Starting out for rookies

That Saxologist is probably true, I never went to a school, but did have 13 years prior experience when I went for my CDL. Mine expired when I was overseas and had to start from a car learner permit. I studied the Ohio manual, got my permit, went down to a test center in central Ohio where they test and also rent trucks for 90 and hour to practice the course. I practiced 6 hours for their course and passed first time. It is not true you have to attend a driver school for 4-6 thousand. All you have to do is be comfortable with a truck and you can do it. When you look for a job you are where everyone else is that attended a school -without experience for which I recommend riding with a driver as co-driver or driving a farm, grain, or log truck or such to get some experience behind you, then go OTR.

 

Many trucking companies require new drivers to graduate from an "approved" school. Even Schneider now provides a list of their "preferred driving schools." Check out the U.S. Xpress website and go to the "Recent Graduates" page and scroll down. Check out the "Requirements" at the bottom of the page. The very last entry indicates, "Must have graduated from an approved truck driving school within the last 18 months." Of course if one has prior driving experience they can get a job simply by taking a refresher course but the requirement for new grads is becoming more strict with each passing year and this trend will continue as insurance rates and requirements increase.

 

How do you obtain a cdl class A when not going thru a driving school?
I am taking the written portion next week and need to figure out the driving part.
I have a semi-offer from a friend of a friend to furnish the rig for the test ( still need to get the fundamentals of driving since I have very little skills handling a tractor/trailer rig).

Any advice is appreciated.

Rookie D

 

Some people take the test through third-party providers or simply study and know someone who will let them use or rent a truck to take the driving portion of the test, like you just mentioned. Like I indicated above, many companies want proof that the driver attended a school for insurance purposes but I'm sure there are some companies that will hire without the schools but not sure if their pay would be compatible with the others. Years ago this wasn't a problem, now it's almost the norm.

 

How would the CO handle this , My son has two yrs exp , I drove for yrs but retired early , we want to lease together , have the lease in his name ( paper work/pay etc.. ) I take all the written tests -- pass -- and get my permit ( done it this year , but let the time run out . ) thought i had a day cab , but it didn't work out . What would the CO say to that . we are work hounds

 

I'm in south florida , what school did you go too ?

 

Hanson & Adkins, C.A.R Auto Transport, Wagoners Trucking

 

Hanson & Adkins, C.A.R Auto Transport, Wagoners Trucking

 

When did Hanson & Adkins start training? They usually want three years experience.

 

I called all 3 of these companies and each one requires at least 1 year exp.