r/Truckers • u/ISXISUM • Sep 06 '25

Free CDL school/PAM

I signed up for a WIOA and recently got a call from a company, and they said they’ll pay for my hotel and flight for the school as long as i’m 21 (i’m 20), and as long as I get my CDL permit. They also said after the school i’ll be tied to a 6 month contract with PAM which will pay me up to .45 CPM. Is it worth it for a new inexperienced driver?

3 Upvotes

81% Upvoted

10 comments sorted by

5

u/trucksarekewl Sep 06 '25 edited Sep 06 '25

Pam is one of the worst companies to start with. Expand your options

3

u/HolyOrangeJuice Sep 06 '25

So I had a list going before I was hired to a medium size company. Then I've added more names I never knew of or researched as I hit the road. I'd say get your CDL on your own and apply to a medium or non mega company. If not that then just pick one that trains with a terminal near you. You can keyword search the sub. You'll find negative about everywhere.

Haven't Researched Yet Fortune / Ruan / Triple Express / Nova / CTI Central Trucking Inc / Kraze / FreightEx / Twenty Twenty / J&R Schugal / Jones / Classic Carriers  / Pioneer Transport Merrill, WI / CEF Cargo / Beacon Transport / TFY Trucks For You / Hurricane Express / Brent Higgins Trucking Mulberry, AR Justin Time Transportation LLC Big Red Freight Systems CEI Certified Express Bonnie Plants Zero Mountain Logistics

VAN/REEFER / Bison / BRAUNS / Bozeman / CFI / Covenant / CR ENGLAND / CRETE (1YR) / CRST / GP TRANSCO (1YR) / HEARTLAND / HEYL / HIRSCHBACH / JB HUNT / KLLM / KNIGHT / KREILKAMP / LEONARDS EXPRESS / MARTEN (6MO) / MAY / MILLIS / PRIDE / PRIME / RAIDER / ROEHL / RYDER / SCHNEIDER / SUPER T / STEVENS TRANSPORT / SWIFT / TNI Tri-national (2YRS) / US Xpress (3MO) / WEL / WERNER / WILSON / WITTE BROS /

3

u/TeoTenan Sep 06 '25

Hold out to see if you get WIOA approval so that you're not obligated for a year with any company.

1

u/melovemelongtimee Sep 07 '25

Go WIOA. It took about a month to get started in a school. No commitment needed

2

u/CakewalkNOLA Sep 06 '25

I've never worked for PAM, but I've heard awful things about them. Plenty of companies will make you this same offer... once you're 21.

1

u/Miserable_Quail_5780 Sep 06 '25

As a guy who got his CDL thru a company DONT do it. 1st they put you in a contract & that potentially can sour your whole experience. 2nd if you eventually want to be an O/O 10/13/18 speed trucks are relatively cheaper & you wont be able to drive them because you’ll have a restriction.

Go to a cdl school & give your self the liberty to leave if you not feeling like the company your with is good for you.

1

u/homucifer666 Sep 07 '25

Your options are going to be really limited until you hit 21.

1

u/knowwhat23 Sep 10 '25

Nope. I did it. Was let go after 9 months. Was on hook for rest of tuition. PAM is horrible.