What If I Can’t Afford Truck Driving School and Have Terrible Credit? Does that Matter?

The upfront costs of CDL training at Truck Driver Institute are roughly $200-$300 dollars and the total cost can reach thousands of dollars. For some, this cost may seem too high. So, what if you can’t afford truck driving school and have terrible credit? Luckily, there are multiple ways to decrease your overall costs, including grants, scholarships, and tuition reimbursement programs. Plus, if we can get you qualified for a major truck line, which is step one, we have ways to strengthen your credit acceptance.

Once you have your commercial driver’s license (CDL), most trucking companies will not use your credit score as a factor in their hiring process. Good credit is just a useful means to help pay if you can’t afford truck driving school out of pocket. However, it’s not the only way to pay for your CDL school. Read more about how much truck driving school costs overall

At Truck Driver Institute, and other truck driving schools across the country, there are opportunities to get financial aid to help lessen the burden of getting started. There are scholarships, grants, and loans available for people who are seeking to get their CDL. 

Bad credit also won’t disqualify you from student loans, so you can get your CDL even if your credit score is less than perfect. There are special training programs that you can apply for that will help fund your CDL schooling. However, keep in mind that Truck Driving Institute does not accept Title VI financial assistance, which is the FASFA form that you would fill out for traditional college or technical school.

Can’t Afford Truck Driving School Because of Bad Credit? Try Financial Assistance

The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity program (WIAO) and the Trade Adjustment Assistance are just two programs that can help you with tuition. According to WIAO’s website, their mission is to, “To strengthen and improve our nation’s public workforce system and help get Americans, including youth and those with significant barriers to employment, into high-quality jobs and careers and help employers hire and retain skilled workers.” These programs are put in place to assist those in difficult situations, so feel free to lean on them as much as you need. 

Sometimes, different truck driving schools will work directly with carriers to set a reimbursement program in place. These are fairly common and the idea is that you can sign an employment contract with a carrier before you get your CDL, and that carrier will pay for your truck driving school. But beware, in some instances, if you sign the contract and back out before your time is up, you may be required to pay the remaining balance that is due.

There are programs for military personnel and military spouses to get financial assistance as well. If you are eligible for GI Bill ® benefits or if your spouse is looking for a new career, then you could look into the possibility of driving a truck and have a skill set to fall back on when you re-enter civilian life.

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Ways to Boost Your Credit

Having a good credit score may not matter in some cases, but it is still important to try and raise your credit score if you’d like to make major life changes, such as buying your own truck in the future. The amount you owe and your payment history are huge factors in determining your credit score. Fortunately, the factors that determine your credit score are not a secret, and there are a few ways to help boost your credit. The simplest way to start building up your credit is by paying your bills on time, which shows that you are reliable. Also, your past payments are a good indicator of your future payments, so if a lender looks into your credit history and sees that you are dependable and that you pay your bills on time, you are more likely to get a loan. 

If you are having trouble keeping track of all your bills and when they are due, you can set up automatic payments, which takes the money out of your account and without you needing to remind yourself to make sure its paid. If you would prefer to make the payments manually, consider getting a calendar and making a note of when each thing is due or set reminders on your phone or computer. This way you will have notifications reminding you that your bills are due. 

Paying off any debts you may have is another factor to helping with your credit score. While it may be difficult to pay them off all at once, you can pay a little at a time to start working on lowering that balance. Also, try keeping your credit card balances low to avoid getting too much interest on it.

Get Ready for Your New Job with Truck Driver Institute

Truck Driver Institute is committed to helping everyone find a stable and high-paying career. So, if you can’t afford truck driving school and have terrible credit, contact us today!

Jon and Tammy Walker

Truck Driver Institute was the best choice for us. TDI allowed us to explore all carriers opportunities. The instructors were top notch, caring supportive and patient. We would recommend TDI to anyone interested in a career in the trucking industry.

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We have 10 Locations to Choose From:

ATLANTA

100 Industrial Park Drive
Forsyth, GA 31029

BIRMINGHAM

4939 U.S. 78
Oxford, AL 36203

GULFPORT

20214 Highway 49
Saucier, MS 39574

INDIANAPOLIS

3542 East 500 North
Whiteland, IN 46184

NASHVILLE

6201 Epps Mill Road
Christiana, TN 37037

ORLANDO

3700 St Johns Pkwy
SanfordFL 32771

PENSACOLA

5750 E. Milton Road
Milton, FL 32583

COLUMBIA

3425 Lancaster Highway
Richburg, SC 29729

SOUTH BEND

24645 S.R. 23
South Bend, IN 46680

TUPELO

341 East Franklin Street
Tupelo, MS 38802

CALL US TODAY AT 800-848-7364

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*For Post 9/11 GI Bill® (Ch 33) students and VA Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (Ch 31) students, our tuition policy complies with 38 USC 3679(e) which means Post 9/11 and Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment students will not be charged or otherwise penalized due to a delay in VA tuition and fee payments.  For eligibility consideration, a Post 9/11 GI Bill® student must submit a VA Certificate of Eligibility (COE) and a Vocational Rehabilitation Student must provide a VAF 28-1905 form. Students must provide school with a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) prior to beginning class, but not later than the first day of training. A print screen of Statement of Benefits page will be accepted in lieu of COE and verification of benefits will be required.  Please see 38 USC 3679(e) for complete details. GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government website at www.benefits.va.gov/gibill