I’m A Newbie, Looking For A Career Change.

This is precisely why people in the industry usually answer "it depends...."

There are so many variables and so many "right ways" to do things, that it literally comes down to your situation, what your current needs and housing status is.

The majority of individuals looking into trucking are coming from failing industries, layoffs, underemployment and even unemployment. There is no one "right way."

There are reasons why we push most towards company sponsored training , and not one of us has said you CANT do it the way you did.

We make recommendations to folks based on our experience on what we have seen in this industry. And between all of us we have seen alot. We don’t bash anyone for doing what they feel right for them.

Many, of course not all private schools operate on tight budgets. The equipment is often old and in some cases in bad shape vs company sponsored schools that have newer and better maintained equipment.

Company sponsored schools do the necessary workups before a student arrives and the student has a job immediately after passing school. Private schools often have a handfull of companies that recruit from them. They usually call it job placement assistance. No guarantees at all.

Company schools have more of a vested interest in students passing. Private schools don’t, they are there to take your money in exchange for a CDL.

There have been vast amounts of folks over the years coming here asking for help after paying for private school only to not find a job afterward. They don’t do any background checks. You pass a drug test your in. They have no idea if your hireable, and they really don’t care.

These are a few of the reasons we recommend going company sponsored. Getting into the industry is stressful enough without adding to it by not finding a job after passing school.

I’m glad you did well, those are the success stories we love hear.

Agree with all the replies to this topic. I myself, can attrst to the fact not ALL private training you pay out of pocket for is worth it. I went with my local WIOA program in Calif to go to a local "school" Was a big waste of my time and effort even if I didn't pay for it. It was basicly like a puppy mill, "bet em in, crank em out"

Not really wanting to team drive, that became my second option, after wasting my time with the 1st "school" So for me at that time, CRST checked all my boxes, except being a team company (they no longer are training) Everything was included, with dorm rooms, morning shuttle bus ride to the off schooling site. Repaid within 3 months after going out on the road, for the room & board.

It wasn't as bad as any reviews I ever came across online, and then I figured from here, it's just as many have said. The reviews were probably from disgruntled people who couldn't hack the lifestyle or whatever. For me, aside from having to go thru 4 co drivers the 22+ months I was there, to find 1 who actually could drive and do his part as a team. We drove together over 1 year, before we both left. I did do very well driving for them, not in 6 figures but better money than I ever made in over 40 years turning wrenches!!

If i hadn't wasted my time at the first "school" and went with CRST , I'd had been with em nearly 3 years before leaving (retired early)

Good Luck in your journey, it's not that bad really lol