European has some questions about the truck driver job in the US

for a private school you have to pay maybe 5000-6000 ,and after you can find a company what give you a training ,or go with a company what pay training only after you have to drive for this compoany maybe 1 year or longer ,is depend what you like to do ,i live 6years here in usa,iam from Austria.

 

I'm german and have a green card also.Been here since 1996.
Btw, it's not really Green.

 

They have a Mercedes Benz plant in the Cottondale, AL area. US Xpress did haul for them, not sure if they still do or not. It might not hurt to check Mercedes out since you speak German.

Roadmaster is a good school, but it will cost the higher dollar amounts, it I believe gives you 120 hr of schooling.

 

I'm a hair older than you at 21 years old, and I haul oversize/ overweight loads. Though getting the license itself is relatively easy here in the United States, breaking into heavy haul is a completely different game.

When I decided I wanted to learn how to drive a truck I never wanted to get into pulling a van or reefer, I felt the work would be repetitive and boring. I also decided I never wanted to go to a trucking school...

I had an in with a local heavy haul company and asked them if they could help me with getting my CDL. I was originally set with one of the oldest driver's at the company. He had been driving since 1964 and had hauled just about anything you could imagine. I would run with him to pick machines up and he'd start teaching me how to load exavators, roto-mills, and other machines and how to chain them down. By the same token he'd also teach me about driving, how to make certain shifts, what to do in certain situations, and there were stories, lots and lots of stories. When there weren't any loads moving the owner had a little single-drive Ford L9000 with a 6-71 Detroit and a 10-speed Roadranger for moving trailers around the yard. I was the unofficial yard-hostler and would park trailers, or even just practice backing them up if there was nothing else to do.

At first I think they, and especially my parents, were wondering if this was just a phase or if I was going to stick with it. After a few months of this everyone realized this was something that I was committed to. I started running with more and more of the driver's and started loading more and more machines. I was being trusted with knowing how to load and chain down equipment. I was allowed to move the trucks around on job-sites and what have you, and just about anytime the neck was unhooked from the lowboy I was expected to hook it back up.

As things progressed I was trusted with more and more, I had a longer leash, so to speak, and came along for progressively more challenging moves and hauls. Everytime I got in a truck there was something to be learned.

Throughout all of this I was taught around all sorts of trucks, transmissions, and trailers in the heavy equipment sector. By the time I went in for my drive test I had run in some capacity or another 7LL, 9, 10, 13, 15, and 18-speed transmissions. I had also been brought in on certain mechanical aspects, having helped with tires, wheel seals, brakes, and other equipment.

And then I went in and got my CDL.

Now I run oversize loads.

So, what's my point with all of this?

You can get your CDL relatively quickly, but getting into oversize/ overweight loads is still going to take time...

 

Doesn't look like he will have any issues with the English Language

 

And reading road signs would be a good thing to study.

 

I am from Europe myself. Please consider Star Truck Driving School out of Oswego,Il (western suburb of Chicago). I paid only 2000 for a month of training 4 years ago. They will help you with everything from getting you the driving permit to passing the final test on site. Also you will usually get reimbursed this tuition once you get hired . Schneider might be a good first step to get your feet wet. That way you will have choices how long you have to stay with them before looking for greener pastures.