new trade.

I chose to pay mine on my own. opens up many more companies and options. and no contracts. and most still have monthly tuition reimbursements.

Scott, there is little or no difference between going to a private CDL course and signing a company contract. If you go private and then sign on with a company offering tuition reimbursement, they will stretch out those payments to the equivalent length of a contract. So, six of one, half dozen of another. Besides, what is the average length of a contract? One year? Any driver should stay with his first company a year at least. My point is that I think the contract issue is really a moot point.

Another thought, if you are single, can you pack up your life, and eliminate all the monthly bills that go with that. When I am able to finally make the jump, I will go from making a decent annual income to much less, but without our rent and all that, and with proper planning, I can afford to take a pay cut to get threw the growing pains with learning a new trade.

You’ll be getting that retirement check the first of each month, too.