Is a school absolutely necessary?

I took my written test and passed. Then I pulled a truck and 53 spread axle trailer out of the yard and drove on the narrow gravel roads until I could keep the trailer axles out of the ditch on the corners. Then I took my road test and passed. Then I couldn't get insurance to drive interstate.

All the insurance companies wanted two years experience. They would accept a recognized trucking school in lieu of the two years so I spent the $5,000 and got 40 hrs of classroom, 40 hrs driving in the city ( I was exempt from the 40 hrs yard/backing training).

I hit the school hard and I think I was done in two weeks IIRC. Did 4 hrs of driving every night after work. Classroom was on weekends and that took a bit longer.

If I was able to stay intrastate for two years I could have done without the school. But....I really do feel it was worth the $5,000 because I had nobody to train me except the Eaton Fuller website. Also took us to a scale house for a mock inspection, took me to the border for a mock customs clearance and also took us to a skid pad for jacknife training. Also my instructor taught me how to jacknife into tight spots that I didn't know how to do back then.

$5,000 is nothing if you get good training. Your deductible is that much LOL. But yes you can probably do without it if you're willing to stay intrastate.

 

No family or ties to the industry for me. Just a desire to not start at the bottom rung.

I'll let the comments about you judging my character slide. Its always the last ditch effort by someone that obviously cannot admit they may be wrong.

If someone wants to spend their time and money on schooling go for it. The op asked "is a school absolutely necessary" the answer is no.

 

Yep, that's the correct bottom line answer.

In my case, without an appointment, I went to the DMV about a dozen times hoping for a no show on an appointment in order to take my skills and drive test. Each time there was one of those "CDL in A Day" trucks there. At one point I even called them to try and buy one of their appointment slots ($200) instead of renting their truck ($600-800) since I was using my brother's truck.

 

The boldfaced sentence hits the nail on the head. Indeed if someone is willing to "take a chance and work for an O/O or some small... company" then indeed you don't have to go to school. If you think you have the chops to pass the DMV drive test, then rent a truck if you don't know someone. With gonads you go talk to O/O's or small companies and get hired.

Insurance can be had for new drivers without school. The owner of the company will need to pay a premium (I think with my brother it was an additional $500 per month to hire me on).

Some smaller companies would rather train you up than to hire you with a year or two bad habits. They'd also rather hire a driver with gumption to go find them and have the gonads to get their CDL and ask for a job.

 

You summed up what I've been trying to say very nicely Lepton1. Going that route is not for everyone but for myself it was the only way I was going to start my trucking career.

 

I did not go through a school. I was working in a our shop as a mechanic and told them I wanted to get my CDL and start driving. They let me take one of their trucks and trailers and go take the test so it was no cost to me. Then I did some training running local in a day cab when I was off in the shop. After a while, they put me in a truck and turned me loose and that was 1 1/2 years ago when I went solo. So all I have in my CDL (cost wise) is the $50 it cost to get the license at the DMV. I'm not out $5,000 like some people and I'm not tied to any company for a year or 2 to pay them back for school. I got to start my driving career being home every night and off every weekend running AL, TN, MS, GA, SC, and NC making pretty good money and I'm still here today although I do go out farther now because it pays better.

Here is the down side. I was getting frustrated with my training because my trainer said that I was good to go and he told safety. The head of safety wouldn't let me go solo yet because our minimums are 1yr OTR (I ended up going solo at 6 months). So, I started applying to every mega out there because if they weren't going to let me solo, I was going somewhere that would. EVERY company I talked to asked what school I went to. When I told them I didn't go to school and that I took the test myself and had been in training for 3-4 months, they thought I was crazy. They had never heard of someone getting their CDL on their own. I still got the same response from every single company (even the worst or the worst). "You have to have graduated an accredited school within the last 3 months. If you want to go to school then we would be glad to hire you". I told them that I am not going to pay $5,000 to go to our local school when I already had my license and had been training for the past 3 months. They didn't care. They said go to school or find another job. So, if you can't find something like I found where the company is willing to hire you, let you use their equipment, train you, then put you in a truck, then you will have a VERY VERY VERY hard time finding a driving job if you get your CDL on your own. There may be companies out there that will not make you go back to school but if they are out there, I couldn't find them. My situation worked out for the best and the only reason I will be leaving shortly is because I am buying my own truck. Call around to some local companies and tell them your situation. Tell them you would like to start driving with them but you would be willing to start in the shop or warehouse etc first. All they can do is either say yes or no.

 

Lack of experience is a barrier to entry in this business. It's just there and anyone who wants in has to deal with it somehow. Schools, whether they deserve it or not, can give you the credentials to get started. Six weeks and 4-5K for a private school, and less money and more time for a community college erase that barrier and allow you to go forth in an industry that has some very good earning potential and opportunity. The cost is a fraction of what people pay to get 2 or 4 year degrees, and at least in the short term, after they acquire those degrees, they won't be earning any more than a professional driver does. Many students in the school I am familiar with get funded through various sources. And finally, when I teach the classroom portion of the 160 hour class, I knock myself out getting new drivers familiar with the giant heap of rules, regulations, procedures they will be dealing with. When I'm in the truck, I'm helping with skills and to overcome the fears and anxiety of something new and big, and I'm backing it up with a lot of experience. I only do it because I enjoy teaching and find it rewarding. So, in short, nobody needs a school to get a CDL, but it might make your entry into the industry quicker and less painful, and you will probably learn some of the large body of knowledge you need to be a driver in today's over-regulated environment.

 

A school is also SUPPOSED TO follow the same standards of every other school. Part of the point is the consistent training. You know that guy that parked diagonally across the lot, blocking everyone from getting in and out of the loading bays, shut his truck off and went inside? You don't want him teaching people how to do this job.

It's not necessary, but it's a really good idea. Every day we prove ourselves too stupid of an industry to teach people ourselves.

 

I'm just finishing up my schooling and I know I wouldn't want to be hitting the road without it. You learn a lot of information even aside from actually driving that is helpful. I don't think I could of passed my driving test without the one on one hrs that the school gave me.