Stevens CDL school in St. Louis??

A CDL school is there to get you a license. This includes 80 hours of classroom and 80 hours of wheel time. That 80 hrs is split amongst the students. Usually, there are between 2 and 4 students per instructor.
As long as the school guarantees you to pass your CDL test, you will be fine. A guarantee usually works so that if you fail, they give you additional wheel time.
Trust me. Most students that turn up at Stevens (and virtually any other training company) are very green. That's what training is all about.
As long as you can make 50% of your shifts, don't wreck the truck and don't run over grandma on the sidewalk, you will pass to the next step which is into your trainer's truck.
Stevens wouldn't be (financially) backing a school that turns out ill equipped graduates.
Talk with the school recruiter and express your concerns. See what they tell you.

 

Sorry to go off topic, I graduated from a CDL school TDI, I can't remember how many hours I drove, but I say it was enough to at least get familiar with how a Tractor Trailer operates. Shifting was most important than anything, still a bit fuzzy on it, that's where the OTR training seems to jump in place to give us the newbies, more time to get experience.

 

If you have 1/4 million miles in a straight truck, do you already have a CDL?

The reason that Im asking is when I went to Stevens school I already had my class A CDL as did a handful of other students. While most of the class were taking the tests at DPS, we were 2 to a truck getting plenty of time driving the trucks. We had much more time behind the wheel than the rest of the class.

 

Has to be an A... if.it's a B he will still need to test.

 

Right... But if he has a B, all he has to do is take the airbrake and combination written tests or no?

 

No I dont have a CDL just a standard chauffeur's license. I build office cubicals. I take the furniture there and set it up. So I tend to drive a lot.

 

sinker most of the community colleges have a program. i had several years with a class b license so i feel it was a help. i had years of backing experience in tow trucks and car haulers. it might not be a 53 foot trailer but it is still something that you have to learn how to back up the right way. already had time with log books and trip planning so the school was more boredom then anything else for me personally.

 

I'm considering not going to school and going the self study route through e-gears and a buddy of mine that has a small family ran trucking co. Between the 2 I don't think I would have a problem getting my license. Will company's even consider me with out that piece of paper?

 

Most insurance companies require the class. 160 hours of training. You could be the best driver in the world, but most companies are shut off to you without 2 years experience and/or the classroom.
Drivers that have been out of the industry for 2 years or more are often required to attend a 'refresher' course, which is the same thing, but without the testing out at DMV at the end.