Days or weeks away...?

While a person can most certainly get his CDL's the way kajidono is saying, it's probably the toughest way to go about it. Unless you are already working for a company that also has trucks, this will not be a good way to go. There is a lot to learn just to drive a truck down the street, let alone backing it, pre-tripping it, and then there's route planning, logging, etc. Driving down the highway in a big truck is more than just getting a CDL and going down the road.

My g/f's brother just tried the taking the test on your own route and failed the pre-trip part of the test. He cost himself $500 in the process, plus another $500 if he ever goes and takes it again. Now he'll be $1000 in the hole and might not pass it again. If he had passed the test the first time, he would have had a job working for the city. He'd never even driven a truck prior to the day he took the test. I tried to get him to go with me on a short run, but he couldn't get the day off work. By the time he's able to test again, he probably won't have that job offer with the city anymore.

Another good friend of mine has worked at a warehouse here in town for 11 years. This company also has their own transportation company. Just a few months ago he moved into a dispatching job. Two weeks ago, he got his CDL permit and now drives with one of the local guys on his days off. He's planning to test for his full license in another month or so. The company he works for will pay for all his testing fees and is even paying him overtime for the time he spends with the local guy training. In another month, he'll be just fine to get his license and won't owe anyone anything for it. Even if he were to quit the company he's with now the day after he got his CDL, they wouldn't charge him anything. He has no intention of doing this, but you get the idea of what I'm saying.

I've said all this to show you two different ways of getting your CDL and the (likely) results of getting them this way.

Which guy is more like you?

 

I'm one of the lucky ones, or so I consider myself.

I'm home every weekend.

You're going to find the majority do not have a choice in this matter. And those of us who do, have zero debt or a Union job.

I used to enjoy staying our for weeks/months. That type of life loses it's appeal as you age.

 

I even luckier than you danc, I'm home every night LOL...

 

doubledragon5,

I might be luckier than you. Let me know. Work Mon-Fri and home every night. Weekends off. Pay is $24.14 per hour with O/T after eight hours. Average 60 hours per week.

Drive safe

 

You are luckier than me, as I'm on percentage. I only make $$ when a load is delivered. I also make money on canceled, or transferred loads..

 

The test isn't that difficult. But when you add other factors IE Hazmat. You move into another realm of guidelines. Even then, it isn't that difficult.

However, you're still dealing with the pre-trip and skills test.

You do understand the difference between "learning" and "skills", don't you?

Would I be equally good at finance as you, with my high school Algebra as a "skills" listing on my resume?

 

The endorsements are additional. They are only written tests that you would take at the same time you take your written test to acquire your CDL permit.

While there are some rare instances, most jobs that require a CDL and will get you home on a daily basis are reserved for drivers with at least one, sometimes two or three years worth of experience.