Paid truck driver training from companies with good reputations can be a great option for the right person. However, you should be fully informed on both the pros and cons of company-sponsored truck driver training before signing a contract.
Pros of Company Paid Truck Driver Training
Paid truck driver training can seem like the perfect option for someone who can’t afford truck driving school or for someone who is unable to get financing at a private trucking company or community college.
Paid training programs last from a few weeks to a few months. When you have completed the requirements, you will go on the company payroll. Other possible perks can include:
- Driving newer equipment with no-touch cargo
- Minimal stops with a good amount of time at home
- Full benefits and retirement plan after 90 days
In some situations, both transportation to the training facility and housing while you are in training may be paid for by the company.
“Is Paid Truck Driver Training Too Good to Be True?”
Before you sign up, it’s important to know what companies require of you when they pay for your training. It costs the company time and money to train you to become a trucker, which means they will expect you to pay them back for this expense. This payback is in the form of an employment contract with the company that has provided the CDL training, which typically lasts for one year.
If you do not fulfill your employment contract you must pay back the training costs and related expenses. This means you will need to stay with the company that trains you, for the contracted period of time, to avoid paying extra money in penalties. But, staying with your first company for a while will look good on your work history, and it will make you a good candidate for a higher paying job in the future.
Possible Downsides of Company-Sponsored Truck Driving Schools
- You’ll need to sign a contract that ensures the company you’ll be working for them after training. Normally about 1 year.
- Lower cents-per-mile rate.
- Compared to truck driving schools, company sponsored training programs tend to have a higher ratio of students to instructors.
Just like with any contract, always read the fine print. Paid truck driver training is designed to help you become a truck driver without money up front. At the same time, without costing the company more than necessary.
Example Job with Company Paid CDL Training
CDL Training Today partners with some of the best trucking companies offering company paid truck driver training. See the featured job below with an example of how tuition reimbursement works.
CDL-A Truck Driver – No Experience Required – Paid Training
TMC
TMC is hiring entry level CDL A truck drivers near Syracuse, NY.
TMC is hiring entry level CDL-A truck drivers near Syracuse, NY. Get paid while you train and there are no upfront costs to you.
Benefits
- Health Insurance (Medical, Dental, and Vision)
- Latest model Peterbilt equipment
- Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP)
- Home Weekends – our flatbed drivers typically run within a 1,200-mile radius of their home
Requirements
- CDL Learners permit from your state of residence
- No recent DOT-reportable accidents or DUIs
- Military experience equivalency may substitute for some requirements
Pay
- Drivers average $88,000 annually, $1,300 – $1,500 per week
No Out of Pocket Costs for Training
Despite being one of the top quality training programs, TMC does not require students to pay up front. A commitment to drive for TMC for at least one year allows you the opportunity to get your CDL without the burden of tuition. You will have transportation to our facilities, housing, and some meals covered for you. During the entire training process, you receive $500 per week.
Find a CDL school in New York.
^ Yes, that’s a real job.
Overall, company sponsored training is a great way to get your foot in the door of the trucking world. Truck drivers can make a great living doing something they love. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, truck drivers in 2022 earned an average of $53,090, with the top 10 percent making $75,220.
Read all about financial aid for CDL school here.
