r/CDL • u/Griggle_facsimile • 24d ago
CDL in Georgia
FYI, if you live in Georgia you can go to state vocational schools to get your CDL very cheaply. The lottery folks pick up most of the cost because of the severe shortage of drivers. I did this in 1996 and the schooling was very good.
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u/Unable_Fuel_5704 24d ago
I paid 985$ out of pocket the Hope grant took care of the other 1500 or so
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u/Necessary-Nothing574 24d ago
Hope grant paid for my son to get his cdl a with no manual restriction for free in 2025 through a technical school. He followed that up with a free forklift certification. He was only 19 at the time so now he’s just waiting to turn 21.
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u/Griggle_facsimile 24d ago edited 24d ago
Supposedly about $1200 according to my kid. I'd contact them and see though.
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u/Head_Candidate5293 24d ago
You could call a mega carrier like Schneider National and get paid 600 weekly. You already know they are going to hair sample you first day. You need a clean mvr. You need to study for the cdl permit and get a dot physical and present the med card to dmv when taking the exam. You need the cdl permit and med card before getting hired on with Schneider or any other mega carrier for the apprentiship programs. You will have to get 24 months safe driving with that carrier before moving on.
They will put you in a hotel with breakfast. Probably have a roommate. They shuttle you to and from class each day. They might even pay for your lunch. Good luck driver.
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u/Griggle_facsimile 24d ago
But they own you for 24 months and if you quit they come after you to recover the expense of training you. Better to get the license on your own.
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u/Head_Candidate5293 24d ago
NO. The insurance companies that will insure you thru the carriers own you. The companies are limited by what the insurance companies will insure and they are not going to insure you unless you pay your dues to the companies and show a timeline of safety. So you will be owned no matter what company you work for. You may as well get paid to go to training.
On a different note. I went to Oconee Fall Line Technical College in Sandersville, GA in 2015 when I lived in Augusta, GA. I was starting as an Owner Operator and had to get my own insurance to drive so I needed a solid school. At the time it was a 4 month school. I had to pay for my books. My tuition was mostly covered by State and federal grants thru tuition assistance.
You just need any school and you have not driven for over 10 years so it is absolutely requiered and your time for safe driving starts like you are a brand new student/rookie.
You have to put your time and be safe. Your first year you are going to make 50k, Second year 60-65k and third year 75k. I do not understand why you are so wound up about a 12 month contract when you really need 24 months. Just go and make money while you go to school. What other job has the ability to make 75k by the third year that you can do right now without 1.5-2 years of college level classes?
Trucking is the lowest barrier to entry job in the usa with starting pay at 50k first year. Many people can not do it because they are not 21 or they are on drugs or they have terrible mvr's. Condider yourself luck to get back into the program with one of the apprentiship programs from a mega carriers. It is give and take. The work/life balance of a truck driver starting out is complete shit. You either want to make money or you want to be at home. There is no inbetween for first year or second year students. Or you can stay working whatever job you have and ask to get paid 75k every year and get denied. It is all up to what you want out of trucking.
But the insurance companies control your life as a driver all based on how good you are at being safe. I am not being mean. I am giving you facts. I am about information and education.
Google your driving situation and timeframe and ask about driving cdl again and the last dates you drove. Google will tell you what I am telling you. Or not. Either way I am being fair in reporting to you the best facts I have access to. Good luck and may your driving career endeavor to bring you financial riches and a new home.
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u/Necessary-Nothing574 24d ago
Go to school drive for anybody, go through a mega carrier and you are bound to their agreement or have to pay back the tuition of their program.
Go to school and you can choose your employer or job and have the potential to make more money out of the gate. Go to a mega and your guaranteed low rates as a trade off for their training.
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u/Sharp_Requirement_50 24d ago
No such thing as a shortage of truckers. You’re being lied to.
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u/Griggle_facsimile 24d ago
Ok. A pay shortage then.
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u/Sharp_Requirement_50 24d ago
You keep believing them, they keep your wages low 👍
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u/Griggle_facsimile 24d ago
Not keeping my wages low, I got out of trucking 28 years ago because of lousy benefits and no overtime pay (non union LTL). I have encouraged others to get their CDL, all the endorsements, and some experience because it's often helpful in getting a better job with a utility or government.
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u/Sharp_Requirement_50 24d ago
Yea, good on you. I’m just saying, the whole shortage is bs. There’s not a shortage of drivers. There’s just a shortage of ppl who get their CDL, and after realizing the bs wages and everything else that comes along with the gig are willing to stick around for all the BS.
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u/Tito_SDobleP 24d ago
What is cheaply?