Wannabe needing some serious guidance!

I would advise you go to a P.T.D.I. certified school to get your Class A CDL. There is a new set of restrictions calls CSA 2010 coming out and one of the things that may be required is that drivers graduate from a P.T.D.I. certified course.

Here's the list of schools in your state that are certified:

Commercial Driver Training, Inc.
600 Patton Avenue
West Babylon, NY 11704
(631) 249-1330 (631) 249-1330
(800) 649-7447 (800) 649-7447
Certified Course: Career Training I Full Time
Certification Dates: 4/12/07 - 4/30/12
National Tractor Trailer School, Inc.
4650 Buckley Road
Liverpool, NY 13088
(315) 451-2430 (315) 451-2430
(800) 243-9300 (800) 243-9300
Certified Course: Commercial Drivers Course
Certification Dates: 4/8/10 - 4/30/15
Certified Course: Advanced Commercial Drivers Course
Certification Dates: 4/8/10 - 4/30/15
National Tractor Trailer School, Inc.
175 Katherine Street
Buffalo, NY 14210
(716) 849-6887 (716) 849-6887
(800) 562-1332 (800) 562-1332
Certified Course: Commercial Drivers Course
Certification Dates: 4/8/10 - 4/30/15
Certified Course: Advanced Commercial Drivers Course
Certification Dates: 4/8/10 - 4/30/15

 

Hi Chris, This is Chris...LOL

What type are you looking for? Class A, B, C? Endorsements? One week for 600 bucks doesn't sound like nearly enough training to lean the basics of driving a tractor trailer and get a fully endorsed Class A to me.

Also, read this thread completely if you want a GREAT account of what to expect going through the process of school. ORG and I went together and he kept a wonderfully detailed account of it all.

http://www.thetruckersreport.com/tr...rivers/112266-help-a-trucker-wannabe-out.html


Here's a couple within a 100 mile radius of Port. You're just over high point mountain from me.

Now I suspect they are but call them and be sure they are PTDI accredited. As ORG said, that's very important. Also, make sure your record, both driving and criminal, are CLEAN! Especially no drug related charges and or convictions.

Smith and Solomon - Brooklyn, NY - 718-797-9385 - 62 miles

Maines Driver Training - Conklin, NY - 607-779-1691 - 73 miles

Sage - Vestal, NY - 607-348-0365 - 85 miles

Good Luck!

 

Nothing in CSA 2010 says anything about driver training.
They are working on a rule making about driver training though. But because it has not been published and they are being very closed mouthed about what is in the rule they are making, it is not known if the schools will need to be certified.

It is my hope that the schools will need to be accredited, not just certified.
With an accredited school you can get pell grants and guaranteed student loans. So you would not have much if any out of pocket to get training.
The down side is that the schools would be a minimum of 8 weeks long. So it would be a long stretch without any income.

 

You could opt for company training too. Won't cost you anything buy you will have to sign a contract with a carrier for about a year. Welcome to the forum and good luck.

 

I kinda agree with the Company paid Training Route.No out of pocket money,You might be locked into a One year contract...which you would have to fulfill by the way,or you would probably get chagred for the course somehow.

As far as "finding a better paying job"...as a Newbee,you would probably hear a lot of,"Call us after you have been driving for six months"

Take that first year...look at it as a year of training...Research others,talk to their drivers,But MOST IMPORTANT..use that time to get good at driving..Take your time,get accustomed with your equipment.You will be of value to some company at the end of that year by completing these things sucessfully...
1)NO ACCIDENTS
2)NO TICKETS
3)NO LOGBOOK VIOLATIONS
And a Lesser note...But important to business..
DO NOT BE LATE FOR APPOINTMENTS.LATE IS LATE!!!

Good Luck!!

 

There is really no right or wrong answer to your question. It is solely going to be up to what fits your needs the best. Good luck!