School Or Company School

Okay, but remember, opinions are like ##########, we all have one, and they all stink.
Personally, I'd go to a company school for several reasons. You'll be learning on the equipment that you'll be driving, as well as the paperwork, Qualcomm, etc. And you'll also learn the company's way of doing things as well. And IMO you'll get more from a company school than you will from a CDL mill. All that the mill is worried about is that you pass the state tests, and then they collect their money.
On the other hand, the company is going to teach you how to physically do the job, as well as the gazillion other things you need to know out here. In other words, they'll have a little more time invested in you, after all you'll be running their truck and cargo down the road.
Of course, with company training, you'll be "married" to that company for 12-18 months or so in order to get free training, but so what? It'll take you that long to learn the ropes anyway. Even if you hate the company, you can hang out for the "contract" to end, and then be on your way...with a free CDL and 12-18 months experience.

 

Look for a certified school to be sure it is legit and ask the companies that hire their sudents.

This is training you will get when a company hires you.

This is the biggest question. Going through a school helps you know which questions to ask about a company before they are hired. If you don't like them you're stuck. Some contracts if you break early you will owe more than if you paid for the school up front. Don't sign one of these contracts real fast and get a econd opion on the paperwork. Bad schools will ask for your signature ASAP. Good ones will give you 1-2 years to make up your mind. Good luck!

 

After reading many good threads here, I decided to go to a votech for my certificate. Reason? When you are done with class, assuming you pass the cdl, the certificate is YOURS to take were you want. Experiance is going to be necessary for some companies before they will hire you, but they won't be options for you right away anyway. As was stated earlier, a co. school usually( in my research) means time with that company. This is not always a bad thing if the company is a good one. I would say that you should take a good look at the company first, then at their school. A good school will usually have a good company behind it. Bad companies seem to have little more than cdl mills. Just enough to get a warm body in a truck. Information seems to be the key to making the best decision for you. Good luck!!