How To Get Cdl License For Free

Paid CDL Training: How You Can Earn $3,500 While You Learn!

Company Paid CDL Training Let's You Earn While You Learn

A Comprehensive Review of 26 Free CDL Training Programs

Have you ever thought about changing your life and how much you get paid, but you're just not sure where to start? Are you tired of receiving a pathetic paycheck for hours upon hours of work? There is something that we know can help you get paid more and learn something new while doing it… company paid CDL training!

Truck driving is a career that offers freedom, good pay and an ever changing exciting employment environment . A job in this industry can change your life!

We've reviewed 26 of the best company paid truck driver training programs out there so you can choose the one that's right for you, obtain your commercial driver's license (CDL) and get paid while you train!

As you'll see in this article, some trucking companies will even pay you $500 or more per week while you train! This means that you could make $3,500 or more before you even start working as a truck driver, depending on how many weeks you'll be training. Plus, these trucking companies even guarantee you a job as a company truck driver as long as you complete the training on time and qualify for the job!

If you're asking yourself "How do I get the best paid CDL training near me?", this article will definitely help you answer that question and many more!

We're here to show you how you can become a successful truck driver, help you weigh your options when paying for truck driver training, and show you a list of 26 free CDL training programs and company sponsored truck driving schools that you may be interested in pursuing in order to become a professional truck driver.

While there are many truck driver training courses out there, some are reasonably priced, while others can end up costing you an arm and a leg. If you want to become a professional truck driver, but you're on a tight budget, then you'll want to consider paid training options.

In this article, we're going to show you the differences between company paid CDL training and out-of-pocket truck driver training at a private truck driving school. We'll show you the pros and cons of each so you can make the best decision. Afterwards, we'll show you the rundown on 26 different company paid CDL training programs we've reviewed. All 26 of the trucking companies we reviewed offer truck driving jobs with training.

We'll show you what you can expect when you arrive at school and what you'll learn. We'll also show you the benefits, requirements, and locations of each program so you can compare them all and see which trucker training program is best for you.

We have the locations of free CDL training programs in and around major cities like Los Angeles, New York, Miami, San Francisco, Phoenix, Indianapolis, Little Rock, Chattanooga, Memphis, Dallas, Houston, Fort Worth, Jacksonville, Tampa, Cedar Rapids, Des Moines, Omaha, Oklahoma City, Springfield, Sioux Falls, as well as smaller cities and towns and states throughout the USA. Many CDL schools can place you in truck driving jobs in their neighboring cities and counties.

Let's get started!

Paid CDL Training: What is it?

A CDL is a commercial driver's license that will allow you to operate and drive semi-trucks and other large automobiles. Without the proper truck driver training, you won't be able to obtain your commercial driver's license (CDL). Many trucking companies will pay for potential employees to receive truck driving training which will benefit them in the long run by bringing dependable, safe, and reliable drivers under their employment.

Some trucking companies provide this training "in-house", while other trucking companies send you to a private truck driving school and pay your tuition while you're there. This is known as a company sponsored truck driving school.

A few trucking companies do not offer free tuition up-front, but they will reimburse you the full amount of your tuition once they hire you on as a truck driver. Most trucking companies will require you to work for them for 1 year in order to pay back your tuition, deducting a certain amount from your paycheck each week until the full tuition amount has been paid off.

While company paid CDL training may seem like a "match made in Heaven," there are some pros and cons to take into account. Following is a short list of both pros and cons to consider when making your decision on whether or not you want to pursue free CDL training:

Pros

Free truck driver training
No experience necessary
Earn while you learn
Relatively short training period
Many trucking companies don't require a credit check
Guaranteed employment upon graduating
Great pay after 1 year on the job
You can start out making anywhere from $45,000 to $75,000 per year
Trucking companies are competitive
Sign-on bonuses
Full benefits
Yearly pay raises

Cons

Fast-paced schedule
10 to 15-hour training days and nights
You may have to travel a long distance to train
Weeks away from home
You may have to pay your own living expenses while training
High turnover rate of drivers
You are forced to work for the company that pays for your training
1-year commitment to employment
Forced to pay back the loan if you break your commitment
Some trucking companies will only reimburse your tuition

Just as with many other paid training courses and vocational training, there are things that you may have to settle for, but it can also depend on the company that you choose. Some trucking companies that offer free training know the importance of keeping great drivers, and as such, provide excellent training and treatment to their employees. It's all about finding the right trucking company or company sponsored truck driving school that is the best fit for you.

Most companies that offer free CDL training require that you work for them for at least a year. While that may seem like a long time for commitment, when you receive free truck driver training and a guaranteed job on top of it, it seems like a small price to pay. Once your one year contract or one year agreement is completed, you can find a job that may be more suited to your needs, but at least you will have received a year's worth of valuable experience and free CDL training.

Another benefit of company paid CDL training is that you'll receive medical, dental, and vision insurance, a company match 401(k) savings plan, paid vacation, and other valuable benefits, once you're hired by the company as a full-time truck driver.

When you look at company paid training and weigh it against the required commitment to employment, you may be pleased to discover that you get back much more than you may have ever expected.

How to Qualify for Free CDL Training

If you have never thought about starting a career as a truck driver through company paid CDL training or by attending a company sponsored truck driving school, you may be pleased to find out that you may not even have to pay to learn how. Truck driving for a living is a highly effective way to win big while doing something that almost every adult knows how to do: drive.

Now, don't get me wrong. Just because you know how to drive a car doesn't make you qualified to drive a fully loaded 80,000-pound semi tractor-trailer. Not even close. The good news is, with the right qualifications and "can-do" spirit, you can get the training you need to operate an 80,000-pound semi tractor-trailer in just a few short weeks.

In order to qualify for most free CDL training programs, you will need to have a clean driving record, a clean criminal background check, pass both a DOT physical and a DOT drug test, and be at least 21 years old.

If you are a responsible and focused individual, company paid truck driver training may be the "education" that you have been waiting for. While it does take some serious studying and weeks of repetitive practice, in the end, truck driving can be a financially lucrative career, as well as a personally rewarding experience.

What are the Requirements for Company Paid CDL Training?

If you decide that you'd like to apply to get accepted into a paid training program, you'll have to meet certain requirements in order to qualify. Most truck driving companies place high importance on safety and commitment. Below are some requirements that you'll have to meet when applying.

You must be at least 21 years old. Some programs require you to be at least 22 or 23 years old.
You must possess a valid U.S driver's license (usually for the past 365 days).
You must be a U.S citizen or legally allowed to work in the U.S. (Green Card).
You must not have any DUI/DWI convictions in the last 5 years.
Your driving record cannot contain any moving violations in the last 3 years.
You must pass a DOT medical examination.
You must pass a DOT drug test.
You must undergo a criminal history background check.
You must have a good work history that is verifiable for the last three years.
You must work for the trucking company for at least 1 year (some require 2 years commitment).

If you meet these ten requirements, you can be sure that you have a good chance of getting accepted into the company's free CDL training program and getting out there on the road as soon as possible.

How is company paid CDL training different from a pay-out-of-pocket truck driving school?

Perhaps you have some finances set aside for CDL classes and you would like to know if you should spend it on a truck driving school or save it for later. How does company paid CDL training differ from you paying for your own truck driver training at a private truck driving school?

One of the biggest ways that free CDL training programs differ from private truck driving schools is simply put… freedom. Typically, when you sign a contract for free CDL training, you have to work for them for a certain amount of time in order to pay off the full amount of your loan. While this isn't necessarily a bad thing, it could be a problem if, later on, you discover an option that is better for you, but you can't break your contract without being penalized.

Company Paid CDL Training

Most company sponsored truck driver training is due to a need of truck drivers and, as such, the trucking company wants to be sure they have your commitment, for at least 1 year, maybe longer. In a way this is a good thing, as it gives you some type of job security immediately after graduating, but if you like being able to spread your wings at a moment's notice, you may want to exercise caution when making your decision.

Living expenses can also come into play when deciding whether you want to sign up for company paid CDL training or pay your own way at a private truck driving school. One benefit of a pay-out-of-pocket truck driving school is that there are so many of them scattered across the country. Unless you live in the Yukon or in the middle of Death Valley, you are most likely just minutes away from a local truck driving school and could save yourself some serious money by commuting to class each day.

Another benefit of choosing to pay for your own CDL classes is that you may be able to find a school that is better suited to your learning needs and future goals when it comes to quality of instruction. If this matters to you, you may want to invest your money in the CDL school you are happiest with, knowing that quality truck driver training can provide you with almost immediate employment and a high return on your investment for many years to come.

Following are some pros and cons to attending CDL schools:

Pros

Freedom to work wherever you want to
Commitment to see the training through
Available for hire anywhere you like
Flexibility
Choice of school that you want to receive training at
Convenient locations
Being able to live at home while you train
Some federal and state grants may be available to help with the cost

Cons

Up-front cost
Lack of job security
Spent savings or money that may be difficult to come by
You may have to borrow money to pay your tuition
If you have bad credit, you may not be able to get a school loan
Financial aid rarely covers such short-term classes

Whether you decide to pursue company paid CDL training or go to a private trucking school on your own, you as an individual must determine the benefits that you will reap from each one. There is no cut-and-paste option for everyone.

Whether you choose to take advantage of free CDL training to ensure immediate job security, or decide to pay for CDL school on your own in order to accomplish your truck driving goals, both options provide you with benefits and drawbacks.