Does training count as experience?

I *heard* that if you recently went through CDL school that some places consider that 6mo of experience. It sounded a bit whacked out to me, but I suppose anything is possible.

 

Every company views this differently.

 

On the apps I fill out I've always put the hire date in. After all it's what they ask for. I've not seen an app yet ask for amount of experience, just start and end dates.

- Steven

 

I agree. You have no experience until you are hired, then the date of hire starts the clock. As for class and the process to get your license? I have no clue, but I would not think that counted. For instance, with Millis Transfer, you do three and a half weeks classroom...In Texas you have to have your license BEFORE you graduate. On your graduation date, Millis Transfer officially hires you. My hire date is December 20th. My expereince begins December 20th, not December 2nd when I began school.

 

If you're behind the wheel of a rig it counts as experience in my book. If you're training for a CDL I dont think that counts.

 

I agree...but most companies ask for verifiable experience....hire to fire.

 

The time you are with a company trainer would count. You are driving, and getting paid for it. The time at a driving school would not.

 

No it doesn't count, you are not in full control of the vehicle as if you had a CDL and passed a road test. If have no decision making power over the instructor and many never even see a load on the truck let alone have control over how it is loaded.

When you pass the road test and it says Commercial Driver you count your road time as experience.

 

^^^^^^THIS^^^^^^^^