Independent studies vs company/school training?

I have made the choice to become a trucker but after arduous reading and research, I am not sure which way to go about it. My options are as follows.

----I have the choice to either pay for schooling out of pocket (someone's pocket) and be in debt to pay back loans. Local college or technical schooling would be the first option out of pocket.

---I also have the option to get a loan from a privately owned trucking school or trucking company, which probably will be a heft fee, but get the loan paid off for if I work with a crappy company for about a year or so. (Company imprisonment).

---The last option I have been considering is simply just studying for the test on my own, finding some way to rent a truck to take the CDL test, and then after I obtain the license, find a company that is willing to hire new trainees with no experience.


The only problem with these options are as follows:
If I do study independently, I will still need 1 year training and most companies ( the only ones I know) still will charge for training. Even if I do find a company that wont bond me for 1 year experience, the question is how do I obtain a CDL on my own with no truck?

Truckers I have talked to told me it is hard to pass the test independently without hands-on training. If I rent a truck everyday to train on for weeks, I would probably be spending the same amount it would cost to just go to a community college. Even if I do find a discount, I still will need a company to hire me for experience.



Alternatives? I have heard of some companies such as Prime and Schneider who don't bond the trainees for a year or so. But this is only word of mouth. Im currently doing research on each company.




So question is to those with knowledge:

1) Is is likely to pass a CDL test without any real hands-on experience with trucks, just simply reading the manual? If you do need hands-on trucking experience, would the cost to obtain a truck to practice even out to the same amount it would cost simply to just pay for schooling somewhere else?


and

2) If I do actually most likely need schooling after all, then are there any companies / schools that are known for their good reputation, pay, and most importantly, no 1 year bondage commitment in case one actually does want to simply get up and leave?

 

Thats a good list. I still dont see the need for any company to pay for my schooling if I can learn on my own. At the same time, what I am hearing, it is hard to pass the test without hands-on practice for weeks with a truck. I wonder how other independent, self-taught CDL holders obtained theirs.


If I have to go to school, I would probably just pay out of pocket at a community college. It would probably be allot cheaper and then I wouldnt have to work for anyone for 8 months or any months for that matter.


According to that list, plenty of companies will hire new trainees without experience and no month commitment. That takes care of experience, now the only question remains, how plausible is obtaining a CDL without an trucking practice and only manual read knowledge.

 

If you had to choose between a community college and company/private school training, which would be the best way to go?

It seems CC schooling doesnt offer 1 year experience either.

 

Im also scared that I fail the road test because I have no truck practice. I know it can be done that way, I just dont know how without having access to a truck.

 

What good is the rental if you dont have experience driving a trailer just book knowledge on how to drive it?