wouldn't you think personal training is better, i've spent way more hours, that are verifiable in a truck, loaded and empty, from texas to left coast, and all points between, than any school is gonna give a student, plus i learned alot of extra stuff ie; how to adjust brakes,going thru chicken coops, ect. please tell me what you guys & gals think about this

If you have experience without incident, that's a big plus. But is this really your biggest issue?

by all means this is far from my biggest issue, but I refuse to give up, have 3 kids depending on me, have 2 dui 1 is 18 yrs other is 22 yrs, poss. 18 yrs, boy I sure was stupid when I was young

I don't think anyone can look back and not say we were stupid back then....

I liked school & learned a lot there...But real world experiance is invaluable...

There's two ways to look at it.

As you, you see X miles of driving experience. You know what backing, turning, loading, etc you did. It's unstructured and was fun, free, and fit your current needs.

Employer might see it more like X miles of driving experience, but no verifiable backing, turning, loading, etc experience. Do you know how to log? can you trip plan? Etc.

If you go through a school (I'll pick PTDI certified, cuz I like to recommend them), he KNOWS what training you have had, and where the gaps are.

But in either event, I think the experience was invaluable and should stand you in good stead.

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Keep the big doors at the back!

Like Lurchgs said...schools play a part...

Companies that arent just opening and new to the world...9 times out of 10 hired students from the school you would attend...so they know the quality of driver and training they would have...this helps with job placement...which is the major key...

Some companies might say you need 1 year experience to work for them...but if you went to a school they approve of then you might still be able to get in compared to someone that has a CDL with no driving experience by "proof"...so basicly with schooling you have better job options unless you have connections and you just need your CDL to work for a certain company...

I'm currently in school and our instructors were drivers that stopped to teach...so we'll learn the text book way of doing things...then learn what most drivers actually do...and we have company reps that come and show presentations about the company so we can compare...we get pre hires...meaning whoever accepted someone...that person would go to that company right from graduation...

And the best thing about being in school is you can and focus just on that...not worrying about how your friend would feel if you crash his truck...or hit a curb or break his clutch...

Thanks for your input guys, I have six months of verifiable training, and the man who trained me has an outstanding reputation with several magor carriers (he is retired now after 40 yrs service). Yes I know quite a bit about logging and trip planning, and if needed have paperwork to prove, as for backing, I was pulling only doubles, which we all no can't be backed, but I have backed a 26' footer plenty of times, which to my understanding is harder cause the trailer turns quicker. Have backed a 53' a few times, but not near as many. Also did my training in a cabover, (an old 90 model kenworth), but I feel though my experience is very good so far, and maybe with the help of the man who trained so will potential employers. DO ME A FAVOR AND PLEASE KEEP THOSE COMMENTS COMING, AND ALSO ANY SUGGESTIONS. THANKS, TXBOWHNTR