Should I get CDL training paying out of my own pocket or go for company funded training?

Paying out of my own pocket would cost me about close to $5000. There are a couple of trucking companies in some states that will give training on the condition that you work for the company for 1 year. Not sure if it's free or if they will take out dollars automatically out of your paycheck as reimbursement for the training. Staying with the company for 6 months would mean you just pay them half of what a CDL training would cost (so half of $5000). I guess getting my CDL training and paying out of my own pocket would mean freedom from whichever trucking company I choose to work with and perhaps in any location as well, unlike being trained by a company funded CDL training might mean I will have to stay with the company for 1 year (regardless of whether or not I like the area). I'm in Maryland. Which path should I choose? If I had a ton of money I would pay out of pocket just so I won't have to be stuck in one place for 1 year!

I started with Coastal Transport back in 1983, I even went to there driving school. As long as you sign the waiver which promise's them that you will work for that company for full year they will not charge you for the FULL amount. The amount is not PRORATED for each month of your service to the company. Sneider, JB Hunt and a few other's out there offer the samething. Just please remember to see how much home time you get, like every weekend or everyother weekend or in some instance's just whenever they can get you back in your region. And as far as paying for the training yourself, most people out there want a year over the road experience so please keep that in mind. The one's that don't of course pay for your training. Just keep a clean record for a few year's and get can get a job driving like in specialized freight. Good luck, D.T. from Savannah Georgia.

I will tell you my example... I wanted to work for the canadian federal government but I needed to brush up on my french stats. There's a very difficult oral exam that only people with practically fluent French could get. Well I enrolled myself in a school, took two weeks of sick days and paid from my own pocket for 8 hours total immersion courses. Plus other courses I continued doing etc brought me down into 11,000 in debt.
It was worth it though. I got the job and I do not feel I wasted money because I truly believe nothing beats spending for education. Now the government wants me to get even more fluent. They will pay for another 8 hours every day full immersion course, no matters how many months it will take to reach the level they want me to have.
I would try to get a loan and do it. It would open more doors than get you stuck in one place. I have a long way to go to pay off my debt but man, it was worth it. just one thing: each one knows how much they can afford. Be responsible and truthful to your finances and you will be fine. If you do not have the means just take the one year job and that is it.