Is a school absolutely necessary?

You will have a hard time getting hired by a company if you go that route. Reason being, insurance and the amount of risk taken on by the company if they hire someone who was trained by driver A vs driving school A.... That's not to say your friend couldn't train you better because he may be able to but companies want something in writing saying that you have been to an "accredited school".

 

It will be almost impossible to get a job without the 160 hours of school that the insurance industry requires of it's insured.

 

With a major... yes, it will be difficult.

There are plenty of smaller companies, soda delivery comes to mind, that would hire a driver with a CDL and can pass a company road test. Just gotta look!

For example, back home in Colorado, as long as you can shift a ten speed, have a CDL and a perfect driving record, Coca-cola WILL hire you to drive a delivery truck. 50-60 hours a week, $50,000 a year job.

Can it be done? Yes. Impossible? No. Difficult? Depends on your chosen career path. Fortunately, there are plenty of paths you can choose to utilize your CDL.

unloader

 

It can be done without schooling or going with a major carrier.

 

Yes, you can get a CDL and a job w/o school. Many do it. As mentioned above, a fair number of companies won't give you a chance w/o some record of formal training, but there are plenty of outfits that will. The legal requirement for formal training was written into law quite a few years ago but never implemented. It was officialy removed as "pending" last year, and the issue was the cover story for the last issue of LANDLINE (the mag that OOIDA publishes). So, at least for the foreseeable future, one will be able to take the tests and get a CDL w/o a "school."

 

Your friend with the truck will find it near impossible to insure you to train you in the first place.

 

Of course not but it is ur best bet on getting everything u need done

 

You can "rent" a school truck for a test. Here in my state, a school can't offer paid training unless they give the full 160 hours, and document those hours to show the approved curriculum was covered. However, we are allowed to take a testee to the test, and to let the candidate "practice" for a short period, like 6 hours. Some pass this way. Some can drive well, but can't get through the inspection part of the skills test. Here in hillbilly country, lots of people go take the test in a friend's or relative's truck.