Free is always good. Well, for CDL training, that is not true. Learn more about the truth behind free CDL training and what you need to keep in mind when choosing a school. We’ll show you the difference between “free” schools and those that look out for your best interest.

Why Free Isn’t Free

We realize that not everyone has the money to pay for the CDL training out of pocket. And for most people, free CDL training sounds like a great deal. The problem is that these “free” CDL training offers come with a lot of caveats – some that can really cause you financial hardship. These are issues many are not aware of but are important. For example, some CDL training schools will advertise “Free CDL Training” or “Company Sponsored CDL Training.” You hear the promises they’ll pay for your entire training. All you have to do is sign a contract that you’ll work for their company at least a year after graduating. Sounds great, right? Not so fast. You need to be aware of a lot of fine print before signing any contract – even one for free tuition. First, if the company decides they don’t want to hire you anymore, YOU may now be responsible for the CDL training costs. Another sticky situation you won’t be prepared for is if you end up failing the training. Again, the CDL training costs may be handed over to you to take care of.

The Right To Hire

What if the company no longer wants or needs to hire you? That happens more than you think. Either a company no longer needs new workers or decides for whatever reason they do not want to hire you. Now you may be responsible for all your school costs. No more work contract equals no more deal to pay for your CDL training.

Work Environment and Payback

Let’s say you pass your training, and you work for the company you agreed to contract with. You discover too late in the game, like many inexperienced drivers, that they are paying you very little for long hours. You will get paid very low mileage rates and must work for that company for a certain length of time to pay off your training. If you decide to leave, you may have to pay for your “FREE” CDL training plus interest. Not only does this cheat you out of a good income, if you don’t like it and quit, but you’ll also owe for the training they promised to pay for. The other point to note is about non-completion. If you don’t complete training or stay for your designated contract length, you may be responsible for the cost of training.

Choosing the right truck driving school

When looking to get your Class A CDL, you want to find a school that has been around a while and has a history of training successful drivers. You don’t want to be tied down to a contract that isn’t in your best interest. The safest way to secure a successful career as a professional truck driver is to go to a well-established CDL training school. An excellent school will have job placement help options and financing that will help you pay for your tuition as long as you work for your new employer. This “free choice” method will give you a better variety of places to work. Many of the trucking carriers sti express inc works with offer up to 100 percent tuition reimbursement. The difference between that and a company offering free CDL training in exchange for your loyalty isn’t hard to figure out. The job that hires you sight unseen and pays for your school has an interest in making money. That free Class A CDL training may seem like a good idea, but you can bet that there is a disclaimer. Or sometimes, you end up having to pay for training, anyway. This is especially true if they decide not to hire you. Yet, with carriers who offer tuition reimbursement, they are doing it after you’re trained. That means they are choosing you based on want and a need, not the other way around. These carriers want you and know you have completed training. There’s nothing you owe them like you would have if you had chosen someone who pays for your school.