Community College CDL

Discussion in 'Trucking Schools and CDL Training Forum' started by rjjr1963, Nov 14, 2022.

  1. tscottme

    tscottme Road Train Member

    Tons of trucking companies hires newbies from accredited CDL schools with no experience. In my opinion, you are better off to search and research trucking cpompanies and then pick where you want to work after CDL school BEFORE you decide where or what type of CDL school to attend. Almost all CDL schools are just training you enough to get a CDL license after you pass the state test. After you get hired your first employer will typically pair you with a trainer and you and the trainer will share a truck and make trips hauling freight. My training period lasted 8 weeks. It is during that training period you learn the 90% of trucking that NO CDL SCHOOL has time to teach you. However, if you are enrolled in a community college CDL school those are usually the best and most complete type of CDL school. Make sure any CDL school you consider is at least 160 hours long and gives a certificate that verifies that length. Many trucking companies can only hire newbies with no experience from CDL schools at least 160 hours long.
     
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  3. tscottme

    tscottme Road Train Member

    The up-side and down-side of community college training is the school lasts longer, but there is often a long waiting list to start school. In my area the community college CDL schools are 2-4 times longer than th 3 week CDL schools but they CC courses costs half or less of the for-profit CDL schools. That's why there is a waiting list. I opted for a for-profit CDL school in TN rather than wait around for 2-4 months before I could start at a community college CDL program in FL, where I was living before trucking. I was flat broke and needed income today, so I moved back to home in TN and had a trucking job in under 4 weeks by using a CDL school.
     
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  4. Eric4Yeshua1337

    Eric4Yeshua1337 Light Load Member

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    If I had the money I would totally do Community College.
     
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  5. Eric4Yeshua1337

    Eric4Yeshua1337 Light Load Member

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    I will say this if you are patient. Some colleges are offering a CDL+ program where the CDL truck training portion is considered credit and you can get a grant to cover it. There are logistics courses that last no more than a semester that you can take as well. That may be one way to finance your CDL program.
     
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  6. roundhouse

    roundhouse Road Train Member

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    Most community colleges are free under the WOIA grant or something .

    even 30 Years ago when I attended for drafting and design
    And later for CDL school , I was the only one that was stupid enough to pay out of my pocket .
    Everyone else was on some kind of freebie grant .
    Some even got milage fees for gas money and babysitter vouchers and meal vouchers etc .
    Silly me , I was working for a living and so I had to pay .
     
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  7. 2Tap

    2Tap Medium Load Member

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    I started the same journey as you this summer. The cliff notes:

    If your community college (S.WI - $7,500 spring 2023 semester) offers manual transmission instruction, this is the ONLY reason to pick them.

    I finished a company sponsored training program which was adequate but intense in the sense that i needed to take advantage of all available range time practicing backing. Having backed up a boat trailer with a pickup DID NOT prepare me in backing up a tractor trailer regardless of internet popular wisdom. You will get more range time at a tech school but at a cost, time & money.

    WIOA was a joke, it's ran by career morons at manpower who will make you take an abbreviated course (3-4 weeks) at something like 160 driving academy ($5,500 in Rockford, IL) , worse in my opinion than a company sponsored driving program. Every company wants it done their way and not the 160 driving academy way.

    If you go the WIOA way i will warn you to take their personality test carefully. They disqualified me based upon being a conceptual learner. Apparently I'm destined to be a great engineer, entrepreneur or leader and they would be wasting their time and resources on me as i wouldn't be happy being a dumb trucker:rolleyes:

    Now i need to figure out how to get my manual restriction removed as an acquaintance local business owner here with his own authority has offered to hire me save for that manual restriction.
     
  8. snowmantrucking101

    snowmantrucking101 Heavy Load Member

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    Dang CT, you have a memory like an elephant..lol.
     
  9. DixonM

    DixonM Light Load Member

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    I am about the same place as the original poster I am 51 and owen my small boat repair business. I had a class B since the late 90s with covid and all the parts shortages and the lack of being able to hire any one worth a flip I wanted an second option. Got my learners permit before the law change and had a client that would let me use his trucks to practice with. Was able to obtain the class A and a hazmat endorsement. I went on craigslist and indeed to find part time cdl jobs. One place I deliver new class B trucks all over the country pays .60 per mile plus flights and any expenses except food. And the second is for a small local sod outfit and I do intrastate deliveries pay $25 per hour. I enjoy driving,but to be honest I make pretty good money with boats. I have thought about buying a truck but would rather spend a year or two making sure it is career I can live with not to mention there will be a learning curve.
     
  10. Henley

    Henley Light Load Member

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    In my experience, community colleges tend to offer better quality instruction for lower tuition than private CDL schools do. Of course there are always exceptions, but for the most part the community colleges have smaller class sizes and longer course structures, and since they don't have to make a profit, they can afford to spend more time and effort on their training curriculum. As quasi-state institutions they have obligations not just to their students/customers, but to the general public and community as well, which means they're not only incentivized but expected to provide high quality education. In many cases tuition assistance or financial aid is available that would not be available for students at private schools, and there is often state workforce training grants and job aid available, too.
     
  11. oldtrucker66

    oldtrucker66 Light Load Member

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    @Chinatown - serious question. What is your secret to health and longevity? Diet, exercise, supplements, wife 25 years younger?


     
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