Cypress Truck Lines Trucking School Review – Company Paid CDL Training

In 1912, a man named H.C. Ploof decided to start his own transport company in Jacksonville, Florida. He called it Ploof Transfer Company and, with only a few wagons and some mules to pull them, he began transporting construction materials for local builders. By 1941, H.C. Ploof had expanded Ploof Transfer Company, substituting wagons and mules for powerful tractors and trailers. That year, the company was acquired by W.B. Copeland, who changed the name to Ploof Truck Lines, Inc. Cypress Truck Lines was founded in the year 1972.

By 1999, Ploof Truck Lines, Inc. was in Chapter 11 Bankruptcy. It was then that David V. Penland, President of Cypress Truck Lines, Inc. purchased the assets of Ploof Truck Lines out of bankruptcy and changed the name of the company to Ploof Carriers Corporation.

Now, almost 20 years later, Cypress Trucking and Ploof Carriers have merged together to become one of the largest flatbed carriers in the U.S., operating a fleet of over 500 tractors and 1,200 flatbed trailers nationwide, with terminals in Florida, Georgia, Texas, and North Carolina. Currently, Cypress Truck Lines is the largest gypsum carrier in the United States.

It’s at the Jacksonville terminal in Florida where students go to receive paid CDL training from Cypress Truck Lines. Not only is the Cypress trucking school free, with no up-front tuition cost or payroll deductions, trainees are paid $500 per week during the entire length of the 7-week OTR training program. While students are not paid during the 4 weeks of CDL school, they do receive free lodging.

Please keep in mind that you must already possess your commercial learner’s permit (CLP) before you can start Cypress Trucking’s paid CDL training program.

During the first 3 weeks of CDL school, you’ll mostly be in the classroom, learning about company policies, proper logging, Cypress Trucking’s in-cab communication systems, and more. You’ll also spend time on the driving range, practicing backing maneuvers, turning, gear-shifting, and more. During the fourth and final week of school you’ll mainly be on the driving range, perfecting your backing and gear shifting skills.

While Cypress Trucking does provide free lodging, you will be responsible for your own meals. There’s no need to worry about transportation though since Cypress’s dorm rooms are conveniently on-site and only a short walk away from the training center.

Be sure to bring:

• Money for food
• Toiletries
• Clean clothes
• Pen & pencil
• Paper
• Calculator

One of the great things about Cypress trucking school’s paid CDL training program is that the classes are very small with only 6 to 10 students per class. Not only that, you’ll each have your own truck on the driving range since Cypress Truck Lines doesn’t force students to share trucks.

Once you complete the first 4 weeks of the training program, you’ll then begin your over-the-road driver training. The OTR training phase lasts for approximately 6 to 7 weeks. You’ll be paired up with a highly experienced personal trainer who will observe and mentor you from the passenger seat as you go on “solo” runs. You’ll also receive 1 week of flatbed securement training during this time. Cypress Trucking will pay you $100 per day from Monday through Friday, totaling $500 per week.

One downside of the OTR training phase is that Cypress cannot guarantee that you’ll be home every weekend. You should expect to be away from home for the entire 6 to 7 weeks of training. While this sounds like an inconvenience, keep in mind that once you are hired on as a Cypress truck driver, you can expect to be home each and every weekend.

Once you fulfill the 6 to 7 weeks of OTR driver training, you’ll head to either the Jacksonville terminal in Florida, the Smyrna terminal in Georgia, or the Abilene terminal in Texas, for your week long paid orientation. It is during this time that you’ll take a DOT physical and undergo a DOT drug screening, fill out all your payroll and insurance paperwork.

After that, you’ll watch instructional videos and participate in some short teaching lesson, before being tested one last time on the lot. You’ll be paid $100 per day from Monday thru Friday for a total of $500. If you live further than 50 miles from the closest orientation terminal, Cypress Trucking will pay for your bus ticket.

Orientation starts promptly at 8 a.m., except for the Abilene, Texas orientation, which starts at 8:30 a.m. Do NOT be late.

You’ll need to bring the following to orientation:

• 10 years of employment history.
• If you were self-employed the past 10 years, verification via w-2 or tax forms.
• If you had any lapses of employment during the last 10 years, bring verification, such as a letter from friends and non-immediate family members or unemployment check stubs.
• A valid U.S. driver’s license.
• Your original Social Security card or your birth certificate.
• A copy of your DD214, if you were in the armed service anytime during the past 10 years.
• A voided check or deposit slip along with the address and phone number of your bank.
• TWIC card (You’ll begin the pre-registration process at orientation. Fees will be payroll deducted).
• Money for food.
• Clean clothes.
• Work boots (non-slip).
• No shorts, tennis shoes, sandals, or cowboy boots allowed.
• Lodging is provided unless you live within 50 miles of the terminal.
• Meals are not provided.

After you have completed the paid orientation program and obtained your Class A CDL, Cypress will then hire you on as a driver, and you’ll be assigned your own truck. You’ll start doing solo runs, making 40 cents per mile loaded and 34 cents per mile empty. After 6 months of full-time employment, you’ll get a 1cpm raise. You can also expect to be home every weekend.

While Cypress Trucking does not deduct any money from your paycheck each week, you are contractually obligated to drive for them for at least 1 full year in order for your tuition to remain free. One full year is the average length of contracted driving time for most paid CDL training programs.

While Cypress Truck Lines requires you to pay for your own meals during CDL school, without receiving any sort of compensation, there is no up-front tuition cost, lodging is provided for, and classes are small. Plus, as long as you fulfill your end of the agreement and drive for Cypress for 1 year, your tuition will remain free, making Cypress Trucking’s company paid CDL training program a great deal overall.

Benefits:

• Cypress Trucking’s CDL school is in sunny Jacksonville, FL with free lodging and no tuition cost.
• Class sizes are small with only 6-10 students. Students are given their own truck to practice on.
• The school’s dorm rooms are conveniently located on-site.
• You’ll receive 6-7 weeks of OTR training & flatbed securement training with weekly pay of $500.
• If you wish, you can request a personal trainer who doesn’t smoke.
• You’ll get paid $100 per day during the 5-day orientation program.
• If you live 50+ miles from the nearest orientation terminal, Cypress Trucking will pay for your bus ticket.
• You’re guaranteed at least 1 year of full-time employment once you are hired by Cypress Truck Lines.
• If you fulfill your contractual obligation by driving for Cypress for 1 year, your tuition is free.
• You’ll start out at 40 cents per mile loaded and 34cpm empty, with a 1cpm raise after 6 months.
• Regional and OTR drivers make 40-45cpm loaded and 34-40cpm empty based on experience.
• As a Cypress Trucking driver you’ll generally make between $50,000 and $75,000 per year.
• You’ll get a $250 bonus at 30 days, $250/90 days, $500/6 months, $500/9 months & $500/Year.
• You’ll get up to $120/day of layover pay, $26 stop pay after the first stop, $10/hr detention pay.
• You get health, dental & vision ins. & a 401(k) that matches $.50 on the dollar up to 6% of gross.
• After 1 full year of employment you’ll receive 1 week of paid vacation & 2 weeks after 2 years.
• You’ll be eligible for a safety bonus at the end of each year of employment.
• You’ll be eligible for the Top Dog Performance Bonus based on your yearly mileage.
• All trucks are Peterbilt, Freightliner, Kenworth, and International trucks governed at 64mph.
• All late-model trucks have APU units, electronic logs, GPS navigation, and on-board cameras.
• 90% of all loads are pre-loaded and pre-tarped.
• You are allowed 1 pet on board but, the only passenger allowed on-board is your spouse.
• You will have the opportunity to work your way up to fleet/driver manager or safety supervisor.

Requirements:

• You must be at least 21 years of age to apply (26 to qualify without experience).
• You must possess a U.S. driver’s license that is valid for the last 3 years.
• You must be a legal U.S. citizen or legally allowed to work in the United States (Green Card).
• You must have a verifiable U.S. residential address going back 3 years.
• You must be able to pass DOT Urine and Drug Free Workplace Hair Follicle Tests.
• You must have a safe driving record.
• You must not have had any reckless driving tickets during the last 10 years.
• You must not have had any rear accidents or rollovers during the last 5 years.
• You must not have had any drug or alcohol (DUI/DWI) violations during the last 10 years.
• You must not have had more than 1 DUI/DWI in your lifetime.
• Any convictions on your criminal record will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

Cypress Trucking School Locations:

Cypress Truck Lines, Inc. (Orientation)
102 Spinks Road
Abilene, TX 79603

Get Paid While You Train and Make $45,000 or More Your First Year with Paid CDL Training!

Are you ready to take the next step and begin your career as a well-paid professional truck driver? We’ve partnered with some of the best trucking companies in the nation and have helped thousands of people just like you get into a high quality paid CDL training program. You can get your CDL in as little as 3 weeks and start making good money as a professional truck driver. Plus, you can make up to $500 per week while you train!

Here’s what you can expect from the paid CDL training programs in our network:

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