Recommended weather to train in?

**Nighthawwk** · 07.29.2012

So I'll be back in the Chicago area in October, which is most likely when I'll enroll in an independent CDL A course. I could just as easily do other things instead for a few months, and enroll in January. That being said, would it be better to learn in the comfortable and crisp autumn days of Chicago, or will learning during January, the most brutal weather month in Chicago, be better prep for learning to drive in bad weather? Part of my concern is, I've not spent many holiday seasons at home the past several years, and I'm thinking being a new driver around the end of December means I probably won't have enough clout to get home time for the holidays?

**Wiseguywireless** · 07.29.2012

My Dad used to take me out in the winter to drive. Snow drifts and all. He said if I learned while it was hard to drive, I would do well all the other times. 34 years later and so far...... Perfect driving record. Thank God.

**STexan** · 07.29.2012

Somehow, I doubt you're going to see any road time if the roads are frozen. Do the Fall thing. There will be plenty of time and opportunity to get in your winter driving time and experience in your future.

**KE5WDP** · 07.29.2012

In the winter.

**stlvance** · 07.29.2012

better in the winter to train in you have immediate backup right next to you that way

**The Bird** · 07.29.2012

Winter is the best time to train. A trainer can take over if it gets real nasty. Around the third or fourth week with a student, I might even purposely take a road (such as OR 5

that gets nasty weather in the hopes we have to chain up.

**STexan** · 07.29.2012

The OP was not asking about when to "train" (as in with a mentor/trainer), but rather when to attend CDL school. I figured it would be better to do school in the fall and begin his job and train in the winter with someone who can actually provide a winter roads training benefit.

But I can understand his wishes to maybe doing school in December (and hit the road in the new year) so he can have this Christmas with his family.

**Scuby** · 07.29.2012

Nighthawk do it shortly after you get to Chicago. This way you'll get winter training out of the with your company.

**dixiechick** · 07.30.2012

I just talked to a recruiter who told me that the first two weeks of December are a good time to go to school because no one wants to be in training at Christmas time and the classes have very few attendees, which means better training because you get more one-on-one time. I am going the first week of December. I know I won't be home during Christmas but I am a single girl and that's okay. I will get it done and be able to drive in snow conditions (hopefully) during training so my trainer can help me drive on that stuff.

**The Bird** · 07.30.2012

Originally Posted by dixiechick

I will get it done and be able to drive in snow conditions (hopefully) during training so my trainer can help me drive on that stuff.

Living in Western WA (I use to live in Auburn) almost guarantees you will do some snow driving. One way or another, you have to cross the mountains to get in or out.