getting a CDL "on my own"...with good help?

Discussion in 'Trucking Schools and CDL Training Forum' started by KylerLaird, Oct 13, 2018.

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  1. Oct 13, 2018 #1
    KylerLaird

    KylerLaird Bobtail Member

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    I grew up driving trucks. I have a Peterbilt 387 with spread axle flatbed that I've driven for several years and I have a spiffy new Reitnouer beavertail coming next week. I want to get my CDL so that I am safer and have some more options. I don't have 160 hours to invest in a school, though.

    I'm in Indiana and I've looked at the CDL requirements. They don't seem too daunting but I prefer to work through them efficiently.

    For my pilot certificates, I did attend schools but I also used online courses, weekend written exam workshops, and private instructors. I expected that there would be similar CDL resources but I'm not finding them. I did find a couple online courses but not specific to Indiana. There are plenty of YouTube videos on various CDL subjects but the only Indiana-specific series I found was a horrible computer-generated one. I'm looking for something similar to what King Schools does for pilots that will efficiently walk me through what I need to know.

    Then I need to find a private instructor to ensure that I'm ready for the skills test, especially the pretrip inspection for my truck. (Maybe I'm making the test out to be a bigger deal than it is. I also thought the motorcycle skills test would be tricky!) Are there places I can go for hourly instruction? Or hire someone to come to me?

    Any pointers?

    P.S. I'm going to buy CDL AudioLearn. Even though it's not Indiana-specific, I like Audible. I'll report on it.
     
    Last edited: Oct 13, 2018
    Reason for edit: update
    KylerLaird, Oct 13, 2018
    KylerLaird, Oct 13, 2018
    #1
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  3. Oct 13, 2018 #2
    Rubber duck kw

    Rubber duck kw Road Train Member

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    If you've been driving trucks around for awhile already you should be fine to just go take the written test and wait whatever you time they say you have to to go take the driving part. You should be able to find a decent mechanic to help if you're unsure on the pretrip part, that's honestly the hardest part if you ask me.
     
    Rubber duck kw, Oct 13, 2018
    Rubber duck kw, Oct 13, 2018
    #2
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  4. Oct 13, 2018 #3
    SixShooterTransport

    SixShooterTransport Light Load Member

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    This is a joke, right? What a waste of time reading this garbage.
     
    SixShooterTransport, Oct 13, 2018
    SixShooterTransport, Oct 13, 2018
    #3
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  5. Oct 13, 2018 #4
    Rubber duck kw

    Rubber duck kw Road Train Member

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    What's garbage or a joke about it?
     
    Rubber duck kw, Oct 13, 2018
    Rubber duck kw, Oct 13, 2018
    #4
  7. Oct 13, 2018 #5
    Cam Roberts

    Cam Roberts Road Train Member

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    I was kinda thinking the same thing. Guy has own truck and all this experience and kinda contradicting himself about not knowing anything about truck or cdl especially a simple written test. Then needs someone to come show him how to operate truck.
    Kind of a confusing situation
     
    Cam Roberts, Oct 13, 2018
    Cam Roberts, Oct 13, 2018
    #5
  8. Oct 13, 2018 #6
    Rubber duck kw

    Rubber duck kw Road Train Member

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    Sounds like he's just making the tests out to be a bigger deal than they are to me.
     
    Rubber duck kw, Oct 13, 2018
    Rubber duck kw, Oct 13, 2018
    #6
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  9. Oct 13, 2018 #7
    Cam Roberts

    Cam Roberts Road Train Member

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    Probably
     
    Cam Roberts, Oct 13, 2018
    Cam Roberts, Oct 13, 2018
    #7
  10. Oct 13, 2018 #8
    homeskillet

    homeskillet Road Train Member

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    You've been driving a Peterbilt 387 for "several years", and you decided to finally get a CDL to make you "safer"?

    So, you've been driving your Pete and spread axle with NO CDL for "several years", or am I missing the point of your post?

    I wish you every success.......
     
    homeskillet, Oct 13, 2018
    homeskillet, Oct 13, 2018
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  11. Oct 13, 2018 #9
    austinmike

    austinmike Road Train Member

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    lol i guess i wasted my time getting that pesky cdl
     
    austinmike, Oct 13, 2018
    austinmike, Oct 13, 2018
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  12. Oct 13, 2018 #10
    Cattleman84

    Cattleman84 Road Train Member

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    I'm guessing you are currently agriculturally exempt from the CDL requirements? I was the same for many years, when I decided to get my licence I just got the book from the DMV and studied it for about a week. Then googled "(state) CDL practice tests" and did a few of them. Next day I went and took the written tests for licence and all my endorsements. I passed them all and I scheduled my drive test and used one of the farm trucks to take it. Passed everything first shot. Then went and got my medical card. Grand total it cost me $239.00 that my boss at the time reimbursed to me... That was about 6 or 7 years ago.
     
    Cattleman84, Oct 13, 2018
    Cattleman84, Oct 13, 2018
    #10
    austinmike, Rideandrepair, KylerLaird and 2 others Thank this.
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