| I have lost count on how many "new" drivers have | | | | problem getting hired, asked them about the six |
| contacted me explaining that they have completed a | | | | months to a year of experience that the insurance |
| truck driving course and now have their CDL, but they | | | | companies require and see what they say. Most all of |
| cannot get hired. The reason is always the same . . . | | | | these "schools" have contracts with certain trucking |
| they do not have enough experience. Many of these | | | | companies that will hire you after you complete your |
| drivers are not understanding the reasoning behind this | | | | CDL course. But you can only work for them, |
| before they pay the thousands of dollars for a truck | | | | therefore you are stuck with that company only. If you |
| driving school. | | | | believe you can go to a truck driving school and |
| The truck driving schools will always tell you that you | | | | immediately go anywhere and start working locally, |
| will have no problem getting hired after you achieve | | | | chances are you will be wrong. Your only choices will |
| your CDL. This in fact, is true to a certain point, but | | | | be to go with the giant trucking companies working |
| what they don't tell you is the key factor you need to | | | | over the road, until you can build up the experience |
| know BEFORE you enter into a truck driving school. | | | | required by the insurance companies. There are |
| Laws concerning the commercial driver have gotten | | | | hundreds of these trucking companies that will hire |
| very strict in the last several years, especially after 911. | | | | "new grads" and get them "pushed" through on "their" |
| New drivers are always telling me that the company | | | | insurance. The only problem is that over the road may |
| wants at least six months to a year of experience | | | | not have been in your plans. |
| before they can hire them. So now, they have spent | | | | Also, keep in mind that while you are at the mercy of |
| thousands of dollars for a CDL, but have no driving | | | | these giant companies, you will be at the low end of |
| experience, so they cannot get hired. It really is not the | | | | the pay scale . . . usually around $300 per week. |
| company that won't hire them, but the problem lies with | | | | Thereafter, the raises will be slow coming. This is how |
| their insurance company. | | | | trucking companies can get their freight moved cheap . |
| The trucking company's insurance carrier is actually the | | | | . . by constantly hiring "new grads" and weeding out |
| one that requires the six months to a year of | | | | the drivers that are now at the top end of the pay |
| experience. So how can the truck driving schools claim | | | | scale. |
| that you will have no problem getting hired? The | | | | If your plans are to work locally as a professional |
| answer lies with the mega trucking companies. These | | | | driver and you have no experience, chances are you |
| giant companies offer their own "truck driving schools" | | | | will have to attend a truck driving school and be forced |
| that will land you your CDL, and then you will be | | | | to work for one of the larger trucking companies as |
| required to work for them and them alone, usually | | | | an over the road driver. These schools provided by |
| riding with a "trainer" for 6-8 weeks before being | | | | the trucking companies can run as high as $4000 or |
| allowed to "go it alone." In addition, during all this time, | | | | more. There is a much cheaper way to go than using |
| you will be at the low end of the pay scale. Also, many | | | | these trucking company's so-called "schools." |
| of these massive trucking companies are their OWN | | | | Only after you accumulate six months to a year of |
| insurance company! Therefore, they can "bend" the | | | | driving experience meeting the criteria of the insurance |
| rules so to speak. | | | | companies, will you be able to go anywhere and get a |
| If the truck driving school tells you that you will have no | | | | job . . . including a local one. |