is it mandatory to go to an “accredited” CDL training school or not really?

how does this affect someone like me with a B license, and i'm upgrading to an A, do i need to go threw all the classroom time and crap again? doesnt seem very right to me i've been driving for about 3 years, granted i dont know how to drive tractor trailers yet, i know how to drive and be safe out there.

 

I would guess more of a refresher course would be appropriate for you. Something that more just covers combinations driving. JMO.

 

at my first school employer, they only had the 160 hour as their minimum. then the 420 as their maximum. this is for the class A CDL.

the only time there was even a shorter time than the 160, was a week long (5 day 8 hours each day) refresher training for those that already had their license and just needed some yard and road time.

at my now current school employer, we do not offer anything but the 420 hours for a class A. but what is "unique" about my current employer is that a student DOES NOT graduate until they pass the state DMV road test and get their license. so say if a student did the 420 hours, we DO NOT kick them out with their certificate and say, "come back for your road test"......NO, they stay with us till they pass the DMV road test, so in theory, "some students" get extra training/time for NO additional charge...>!!!! its "our way" to ensure they pass the DMV skills and road tests. i might add to this, that we HAVE HAD some students fail the road test (mostly MASS students) and they just come back to the school for more training till their next DMV testing.

but the fail rate at my current school employer is MUCH less than the other school i worked at.

but yes, there DOES NEED to be a standardized training ruling. it only seems right and fair, given the extreme monies these schools charge.

and too i might add, there are "clandestine schools" out there, ONE in MY STATE mind you that IS NOT STATE CERTIFIED as a school..>!! how they are getting away with this is beyond me, as complaints against them have been lodged against them...!!!

 

Rerun

Sounds like what you are doing goes a long way to what I've been shouting for. Passing the test should be part of the education process, and it should be hammered into the trainee that passing the test puts them on the gameboard, not halfway round it.

Now, if we can just extend what your school is doing to the rest of the training industry, without letting the politicians get their filthy hands into it...

 

Thanks Dome. I thought the rule was already in place. Luckily, I did the 4 week course. 2 weeks later was on a mentors truck. Amazing how much skill I'd lost in 2 weeks, but it came back quick.

 

I just graduated from an accredited school and out with my trainer now. A lot of companies are getting more strict on student drivers now because it effects thier insurance.

Good luck

 

I had 2 local options for school. One was a "private" school/business 160 hours (4 weeks) at $4995.00 and started a new class every Monday. And the second was 320 hours at $2700.00 at my county's Vocational School affilited with the State's Public School System that has only one start date per quarter. I applied for Fafsa and the financial aid representative at the Vocational School was actually able find State money that I qualified for to cover the $2,700.00 cost. Needless to say, the "private" school/business doesn't have a financial aid representative. The Vocational school even guarantees 1000 miles of road experience per student. Class starts for me Jan. 4th at the Vocational School. M-F 7am-2pm for 10 weeks. For me, the choice was crystal clear.

 

Accredited???
You're lookin to drive a truck...not work for the U.S. State Dept.

 

Theres a school here in NC run buy this Russian guy that specializes in training foreign drivers. He has 1 truck a snub nose single axle day cab with an auto transmission and it pulls a 48' Flatbed and he charges $5000. He uses another school "CTDTS's" 3rd party testers to test his students...





American Trucker