DIY CDL, is it possible, and what are the steps?

So I have several questions about getting your cdl without school, I’m looking to get into the industry but I need to work full time while I get my license, I just don’t have the time or funds for school.

What’s it cost to rent a truck for testing? Do you or can you get any practice time?
How hard are is it to find employment after i get my license? Will employers discriminate against my diy and lack of road time?
Any advice or recommendations are highly appreciated!

 

Forget renting, in order to rent a 18 wheeler you need insurance. You will find that insurance without a CDL is impossible and certainly not on a permit. And no experience etc. They will pretty much refuse you.

Some areas have begun to regulate how trucks are rented, because some are actually trying to profiteer from people like yourself.

Whatever truck you are in school to learn, it has to have a manual so you do not get hit with the little restriction that says automatic transmission only, that will eliminate about half or more of existing trucks to hiring.

You are going to have to put money aside until you have enough for the tuition and get it at that time in the future. It is way better to do it that way on your own than trying to go through the pay me later debt to employers who really don't train you without trying to mule you for gain on a team situation. You don't learn anything when a trainer is asleep in the bunk. And finally, if you got a assigned truck and you hit something and are dismissed, all that debt is due and payable instantly. It is very possible your credit goes poof if you aint got it and into collections etc.

You also have a issue finding employment with a CDL. No company will hire you unless you are 18 and trying to get hired with a particular effort by a few to waive regulations and hire children to drive 18 wheelers at that age. And there is a percentage of fleets that will abuse you and dismiss you when you cease to be productive working for a bottom feeding mega leading to a even worse employment prospects with second chance companies.

You are going to have to get the funds and find the time for school. Do not forget to add on to that pile of money needed your usual expenses of house and family etc for the time of that school and a few months after.

Also one other important thing. In some states rec pot is legal. If you are anywhere involved at all with that stuff, stop it. (And wait a year to clear your hair against testing) and do not touch it for as long you are a trucker. You will find that there is no tolerance for drugs and hot results in tests.

 

Look into LTL or food service. There are many out there that will train you in house while you work, and then give you a driving job after you get your CDL.

 

When I worked at Pepsi there were quite a few guys who started out merchandising stores and then at the very least got their class B to run a route truck. Some guys didn’t want to get a class A because they didn’t want the routes that the semis had.

 

I can’t believe that still 20 years later the myth out there still remains you can just go rent a commercial vehicle and test in it for cdl. Boggles my mind. People would always say back then “ I’ll go rent a automatic Penske and get my cdl”. Sorry but they only rent to established big companies that have insurance that covers the rental.

 

You can rent a truck, just not from one of the big companies. All I did was google it.

 

Awesome! Send address to send cookie. Is there one close by in every state or just Texas and Chicago?

 

Oh please, give us some credit. We don't rent the truck in Chicago, we steal it...

 

No idea. I’m in NE but I don’t use my location in google and that’s what came up. I would suspect that they are more popular in certain parts of the country, such as the two locations that are in the results. Lol

 

Where is your location? Might be some cdl schools that have weekend classes for those that don't want to quit their job while in school.
Maybe some OJT jobs such as in Post #4.
Roehl Transport pays students something like $550.00 a week while attending their cdl school.