Required time with trainer prior to driving solo

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by shatteredsquare, Oct 30, 2014.

  1. shatteredsquare

    shatteredsquare Road Train Member

    1,352
    1,764
    May 23, 2014
    middle dirt
    0
    The school I am looking at to get my CDL is International Driving School out of Las Cruces, NM and they said it's a 5 week school, about two weeks classroom and 3 weeks on the road with a trainer.

    My question is if I already got a pre-hire from Schneider before taking the school, what is required once I show up to Schneider with my CDL other than orientation? Do you have to do more training time before being given a truck?
    I'm transitioning out of the military and am trying to plan income source switching with as little unemployment time as possible, hopefully with 60 days of transition leave I can get school done with before getting out.
     
    surfernabox Thanks this.
  2. Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.

  3. surfernabox

    surfernabox Light Load Member

    68
    27
    Aug 31, 2012
    Athens, Alabama
    0
    Did you drive trucks in the military? If you haven't, i know you'd have to go to orientation and start out with a trainer for some time. When you first start out in trucking, everything is about training everywhere you go. I am most certain though, don't quote me, but i believe if you drove truck in the military Schneider gives you a pass from having to go out with a trainer and kinda just lets you test out. I know there is more info on their website. I was looking at them a couple days ago.
     
    hal380 Thanks this.
  4. shatteredsquare

    shatteredsquare Road Train Member

    1,352
    1,764
    May 23, 2014
    middle dirt
    0
    No hands on truck driving experience, but I am in the logistics field though. I'm just curious if I do 3 weeks with a trainer in school OTR if I'll have to do the whole company 5 weeks OTR in orientation, or is there a check-ride type shortened version for pre-hires that take care of school before showing up?
     
    surfernabox Thanks this.
  5. stevep1977

    stevep1977 Road Train Member

    3,688
    20,754
    Dec 23, 2010
    Chicago, IL
    0
    With Schneider, 1 week at terminal/orientation. Road practice, backing, etc and all the paperwork/classroom stuff. Week 2 with OTR trainer. Week 3 at terminal doing additional training, road test, classroom, etc. Week 4 or end of week 3 on your own. Considering you're in the El Paso area it seems, you'd probably have to park your truck on the east side of El Paso at our dropyard (if it's still at the same place, haven't been there in 2 years). You'd probably be based out of Dallas where you'd go for your training, but they might send you to Fontana, CA or SLC Utah for all I know.
     
    surfernabox Thanks this.
  6. shatteredsquare

    shatteredsquare Road Train Member

    1,352
    1,764
    May 23, 2014
    middle dirt
    0
    Fantasmatical, thanks for the quick replies! I really can't wait to get behind the wheel of one of these things and start rolling. I hope to never see an office job again. Politics is so dang rampant in every facet of business/government now days its near constant treachery.

    One great thing about the military is, if you end up not liking to make a career out of it, it has a way of aiding you in figuring out what you want to do with yourself reeeeal quick.
     
    surfernabox and lcfd15 Thank this.
  7. ethos

    ethos Road Train Member

    4,241
    9,872
    Mar 3, 2013
    Houston
    0
    I was a Trainer for Schneider Bulk. You do 10 days of orientation which includes in truck time then off with a trainer. Training time depends on you. If your good you can be done in as little as 4 or 5 days if not it may take longer. The longest I ever had a student was 3 weeks. Average was 10 days. After that you would do a final test at the terminal which takes 2 days and then you are done. From the start it should take about a month to get your own truck. You have to remember there will be delays, like a trainer not being available or having to wait a day or so for the final tests.
     
  8. warhippy

    warhippy Medium Load Member

    378
    335
    May 9, 2014
    Colorado Springs, CO
    0
    So you know you will also qualify for the VA Apprenticeship Program. My son and I receive it now. It's an extra $1200 a month that takes about 2-3 months after starting to receive. It helps a lot!

    You're being smart about your making the transition as quick as possible. Most wait awhile after ETS and then come into driving.
     
  9. shatteredsquare

    shatteredsquare Road Train Member

    1,352
    1,764
    May 23, 2014
    middle dirt
    0
    I saw that VA program, but it sounded more like "use your GI Bill to get your CDL." I don't want to touch my GI bill at all, I'm going to use my GI Bill to study jazz guitar in 6 years after I pay off my vics and buy me a nice trailer.
     
    Last edited: Oct 30, 2014
  10. canadianredneck

    canadianredneck Light Load Member

    228
    104
    Jul 26, 2012
    Western Arkansas
    0
    Most importantly, Thank you for your service and 2nd, welcome to trucking!
     
    surfernabox Thanks this.
  11. warhippy

    warhippy Medium Load Member

    378
    335
    May 9, 2014
    Colorado Springs, CO
    0
    Okay that was funny.....I had my degree and had never touched my GI Bill. My son was attending college but he was bored with it. I am hoping he will go back but he is a grown man and I'll support whatever decision he makes.
     
  • Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.