Getting CDL Before going to School

This is not a suggestion so much as it is some things to consider,...

most of the half decent trucking schools will range from $4500-8000 to give you your CDL. There is a reson for this fee,...It covers their exorbanently high insurance rates, pays for decent instructors, covers the bills of the trucking school, so this poses a serious question to the post you have just made...

Are you looking for a bargin?,..or are you looking at starting a new career in a very serious way, lerning as much as you can up front?,...Because learning what you can up front is definately not the cheapest road, but doing so will lend you much better, and more profitble results in the end. Besides, MOST of the student-hiring trucking companies will re-emburse you for the money you have shelled out if you stay with them for at least a year. In the end, you have lost nothing but the time it takes to save some money, go to school for 3-4 weeks to learn the basics of getting a truck into gear enough to be useful to these companies, and on down the road to sucess. Taking the 'Bargan' way, not going to a truck school, or going to a 'fly-by-night' school will create many problems for both you and whoever hires you in both lack of basic skill, and lack of knowing how to stay compliant (proper inspections, proper driving techniques, etc. for trucks). You will have a much harder time getting signed onto the better companies up front, AND/OR possibly get dumped right away because you are not able to pass basic road/driving tests, etc. by shortcutting yourself.

Trucking is NOT a job,...It is a Career. Do not short yourself in your new creer, becuse if you do so,...you will likely end up just like many others that have come before you that did the same thing, where you will end up hating it, likely jumping from carrier to carrier, complaining and miserable.

 

If you have your GI bill, use it! Companies pay attention to what school you go to. It's a pretty relevant piece of information on your resume. They'll know that the guy from the good school is likely a safer bet than the guy from the 3 week mill.

I'm in my training right now, and I found the first few times in the truck pretty nerve wracking. These things aren't just big cars. You know how to shift, can't be that much different than your car, right? It's very different, lol. You have to get used to that, while driving, watching out for traffic (other cars always trying to get around you), hazards, signs, etc. Then there's downshifting... But that's the easy part. Go try to do a backing maneuver a few times. Then imagine you had to do that in a tight dock with a truck and trailer on both sides of it. Once you get a little practice, you'll likely realize you could use a lot more.

Also, carriers won't hire you without some form of certified training. Insurance reasons if nothing else.

 

If you can get the CDL first, that's good. It puts you ahead in the game. If you're in the hiring area, Maverick will hire you with no formal CDL school, if you have a CDL. Consider tanker or flatbed for the best money annually. Roehl, Prime, Swift have flatbed training & Prime also has tanker school.

 

Swift, Swift, Swift, I choose Swift lmao....

 

I got my CDL from Nevada Truck Driving School, a local "3 week mill", as you call it, in Reno. I only found it after deciding on Roehl, and finding out that I could not attend their own CDL school. Roehl gave me the names of 3 schools in my area. NTDS was one of them and they cost just $1500, cheaper than the rest by $1000, and only 10 min from my home. Roehl didn't care how long the school was, or what they charge, so long as you learn what you needed to know and can pass the tests for your CDL.

I got my CDL on a Thursday, and was on a (Roehl-paid-for) plane to Gary, IN for training that started the following Monday. The 1 week orientation and learning to drive 'the Roehl Way' was awesome and appreciated for improving my skills, but only improved them. I learned nothing new.

I should mention that NTDS will keep you as a student, without added expense, until you CAN pass all the tests.

MY POINT IS YOU DON'T HAVE TO PAY A LOT TO LEARN A LOT.

Oh BTW.... I've now got over 80k solo miles, accident-free.

 

Roehl just started their heavy truck driver on-the-job apprenticeship training program last year. Right about when I started in Oct. It is a VA-certified program, so you can use your GI Bill there, instead, or in addition to, your CDL school. I'm sure there are some other companies doing the same.

 

Congratulations. I only meant to say that when applying for a company with more applicants than positions, your school could be a deciding factor, just like what college you went to could matter for other jobs. If a company tells you to go to a certain school though, that's likely the best school for you, lol. Good luck on your first year

 

I have come across a few companies that the VA will allow you to use the Post 9-11 GI Bill for your entire first year with them. The nice thing about that is you will collect BAH for an entire year at the E-5 rate. I know in my current zip code it is an extra almost $1600 per month in your pocket. Which would help offset the horrible first year pay of driving.