have you tried contacting the d.m.v., here in texas, they have trucks you can rent from them

most companies will not hire you with a cdl with no school and no experince.

I don't know how it works in Arkansas, but in Indiana you go to a third party test site to take your tests, you can bring your own or for a little extra use thier trucks, they usually have a couple tractor trailers on hand

No owner operators in the family, they all drive company trucks. Maverick is the company thats willing to train me but i have to get my cdl on my own. They stopped sending folks to school six months ago. i won't even get into what it takes to get on with these small companies around here. And the guys at penske said they only rent out box trucks for the class B cdl test. I guess I'll quit bitchin' and go to school. Thanks for all your help guys!

Like the guy above said...most companies want you to have some formal training. Some smaller companies would put you in a truck and train you if you showed some aptitude ,but their insurance company won't allow it. You probably already did, but I'd ask Maverick what school they usually hire from.

Hi there. Sounds like you and I are living the same life (CDL wise). I live in Oxford, AR and just got my CDL Class A on my own, like you are trying to do. There is NO 3rd party testing done ANYWHERE in AR. If you live in Little Rock and can take your test in Newport, AR I know a guy who rents a 1993 International (Daycab w/a window to look out the back) with a 45 foot flatbed (It doesn't get any easier than that for the "skills" portion of the test). And the best part is "he keeps the truck parked right at the testing site ALL the time". His number is **********, his name is Mr. *****. He was referred to me by one of the testing inspectors there at Newport. He charges $200.00 to rent the truck and if you don't succeed on your 1st try, he charges you $100.00 for each time after that. Fortunately, I only needed it once. He will also meet with you early to go the truck and answer any questions you might have. Like I said it was a "beautiful thing". I was a bit nervous because I had put alot of time in studing, taking all the tests to get all the endorsements, etc, etc and now it was game time. To be honest with you, it was very easy. The truck is a straight 6 speed, just like driving a car (no need to double clutch) and the inspectors down there (up there for you) don't require you to do it either. Even the air brakes testing was done by talking through it, not actually doing it. And, the Pre-Trip (which I was most nervous about) took about 7-8 minutes. The inspectors at Newport just want you to point at stuff and tell them what you're inspecting or what you would inspect, you don't even have to touch the belts for the 3/4 inch play. Just tell them what you would inspect. I thought the whole process was pretty easy "especially being able to look out the back window of the daycab while doing the skills test. Just like backing up a boat or other trailer. A PIECE OF CAKE. The whole area there is as flat as a pancake so you don't have to worry about rolling backwards "or forwards". Hope this helps. I am off to Maverick this weekend for Orientation/Training sounds like you are lining things up like I am doing (just a week or two behind me). Good Luck.

Sub Driver

Mark, also wanted to let you know that I am subscribed to this thread so if you need more info or have additional ?'s, just let me know. Regards, Sub Driver

I'm supprised that a local driving school wouldn't help. around here they do it all the time, of course it's not free. When I was going to get my passenger endorsement the local school was 500.00 for one day of pre-trip (a lot different that a truck) and practice driving, and 4 hrs for the road test (lots of waiting time here). That's not cheap but it beats 5500.00 for the entire course.

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Big Ed

Mark, Just call the guys at the AR State Police Testing Site at Newport, AR and ask for Mr. Whites number to rent the truck, they will give it to you. You may have to call the AR State Police in Newport to get the phone number for the guys at the "actual" testing site. They (the ASP & ASP Testers) are at 2 different locations. Best of Luck. Sub Driver

here is my two cents mark when talking to the cdl schools dont ask to rent there trucks ask if they will give you the driving test for a reduced fee i know that the one in my neck of the woods dose this, the next place i would look would be at ryder penski ect. have one of your relitive with a vallid class A dl rent the truck the we only rent to companyes sounds like a polite blow off sounds better then were not going to rent you the truck because you only have a temperary permit dosnt it, my last place to look to get it would be to try one of the local bevage vending compays you know the ones that have the eight roll up doors on both sides of the trailer some of the local venders will higher people with class C dl's let them study, practice on site, then take you down to the dmv to take your test hope this was a help good luck and keep that shinny side up and the rubber on the road