Company Driving School Wants Me To Hitchhike To Get To Class

My partner and I got accepted into a company paid trucking school, and when they sent over the paperwork, it said that we would be responsible for organizing my own transportation between the lodging and school. This school is over 2k miles away from us and they are paying for our airfare. We simply cannot afford the commute if we were to go by taxi/uber/etc and the school isn't within walking distance nor is there any public transportation. Their "solution" is to ask other students for a ride. We are not willing to gamble thousands of dollars of repayments if we are unable to get to class because of someone else. It feels like we are being set up for failure before we have even started.

Is this normal? Are there trucking companies that train couples that don't do this?

I'm going to venture a guess that the company schooling is at Roehl?

Some companies provide transportation, while others do not. I think it comes down to risk versus reward as it relates to making it from the hotel to the school location and back. If this is a big sticking point issue, keep searching for another company.

I'm going to guess Pam. When I spoke to them some years ago, they told me the lodging is in Jersey and the school is in Philly. You get to the school on your own. If you bring your car, would you be kind enough to other students a ride? That combined with the 6 months of teaming with another newbie maybe cross them off the list.

CFI handles all your transportation, room and food while in school.

Violet, I tend to read between the lines. Maybe it's not even reading between the lines but reading more into something than is intended. Please feel free to correct me if any of this is wrong, but here's what I have gathered from your posts...

You and your partner wanted to be trained as a couple. One of you was lacking when it came to solid job history. Both of those factors limited you greatly in your search for a trucking company willing to train you. After finally finding one who met your criteria there was still one little hiccup. They expected you to arrange your own transportation to the classroom from the lodging that they flew you to and paid for. They even advised you to get a ride from friends you would be making at the hotel who would be coming that way anyways. When you ask, "Is this normal?" the answer is that it is absolutely normal at that particular company. They have been doing it that way for years and nobody ever couldn't make it to class because of it. They make sure of that.

Here's the thing that really stood out to me. You made this remark...

It feels like we are being set up for failure before we have even started.

That sounds like the trucking wannabes who are constantly whining on the internet because they can't make it as truckers, or it just sounds rather dramatic. Why would a company pay for both of your flights across the country hoping that they can set you up to fail? Have you thought about that? These trucking companies need reliable responsible employees and they are willing to go to great lengths and expense to find them. The problem is that the losers are always posting their ridiculous claims online about being mistreated and intentionally being set up for failure. Trucking requires a great deal of personal responsibility. Arranging a ride for yourself is a simple act of willingness to go along with what they recommend. How are you going to respond later on when they recommend you start your work day at midnight so that you can make a delivery on time? Trucking is full of surprises and frustrations. It comes with the territory.

You didn't really react very well to this first of many surprises. I think you ought to think about that. You are already concerned with the responsibility this job is going to place upon you. Listen to your remarks...

We are not willing to gamble thousands of dollars of repayments if we are unable to get to class because of someone else.

You are going to experience a great many more confusing situations and demanding circumstances as you progress through your rookie year. Are you prepared for that? You are going to have to take that gamble if you want to pursue this career. If you don't have the funds to easily finance this yourself then you are dependent on the company's benevolence. You are taking the gamble whether you understand that or not. It is your responsibility to get things done the way they want them done. You haven't even got started yet and you are already questioning their expertise. It is a poor way to start.

One of the biggest reasons we see people fail while training is because they are convinced they know better than the company who is trying like crazy to help them make a transition into trucking. I see that all over the place in your post. Please don't take offense at my pointing these things out. I genuinely want to see you succeed at this. When I see a big red flag I like to address it. I am not only hoping to help you, but others who read this information later too. Trucking requires a unique blend of humility and tenacity. Don't ever go into it thinking someone is trying to take advantage of you. That's the last thing on their mind. The only companies who can hire newbies like yourself are set up to help them succeed. They have no interest in "setting you up for failure."

I went through the Roehl program in March. Company paid for the hotel. Breakfast was on the house in the hotel cafe and lunch was provided on weekdays. Transportation from home as well as between the hotel and the terminal for class was the student’s responsibility. I did not bring my car (I wish I had), but getting a ride from another student wasn’t a problem. There are some companies that are more liberal with what they provide, but I chose according to what company I thought was the best fit.

Violet, I tend to read between the lines. Maybe it's not even reading between the lines but reading more into something than is intended. Please feel free to correct me if any of this is wrong, but here's what I have gathered from your posts...

Don't read between the huge gaps that I didn't fill in. My partner and I are visibly ***** and did not feel safe accepting rides with a bunch of strange men in the part of the country where people like us are routinely discriminated against. We did not want to gamble our future on other peoples bigotry. My partner and I switched to another company that has a better training program, pay, and reputation. Turns out my work history wasn't as bad as I thought It was. I had only applied to one company before and got a job offer right away. I did so again last Friday and will be in class on the 19th. My big takeaway from this is to not settle for less when there are a lot of better choices out there and to stop undervaluing myself. Companies that are serious about making successful drivers invest the resources necessary to do so. Companies that are more interested in pinching pennies while making money hand over fist are a large factor in the self inflicted truck driver shortage. I look forward to proving myself and navigating stressful situations.

You certainly seem to have figured it all out really quickly. Congratulations!

I am glad your work history wan't near the problem you thought it might be. I thought it was your partner who had issues with work history. You told us...

My partner has no verifiable employment for the last 10 years.

I am also glad you found a company that wasn't really interested in making money. Those are usually the best ones for long term success. Go get em!

We will be here if you need some more advice. Don't get yourself all worked up about bigotry in the trucking business. If you can do the job, you will be more than welcomed here. Personal responsibility and productivity will see you through. I would keep an eye out for those strange men in certain parts of the country. Wait a minute! Doesn't that sound like bigotry to you?

Do u get that offended at everyone that gives advice?

Violet, I tend to read between the lines. Maybe it's not even reading between the lines but reading more into something than is intended. Please feel free to correct me if any of this is wrong, but here's what I have gathered from your posts...

Don't read between the huge gaps that I didn't fill in. My partner and I are visibly ***** and did not feel safe accepting rides with a bunch of strange men in the part of the country where people like us are routinely discriminated against. We did not want to gamble our future on other peoples bigotry. My partner and I switched to another company that has a better training program, pay, and reputation. Turns out my work history wasn't as bad as I thought It was. I had only applied to one company before and got a job offer right away. I did so again last Friday and will be in class on the 19th. My big takeaway from this is to not settle for less when there are a lot of better choices out there and to stop undervaluing myself. Companies that are serious about making successful drivers invest the resources necessary to do so. Companies that are more interested in pinching pennies while making money hand over fist are a large factor in the self inflicted truck driver shortage. I look forward to proving myself and navigating stressful situations.

"People like us"....what are you guys, that you are different than anyone else?? I'm an almost 70 year old female. Do you think I worry about discrimination (female) out here? Heck no! I do the jobs just like the guys do and surprise them with how young I am.

Bigotry....that's an interesting word that is getting thrown around a lot anymore. Like Inigo Montoya says in the Princess Bride:

"You keep using that word, I do not think it means what you think it means” How do you know there is true bigotry wherever "there" is?

No one should undervalue themselves, but people do all the time...I did when I was younger. It took a situation in my 30s to learn I had value. Don't let yourself down.

Companies that pinch pennies to make money hand over fist are things of legends (urban) and come from Internet Wannabe Drivers that don't accept responsibility for screwing up while in school.

Good luck to you and your partner.

Laura