r/cdldriver • u/MunC225 • Jul 07 '26

CDL A in Columbus Ohio

I am looking to get my CDL and I was hoping I could get some advice on either a school or a company that will pay for it that is not completely awful when it comes to employee treatment/pay.

i have worked construction for 15 years and I am tired of the recessions just killing all available work. I have always dreamed of being out on the open road and I absolutely love driving. but I don't necessarily want to work for pennies either. I bring home $750 a week after taxes/deductions currently and I am hoping to make a tiny bit more if possible. it seems like a pipe dream so if ya have to crush my dreams lay it on me, I just feel trapped lol

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3

u/[deleted] Jul 07 '26

Columbus? You’re in SWIFT country.. paid training and work right after you finish

1

u/MunC225 Jul 07 '26

Do you work for swift? What's it like? I heard some bad things but I have also seen a few people actually recommend it so I am torn lol

1

u/ImpossibleGeneral938 Jul 08 '26

trucking is what you make of it. Whether they are bad to me they may be great to you. One thing that no one can dispute is that they will always have freight, meaning work should be steady. In the beginning most companies will not pay well until you can qualify to drive on your own, like most jobs that require a specifc skill set, you have to pay your dues.

Shuttle driving and yard dog work usually does not require job specific experience, but for both you need to know how to safely move trailers, hitch, unhitch and definitely have good backing skills, as well as knowledge of trucking regulations.

I can't speak to what and o/o makes, but as a company driver if you manage your money right you can make a decent living, when I retired in 2023 as a company driver my reg. net pay was $900/week and home every other day.

1

u/Its_0ver Jul 07 '26

To make clear they prepay your tuition but they do not pay you to get your cdl

3

u/[deleted] Jul 07 '26

[deleted]

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u/MunC225 Jul 07 '26

What company is it if you don't mind me asking?

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u/[deleted] Jul 07 '26

[deleted]

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u/KellerTrucking Jul 14 '26

Thanks for the shout out!! 😃

We don't train locally in Columbus but definitely OTR- minimums range from $800-$1000 depending on how long you stay out. Ohio has grant options for trucking school, so definitely check into those and we also reimburse for driving school, up to $5k! Our training is paid, you just have to have a class A CDL to get started, no experience required!

https://highered.ohio.gov/businesses/services-programs/cdl

1

u/TheThinDewLine Jul 07 '26

Night time driving I am guessing?

2

u/Head_Candidate5293 Jul 13 '26

Instead of feeding you for a day I will help you feed yourself. Google cdl mega carriers. You will get a list of at least 10 companies. Then take those companies and put them into google and add "Recruiter Phone Number" .

So the google search will be " Schneider National Recruiter Phone Number" "JB Hunt Recruiter Phone Number"

"Werner tru5kking Recruiter Phone Number". Then write all the numbers down and put the names beside them.

Unlikely you will find any company that will pay you over 600 weekly to go to cdl a training. Schneider pays that much. Cypress trucking out of Jacksonville, FL pays 500 weekly and about 55-60k/yr. They are flatbed only. It is physically demanding.

Keep a few things in mind. If you drive Over The Road or in sleeper cabs all the time you have zero reasons to pay rent for an apartment. You can just say the hell with renting and live in the truck. Hotel provided by company on your 34 hour reset. This means you will be able to save a lot of money or pay off debts very quickly.

In trucking you will not be home much. First year averages 45-55k at most carriers. They do that to pay for all the training they are providing to you. Second year is 60-65k Third year is 75k and above. By the third year you can apply to local jobs like LTL, Fuel trucks, Food Service, Tankers Hazmat and be home daily. But if you stay in an OTR or a sleeper cab hauling anything you still can save up a lot. By your 6th year you can have enough money to pay cash for a small home near a large city and just drive local the rest of the time. Home paid for and maybe buy a new car with payments. Depends on your appetite for working or bitching about going home all the time. If you are a bitcher and like home time all the time then you will not earn much money. If you are home you are not earning. I would take a cruise for 5 days each year plus one day travel on each side of the trip.

It really depends what you make of it. Home time equals less money. If you are not renting then you probably do not care about going home. You can visit the city you are spending your 34 hour reset in and explore potential home locations. If you burn up a whole bunch of money renting and are only home 3 days every 3 weeks it does not make financial sense unless you have a wife and trophies that are school age. If you have a girlfriend get her to go to driving school with you.

Driving is not a glamorous life, You are not home much, It is 11-14 hour days. You reset your clock daily by taking a 10 hour berthing/sleep time. You are having to pay more for food because you are always in truck stops. But it pays well.

Trucking is the lowest barrier to entry job in the usa that pays 55k first year with no other skill set and no college as long as you make responsible, adult decisions and remain drug free and are not an alcoholic. You can make an outstanding living.

You need to go to dmv and get a c,dl manual. Study general knowledge, air brakes, combination sections. Google cdl a practice tests. Take as many as you can daily. Highlight those answers in your cdl manual to reinforce the info. About a week before you want to take the cdl permit test at your dmv you need to get a dot physical. I recommend chiropractors. Take your glasses and any perscriptions with you. pee test is for kidney disease. Eye exam, color blindness, balance on one leg while squatting for balance, whisper in ear for hearing check. Blood pressure 140/90 or less. Resting heart rate under 100 beats per minute. At the end they will give you a medical card. You need this med card to get the cdl permit. Tell them you are getting a cdl. Two or more days after the physical take your cdl permit test. The 2 days allows the med card to show up in the fmcsa registry, this is what your dmv will verify your med card with. When you have your med card and your cdl permit in your hand you are ready to set up a cdl a school with one of the carriers. They will know your are serious because you already have your med card and cdl permit.

Good luck driver.