Trucking School Cost. Look Around.

**tdriver196** · 08.03.2012

This was my experience as a Newbie.

This is to those looking at private and independent schools. There may be other options.
In the area I live in there are 2 main private driving schools. And I was set on choosing between those two. Both run 4 weeks, and to someone that didn't know any different that sounded fine to me. Both cost around $3500.
Then a friend of mine that drives for a tanker co told me to call his terminal manager, who he said was a real great down to earth guy and had been in trucking for 30yrs and could give me some good and very valuable advice. I called and even though he had never meet me this guy took time out of his busy day to listen and advise me on how to get into trucking. He suggested I look into the community collage systems truck driving schools in our state. There was nothing wrong with the private ones he said, some had been in business for a long time and were good, but the cc schools were where I should be looking at. I did and found one that is 8 weeks or 380 class hours 5 days a week. They break it up with one day of in-class work and 4 day/week driving for 8 weeks. Overall a really much more comprehensive program than I had been looking at, and because of this they have several big name and several smaller companies that recrute out of that school. And one national very well respected co that only recrutes from that school in this area.
The cost for this school is $1300 instead of the $3500 I was getting ready to spend. Now I'm not poo-pooing any school but to those like me, look around. And for me getting that advise from someone in that kind of position was worth much more than the tuition savings.

**Vito** · 08.03.2012

160 hours or 380 class hours, when you get your CDL a company is still going to put you through a training program. So I guess it boils down to what fits in with your schedule/budget when picking a school for the CDL. After my 160 hours I know I've still got a lot to learn, and even with 380 hours I'd have a lot to learn. Heck, even after my 3 week training I know I'll still have a lot to learn.

But it's true, it pays to look around.

**tdriver196** · 08.03.2012

Originally Posted by Vito

160 hours or 380 class hours, when you get your CDL a company is still going to put you through a training program. So I guess it boils down to what fits in with your schedule/budget when picking a school for the CDL. After my 160 hours I know I've still got a lot to learn, and even with 380 hours I'd have a lot to learn. Heck, even after my 3 week training I know I'll still have a lot to learn.

But it's true, it pays to look around.

As I said I'm not putting any school. But for me I'm glad I looked around before signing up.
And yes I know I'll still have to go through a co school & trainner.

**JTHub** · 08.03.2012

Originally Posted by tdriver196

This was my experience as a Newbie.

This is to those looking at private and independent schools. There may be other options.
In the area I live in there are 2 main private driving schools. And I was set on choosing between those two. Both run 4 weeks, and to someone that didn't know any different that sounded fine to me. Both cost around $3500.
Then a friend of mine that drives for a tanker co told me to call his terminal manager, who he said was a real great down to earth guy and had been in trucking for 30yrs and could give me some good and very valuable advice. I called and even though he had never meet me this guy took time out of his busy day to listen and advise me on how to get into trucking. He suggested I look into the community collage systems truck driving schools in our state. There was nothing wrong with the private ones he said, some had been in business for a long time and were good, but the cc schools were where I should be looking at. I did and found one that is 8 weeks or 380 class hours 5 days a week. They break it up with one day of in-class work and 4 day/week driving for 8 weeks. Overall a really much more comprehensive program than I had been looking at, and because of this they have several big name and several smaller companies that recrute out of that school. And one national very well respected co that only recrutes from that school in this area.
The cost for this school is $1300 instead of the $3500 I was getting ready to spend. Now I'm not poo-pooing any school but to those like me, look around. And for me getting that advise from someone in that kind of position was worth much more than the tuition savings.

This mirrors the situation I'm going through except for the phone call to an experienced adviser. I realized the same thing after reading on here for several weeks.

I was looking at a private school that was going to cost $4000 and then found a community college that was $1038. It is also 8 weeks long and the only school around here certified by PTDI. I registered for class yesterday and start on Aug 15th.

Good luck to you and keep us up to date on your progress!

**chompi** · 08.03.2012

The community colleges are definitely cheaper but are much more longer. Like you had stated they are usually 8 weeks or so. The regular CDL mills are usually 3 weeks unless you opt for the weekend courses only in which case will be stretched over a longer period of time.

The company schooling is also shorter and usually 2-3 weeks. I personally would recommend this route because there is little to no money up front and I would rather be on the hook with a company than a bank or financial institution or better yet be on the hook for a government loan. If you default on a company loan for schooling they aren't going to come take your house! Plus if you are accepted to their school provided you pass the course you are guaranteed a job.