So is this par for the course when it comes to trucking schools?

Hi Rebel, fer sure. My 1st T/T experience in the late '70's, I had a friend that had a KW (like Snowman's) and he did a cross country thing, and I asked him if I could go with him sometime. He said, sure, I can't pay you, but you can come along. I had some straight truck experience, but never T/T, we hauled a load from Laurens, Ia. to Jax, Fl., didn't have authority to go around the block, running on a 90 day temp. tag, went around all the scales, and I did most of the driving, (while he slept), and I tell you what, I learned more in that one trip, than any school, at any cost, could have taught me.

 

Unfortunately I think that figure is probably about right for a private school. If you have a local community college see if they have a program. The community college programs cost much less but take longer. I was extremely fortunate that I was able to be "trained" by my father in law. It cost me nothing but a lot of frustration. My finishing school was the School of Hard Knocks! I had to learn on the job and figure out how to get myself out of many pickles along the way.

 

"semi", I would've loved to have been in trucking then, but alas, I was still a baby! LOL I've had quite a few friends who are/were drivers and parents of friends as well. I always wanted to drive, but my mother pushed me to be in a "respectful" profession, so I worked in offices for a long time, either in construction or dispatch (yup, don't hate me!). Didn't make the leap until about 2 1/2 years ago and even then, it took me a couple companies to find the right one. Now, I think the only way I'll leave this one is if I find the right local job, but I cannot fathom not driving for a living!

 

Not too many OOIDA members here,

OOIDA has been lobbying Congress for years about more schooling for new drivers.

Then when mega carriers and truck driving schools offer schooling to new hires, they get slammed.

Sure, the trucking companies could offer it for free, but even with a $5,000 debt looming over their heads, 40 to 50% percent of new hires cannot finish a 2 week course.

And sure, we have the "my daddy taught me how to drive" crowd. Nevermind....

 

DON'T DO IT! And I will tell you why. I learned how to drive a truck and I did not pay anyone a dime. There are two steps to becoming a truck driver. The first step is getting your commercial drivers license. The second step is learning how to drive a truck. The only thing a truck driving school will teach you is how to get your drivers license. They will not teach you how to drive a truck. Truck driving schools are teaching for the driving test only. When I got my license I paid $60 and rented a small single axle day cab with a 20 foot single axle trailer from a guy who was renting out the truck right there at the drivers license office. It even had an automatic transmission. If you can drive a pick up truck with a trailer you can drive well enough to pass your driving test. The guy I rented the truck from even took me out on the road for half an hour to get comfortable with it. It was really really easy and I had never driven a truck before. Needless to say I passed the driving test with no problem. As for the written test I got the free books from the drivers license office and I studied them. That is all it took to get my commercial drivers license. With my license I was then eligible to be hired by trucking company and to go out on the road with a trainer to learn how to drive a truck. you do not have to take a driving test in a full-size 18 wheeler. Learning to drive an 18 wheeler takes a long time. That is why you need to go out with the road trainer for a year or more. But my point is you can do it without going into debt. You can learn to drive while getting paid from day one. Truck driving schools are a scam. All of the old-timers and about half the people on the road today never went to a truck driving school. Truck driving schools are a relatively new manifestation. My advice to you is keep your money in your pocket and teach yourself.

 

Hi texasmorrell, I'm not sure when you did that for your license, but if I'm not mistaken, now you have to take a road test on the type of vehicle you will be driving, at least in Wisconsin. I agree with you 100% that schools are a scam, but sadly, for many people, they have no other way to get into trucking. Years ago, when I worked at a trucking co. before I could operate a forklift, the manager had to observe me on a forklift, which entailed, getting on the lift, buckling the seatbelt, pick up a pallet, set it inside a trailer, and back out. Recently, I was going to apply for a forklift job, and the person, who sounded half my age, asked if I had a forklift certification. I said, WHAT? I've been running forklift's when you were in diapers. He said, that may be so, but without a certification, I can't hire you. I laughed and hung up, but as with trucking, undocumented experience just doesn't cut it now.

 

Hi RC, oh yeah, we had a gas. I couldn't believe I got paid to do that. We had good friends, with an "all for one, one for all" attitude. Yakking on CB radio's, driving day and night, no log books, dodging scales, it was a great time to be a trucker. That's why I would have such a hard time if I was to do that today. I'd get belligerent with people and rule makers, saying, "Don't tell me how to drive a truck", but sadly, that kind of attitude will probably get you behind bars, so I got out. BTW, I know full well how addicting driving a truck can be. Once you drive a truck, it's pretty hard to do anything else, a problem I'm dealing with, right now.

 

In the area. It's more about coming out with good training for your CDL than the number. Quality is important in these schools, and some of them are just money mills. They're like truck drivers, doctors, mechanics, and weathermen - some are just better than others.

 

No. The $5K may be the most common figure that's being tossed around - but that's for private, for-profit schools. If you look into local community college programs, you'll find that they are subsidized by the local and state governments. And subsequently the tuition rate is much lower. And the training that you get will also be much, much better and more thorough. Tuition for the program that I took was less than $1000, and the books required cost around $100.

Edit: I see that you're in NEPA. McLane will train you. But it's food service, so you're going to work your tail off doing things other than driving while you're training. You'll earn a decent living at the same time.

 

Here in KY about $3800 for a four week course (not including books) at the community colleges ....private for-profit 16-day course $4200 (Truck America Training) ... TCAT in TN (Tennessee College of Applied Technology...several locations throughout TN) about $2300 if memory serves and the course is about 8 weeks (again if memory serves) ... I did a LOT of research and wound up in Nebraska at Southeast Community College in Lincoln. $1300 for out-of-state students...10.5 week course; although TCAT was in the running as it was closer but I ran the numbers and it was going to cost just a little more for TCAT (and schedule-wise it started later). But as it worked out in Nebraska I was able to stay in campus housing for $780 (with a roomie) for the duration of the course (originally had figured on Value Place extended stay at $300/wk) so it wound up costing a LOT less to go out there. Sounds far away from home but figured - may as well get used to it if I'm gonna be OTR.

Point being - if you do research and are willing to travel you can find better deals; better training; better everything. I turned it into a Nebraska adventure as I had never even been through Nebraska. Went to the State Fair ... the Henry Doory zoo in Omaha (one of the best in the nation if you like those kinds of things)...went to a concert (Gov't Mule ...they rocked) on the night I passed my CDL skills test..etc. No regrets - would do it all again any day of the week and twice on Sunday.

Now surrendering out-of-state licenses to Nebraska DMV and becoming a Nebraska resident for the duration to get operator's/permit/Class-A ...and then transferring back in to KY ... that's another story lol. Nebraska DMV was my home away from home for a week or two until all the wrinkles got ironed out. What a hassle.