Pros and Cons of Carrier Paid Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) Training Programs

Due to the on-going demand for professional truck drivers, trucking companies compete to recruit and retain drivers, often offering company paid CDL training programs which creates great career opportunities for individuals who cannot afford to attend an independently owned and operated school or community college.

There are pros and cons to consider when deciding to attend a company paid CDL training program versus a non-company sponsored training program.

The biggest benefits of attending a company paid CDL program is that you will not have to shell out or borrow thousands of dollars for school tuition. In addition, some carriers offer signing bonuses and compensation during the training program. Of course, the other benefit of this arrangement is that you likely guaranteed a job after you finish your CDL training.

But as the old saying goes, “there is no free lunch”, there are some drawbacks to attending a company paid CDL training program.

Typically, you are obligated to work for the sponsoring company for a number of months or you have to reimburse the company for the tuition. Therefore, you should sufficiently research your options and make sure you want to work for the trucking company in advance of starting a company paid training program. Many students go into their CDL training without much knowledge about the job or industry, therefore they prefer not to commit to a specific job or “haul type” prior to getting their CDL. For additional information about the different “haul types” of a professional truck driver, watch this video.

Also, Company paid training programs are often in select locations in the country, so you may have to temporarily relocate to the area of the school. In some cases, these programs will provide housing, meals and transportation.

For additional guidance on the pros and cons of a company sponsored CDL training program, watch this video.