| Now is one of the best times to get your CDL and | | | | credit card, or you can apply for a loan from a bank, |
| pursue a job in the trucking industry. Truck driving is an | | | | credit union or other financial institution. |
| honorable profession, is a vital part of our economy | | | | Another alternative to pay for truck driving school is to |
| and it continues to be one of the highest paying | | | | apply with a trucking company that offers tuition |
| careers available without a college degree. There is a | | | | assistance. Contact the trucking company you're |
| high demand for skilled truckers right now. The | | | | considering working for and ask their human resource |
| American Trucking Association estimates that there is | | | | department if they offer a tuition payment program. |
| an annual shortage of over 20,000 truck drivers and | | | | Some trucking companies will front you the costs for |
| that shortage is rising. This means that people | | | | your driver school training and will then have you repay |
| graduating from driving school are almost guaranteed | | | | them after you begin employment. Most will deduct a |
| employment with a local or regional trucking company. | | | | reasonable payment from your checks until the |
| One of the main questions people considering a career | | | | balance is paid off. Other companies may offer tuition |
| as a truck driver has is "How am I going to pay for | | | | reimbursement programs. They'll pay you back the |
| truck driving school?" Driving schools that offer 4 | | | | money you spent on driving school after you've been |
| week courses charge on average $4,000 for tuition. | | | | driving for them over a certain amount of time. After |
| This covers the school's cost to pay for instructors, | | | | reimbursement you've essentially received your driver |
| insurance, trucks, fuel, rent and advertising. There are | | | | training for free. |
| other costs the students must pay that go toward | | | | If bank loans or company assistance programs aren't |
| driver training and obtaining a CDL; these include: driving | | | | available then discuss payment options with the driving |
| permits, licenses, copies of your motor vehicle record, | | | | school you'll be attending. Truck driving school financial |
| DOT physicals and drug screens. It is important to | | | | advisors have information and resources available to |
| remember that these upfront fees are an investment | | | | help you apply for private or government funding that |
| in your future. Truck drivers can earn an annual wage | | | | is offered to provide grant money for skills training. |
| of $30,000 to $80,000 based on experience. That is a | | | | Some of these programs include the Workforce |
| quadruple return on your investment in just the first | | | | Investment Act (WIA), vocational rehabilitation |
| year. | | | | (VocRehab), Trade Adjustment Assistance (TRAY |
| So what are your options to pay for truck driving | | | | TAA), and the welfare-to-work (WtW) programs. |
| school? The first option is to pay for your tuition out of | | | | Military veterans have the additional option of applying |
| pocket using money from a checking, savings, money | | | | for funding through the Veterans Administration (VA). |
| market, certificate of deposit or other financial | | | | The important thing to remember about paying for |
| accounts. If $4,000 is not available in a bank account | | | | truck driver training is that you have options. So don't |
| you could consider borrowing the money from a friend | | | | wait. Waiting will only cost you more time and money. |
| or family member. Tuition can also be charged using a | | | | |