CDL without school?

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by madolive3, May 16, 2011.

  1. madolive3

    madolive3 Bobtail Member

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    May 16, 2011
    Vacaville,Ca
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    What are the chances of getting hired if I have my CDL and no experience?
    I can pass the written and rent a truck to practice the basic driving skills to pass the practical. I have a retired fella who drove for awhile to train me in those skills. Is that time in a school essential, or would driving with a company trainer be enough?
    I'm in my late forties and been a skilled worker all of my life. I'm self employed but feeling a need to get a long term more stable employment picture.
    Not broke or desperate just looking to the future.


    Thanks in advance
     
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  3. IMSAkid

    IMSAkid Light Load Member

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    May 9, 2011
    Downingtown pa
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    Slim to none. Most company's want to know what school you went to and prefer you have some experience with a truck before they will even talk to you about a job. Dont get me wrong its possible But in today's economy they are hiring but they are only going to shovel out training to a driver who went to a trucking school and even still your training isant over when you leave the school. The school will teach you the basics of how to drive a truck and know what you need to know about them. The company you get hired with than refines what you have learned into what they want you to know for driving. I just graduated from a school the 6th of this month with my CDL-A. I now have to go through another 6 to 8 weeks of training with Werner before I can drive alone.
    The reason for this is classroom tome mostly. i went through a week and a half of classroom learning just about everything there is to know about hasmat air brakes Downhill procedures, railroad crossing procedures, Log booking, Trailer hookup, Pretrip, Map reading, air brake testing, Tanker info, flatbed info, ETC. Anyone can be taught how to drive a truck its the classroom instruction that your paying for.

    Look around at some schools. There not to expensive (mine was $5000) But the good thing about it is most company's you get hired with will reimburse your tuition so in the grand scheme of it all your getting your CDL for free you just need to find a company that does this... You dont get it all back on one lump sum though. it usually comes in increments on your paycheck. There is also financial aid that some schools offer.
     
    Last edited: May 16, 2011
  4. lil may

    lil may Road Train Member

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    May 25, 2009
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    If you have your CDL try an expedite company
     
  5. fancypants

    fancypants Medium Load Member

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    Apr 14, 2010
    nw pa
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    Thats what i did. Start at a recycleing / gravel pit. Things like that.you,ll have to go to someones school to drive otr.
     
  6. Heirforce1

    Heirforce1 Medium Load Member

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    May 16, 2011
    The Windy City
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    One of the other things you could try is to see if one of the "Big companies" will allow you to take a refresher course and prove your skills. Almost all of them will require you to be with a trainer at least 2 weeks if not more. Be sure to do plenty of research on CDL schools because alot of them are driver factories just looking to make quotas and not teach safe drivers. I'm sure there are people online to direct you to the best ones-Good luck in your search!
     
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