Self schooling for Class A in TX Who has the best online practice tests?

You can do it that way; the problem is finding a company that will hire you with no school certificate. It can be done, but that's the hard way. Can you do a pre-trip inspection and touch each part your inspecting, name the part, tell DOT officer what you're looking for?
For cdl practice tests, go to the top of this page and click on "CDL Practice Tests" and memorize the answers.
Also, Google : Free CDL Practice Tests Texas

 

FFE (Frozen Food Express) has their own cdl school plus a job. They ship you to Lancaster,TX for training.

Check Youtube videos about pre-trip inspections. That's the hardest part of acquiring the Class-A CDL. Formal cdl schools and trucking company cdl schools drill this into the students almost every day because it's so important when you test at the DMV. Passing the driving test is easy; the pre-trip is the difficult part.

 

Sounds similar to how I got my CDL years ago lol
Except I changed jobs to where they had a tractor/trailer I could practice in.

The 2 problems I see with that...
The 4 problems I see with that plan...

You will need time to practice driving, shifting, maneuvering and backing the combination.
You can't just expect to jump in and figure it out on the way to the DMV.
You also need to be practicing the Pre-Trip Inspection on the tractor and trailer, so you know what and where to check.
(get a mechanic/truck driver who knows what they are doing to watch you do the Pre-Trip until you can get it every time, otherwise you will fail it under pressure, or if the tester asks you what you are looking for, and you will never even get behind the wheel.)

You also have to have a CDL licensed driver with you to get to the drive test, since you will still be on your learner's permit.

You will have to come up with insurance on your rental truck, or be added to their insurance, and when you get your test, they will check your registration and insurance first.

And finally, when you finally succeed in passing the test (don't expect it to be the first time, some testers seem to have a policy of failing the first time, and usually they have no problem picking one of the little things we all miss... Lol), you will have a fresh Class A, with no experience.

Which means finding some small local place willing to give you a shot (not always a bad thing! Most of my experience has come from such places), or Swift... lol

If you are able to jump through those hoops, and willing to work a little harder to get a job, then you can end up money ahead, but without a mentor or trainer, you will be lacking the environment to really learn a lot of the important things about trucking.

What I would suggest is to look around and see if you can get a job with a local place that has semi's, or flatbed with trailers, etc, and see if you can either get a job with them, and work with one of their drivers and use their truck, or pay a guy with a truck to train you.
If you worked for the school district, maybe go talk to the County Corp yard/Roads, etc, and tell them your goal.

You may end up with training and a job!

 

I second what China said about the Pre-Trip being the hardest part.
You got to study the CDL Handbook and learn to do it Exactly as in the book!

If you don't say it, you didn't do it, and sometimes they are picky about exact wording, or calling out the specific gauges you are looking at. And when you say you are checking the springs, you need to see what the book says to check for, and make sure to list off each thing, every time.

I used to prep guys for thier CDL tests, and without fail, if they didn't come by the shop every day to practice with me before the test, they would get sent home halfway down the tractor!
Then they would listen to me and wait to make an appointment until I passed them...
That is why I recommend a driving mechanic, because when you have someone explain why you are looking for certain things, it is a lot easier to remember.

Now, I prepped myself, but I am a mechanic, so I just took the book out and went over and over it until I had it down! (And I still think I missed something the first time, and had to come back.... Lol
Oh ya! The air brake check! That's what got me...

The other advice is to find your truck and options before you do the written test, because you have a limited time from the written to when you pass the test, otherwise you have to restart the whole thing.

 

This company has s truck for you to use to take your CDL driving test http://www.cdltesttruck.com

 

Are you looking to get a cdl to run local or are you trying to go over the road? If your in DFW you can make 900+ a week running class B ready mix, be home every night and all. If you're just looking to run local your best bet in this area is to sign on as a dockworker for the local LTL companies, they will train you and loan you a company truck for your class A exam.

 

With out the driver school your options will be limited.