Experience Spokane/Coeur D'Alene Trucking Schools?
Topic 27385 | Page 1
Joe Jack, welcome to the Trucking Truth site. We highly recommend and encourage anyone just starting to attend a company sponsored training program in order to obtain the coveted CDL permit. One of the biggest reasons for this is the fact that any school, good or bad, will get you a CDL, but that's where most stop. Even with one, there's no assurance of landing a job afterwards. Company sponsored programs are just the opposite, as they vet a candidate before footing the bill for a perspective candidate, and it's in their interest to make sure you are a success before, during, and after school is complete, too.
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.
Thanks, PackRat... It's just that I applied for company sponsored training on this site and only Wilson Logistics and CRST got back to me. Wilson already denied me and I can't understand why, in fact it's driving me crazy and with CRST you're a team driver and I'm not interested in team driving. I asked a woman from a driving school why only 2 schools responded to my application and she said nobody wants to touch me because Washington State is a pain in the butt to work with and I live in Washington State... She said there's too many regulations and what do I know? I'm determined to be a trucker. I'm a pretty focused person and have completed almost all the testing on this site. Just got fingerprinted for hazmat and am going to get my permit soon I think I'll just start calling recruiters since they didn't call me and see what happens.
HAZMAT:
Hazardous Materials
Explosive, flammable, poisonous or otherwise potentially dangerous cargo. Large amounts of especially hazardous cargo are required to be placarded under HAZMAT regulations
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 don't know if it would make a difference but maybe applying to the companies your interested in individually might catch their attention. You might have just been a victim of bad timing 1st time around. Can’t hurt to try
Hi...If you do go to school I would do Sage. They have a lot of companies that will look at you as a new hire. Are you looking for otr or western states or local... Swift has good training and is not too far from you. Good luck in your endeavor.
OTR:
Over The Road
OTR driving normally means you'll be hauling freight to various customers throughout your company's hauling region. It often entails being gone from home for two to three weeks at a time.
Did you check out CFI? Shameless plug!
I am from Spokane as well. I am a week away from getting my own truck with Wilson Logistics. Great training program. Did they give you a reason for denying you? I know they have a tuff driving record policy. Also getting trained during the winter is a great time because winter driving can be tricky.
Welcome!
I attended the Swift Academy at Lewiston, it’s pretty solid training.
Cheers,
G
Me too. Excellent staff and fine program. Try talking directly to a Swift recruiter if you're interested in learning more.
Welcome!
I attended the Swift Academy at Lewiston, it’s pretty solid training.
Cheers,
G
Thanks, Dave...I think that's my next move.
I don't know if it would make a difference but maybe applying to the companies your interested in individually might catch their attention. You might have just been a victim of bad timing 1st time around. Can’t hurt to try
Hi...If you do go to school I would do Sage. They have a lot of companies that will look at you as a new hire. Are you looking for otr or western states or local... Swift has good training and is not too far from you. Good luck in your endeavor.
I want OTR, no wife or girlfriend and my son is older now... Yeah, I spoke with Swift and I know as a newbie that beggars can't be choosers but at the same time it's just me and my dog so my dog has to be part of the deal... I've heard it said not to let your pet get in the way of your job but the only other option would be to abandon my dog and that's not happening...
OTR:
Over The Road
OTR driving normally means you'll be hauling freight to various customers throughout your company's hauling region. It often entails being gone from home for two to three weeks at a time.
OOS:
When a violation by either a driver or company is confirmed, an out-of-service order removes either the driver or the vehicle from the roadway until the violation is corrected.
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Hey, y'all... I'd appreciate any heads up, please, on perhaps the Drive509 trucking school in Spokane, WA vs The SAGE trucking school in Coeur d'Alene, ID just down the road. It's probably going to be one of the two for me and I'd like to make a smart decision. I've talked with both and I know that Sage is better known nationally and has been around 30 plus years now. Drive509 has some great reviews. I guess I'd like to know if anybody has gone to either and how the school may have helped you in landing a job or if they helped at all? Sage costs a little more but that's not my concern. I'm more concerned with landing a job afterward. Regards