Do it on my own

If you're very comfortable with pulling trailers and equipment you could do what I did...

First, I got the DMV manual and studied for the written. Passed no problem 1st try.

Then I called a private CDL examiner (people who are certified to give the road test outside the DMV).
I told them I was looking for a private instruction from a certified examiner, and that as a matter of conflict of interest, it couldn't be from the same company I would take the drive test with.

They referred me to a competitor's company, where I hired their examiner @ $300/day to "fill in" my experience which had previously been with medium duty trucks doing Class C "Hot Shot".
He met me in the morning where I had my semi and trailer parked, went over pre-trips and a few Class 8 particulars, then went on about a 3 hour drive in my truck where he put me into all kinds of situations.
He was both an instructor and CDL examiner.
At the end of the day he said I'd have no problem passing the road test.

I then scheduled a private exam with the first company where I had to drive their truck and trailer for the test.
I passed this with high marks except for the one question the examiner asked of "what was the posted weight limit on that bridge we just went over?"
Terrified, I admitted that I had missed it.
Later they let me know there wasn't one.

I'm posting this method of getting a CDL because you state that you already have experience and are comfortable with the equipment. I had a lot of Class C towing experience on the very heavy and long end of that class, and to be responsible, I hired a middleman....a CDL school instructor... to put my skill under his microscope in a Class 8 prior to taking the actual test. That step was not required, but I felt it was prudent to double check myself.

All of that said, I think the school is probably a good idea. Knowing how to drive a tractor/trailer safely is really not the rocket science some would make it out to be, but the way I did it though left a ton of gaps I have to imagine the schools teach. From things like how to fill out a log book, to bill of ladens, when to slide your tandems for either legal or maneuvering reasons, little tricks, legalities...etc etc.

I'm sure a lot of people could go in and drive/back/operate the tractor trailer on the first day of CDL school. Others probably can't, and so I can see some time being devoted to that, but I have to imagine it can't fill 3 weeks?
There must be more content that I don't know about, and not having gone to school has really left me feeling like I missed stuff other than how to safely operate the rig.

 

You'll be fine

 

Which division has the longest runs? I read somewhere the reefer division does.

 

I have no idea what the laws are where you live but a CDL is a federal license issued and maintained by your home state. I worked at a community college here where I live as an instructor and every one of the trainees that came through the door had to get a Iowa permit, then when they got through the school and went home they could just walk in and "trade" it for a CDL in their home state. I'm not stating this as fact for everywhere, just what I experienced here. Having said that, and again you'll have to do some homework to find out if it's available where you are. At the community college that I worked at they have a grant that some qualified for that would allow them training in a trade other then what they have been doing. For example, if your a welder and for some reason your not able to do that line of work anymore, you may qualify for this grant to go to truck driving school. Might be something to look into in your area to see if a local community college that has a truck driving school has this same program. Hope this helps you and good luck!