Driving with a friend for experience

I'd put the guy learning to drive with a friend or relative up against the school boy any day!

My old man taught me to drive in about a week, and I was instantly more qualified to be behind the wheel than someone coming out of those schools.

 

You can do it this way but it will be very difficult finding a job anywhere. You will really have to go after the smaller mom and pop companies. Thing is its the insurance companies that are requiring you go through an accredited school. The insurance companies dictate everything nowadays.

Don't burn yourself by trying to take a shortcut. Chances are it will end up costing you more money and more time then it would have to just do it the correct way in the first place. If you do a search there have been a bunch of drivers on here that have done the short cut thing and are now asking advice on what to do because they can't get a job anywhere.

Some companies are getting so picky, for example Shaffer/Crete, are only taking drivers from a select few accredited schools. Maybe find some companies you want to work for first and see where or how the recommend you obtaining your CDL.

 

Right, only time you should skip the training is if you already have something lined up. These days it seems less likely.

Was just saying, the people I know from family run businesses, etc. are far more qualified to be running trucks than the CDL schools it seems.

 

Are you saying the "correct" way is to give thousands to a CDL mill when the carriers that hire their graduates are mostly bottom feeder megacarriers with high turnover ?
I think going through the forums here will show the highest percentage of members complaining they can't get hired are CDL mill graduates . I can't recall seeing many drivers at all that had training other than a CDL mill complaining they can't get hired . Maybe you can point a few of their posts out to me .

 

Not really sure what you are asking.

If most companies only hire drivers with accredited schooling then what route do you suggest they take? I'm not promoting CDL mills or mega-carriers, I'm simply stating the facts that these insurance companies mandate that their potential employees go through so many hours of an accredited school.

You don't have to choose a mega-carrier when you are done with your schooling. Fact is most newbies have no idea what their options are and while in school they are being brainwashed by the mega-carrier recruiters that come in and speak to them during class in which they are paying the schools to let them come in and do so. Therefore the schools are promoting or suggesting any other companies to the students. I am constantly telling new driver prospects to think outside the box and not follow the herd in hopes that they choose some other company or outfit with out sounding to negative about the mega-carriers.

Do CDL mills charge too much for school? Sure do!

Are they getting quality education about the trucking industry and learning all aspects of trucking? Most likely not! I believe most of the knowledge these drivers learn comes from their trainers once they are with the company of their choice. In fact they probably learn more on day one with their trainer then the whole three weeks of schooling!

So no, I am not saying the "correct" way is to give thousands to a CDL mill! Its pretty much the only way!

I guess you could go with an owner operator and get your license that way but you sure are taking quite a risk at getting paid and or dropped off in the middle of nowhere when he decides he's done with you and logbook! When you are done with the owner operator that got you your license, then what? Who's going to hire you after some bum with no credentials showed you how to drive!

 

Really?

I would love to hear who you would suggest that would hire an inexperienced driver that has no formal training.

CDL mills, as you put it, in most states are required to be licensed and approved by that states education commission. Whether you agree with them or not, they have the licensing, credentials, insurance and equipment to train students to at least a basic level and more importantly, they meet the training requirements of all the major carriers that have the ability and desire to hire inexperienced drivers.

Most student drivers from qualified schools are pre-hired with major carriers before they even graduate their classes.....as long as the school did their job up front and made sure the student is qualified for job placement in the first place.

If someone graduates an accredited school with a Class A CDL and they cant get a job, its only because they have a poor background, criminal history, DUI's and/or a very poor driving record.


There is a big difference between being legally allowed to drive a truck and being able to get a job doing it.

 

Yes, your time will count.....under one condition, it is documented.

Keep all of your records, log books, pay stubs, 1099's.

As long as you can provide a certificate of completion from an accredited school and provide documentation of your recent driving experience as an OTR driver in a qualified vehicle, you wont have any problems getting hired with another company after that.

 

Sure hope the OP sorts thru all this misinformation !!!!

I wish him well,

sounds like he has a decent plan.