Wait, what? Trainers....?

From what I have read on here, people who have their CDL but didn't go to a trucking school are having a hard time finding jobs. I've been turned down by some companies because I didn't go to one of their "approved" schools even though I did go to a school. The average with a trainer seems to be 4-6 weeks or about 280hrs. The longest I've read about is CR England which is about 3 1/2 months. I haven't seen any that say 6 months though.

 

I think Prime had training periods up to 6 months. Cant say for sure though.

 

in order to get your cdl-a you don't need to go to school it's not a federal requirement, it's the trucking companies who are requiring the new drivers with out very much verifiable experience to have went to an approved school. I also believe the trucking companies are all for the government making a cdl school a requirement in order to obtain a cdl-a.

 

Trucking school requirements are driven by the insurance industry. They require @160 hours of training in school before they allow their clients (the trucking companies) to hire a person.
If you have been out of trucking for 2 years or more, you are generally required to attend a trucking school again, even tho you have your CDL.
Companies that train new drivers (generally called training companies) are self insured for the first million dollars in liability. That's how they get around the two year requirement.
Each training company has their own requirements, but generally it's 4-12 weeks out with a trainer. There are a couple out there that will give you a few days in the yard, then hand you the keys. These companies are generally good for experienced drivers returning to the field.
New drivers really should go thru a formal training program, not necessarily for all that time to learn to drive, but to learn all the formalities of logs, DOT requirements, rules, etc. Anymore, there seems to be more rules to learn, than driving to learn.

 

I'm just learning how things are now.
Got my CDL(class D then) back in 1985 no school and got a job right away quit driving in 1995. Now in the process of getting it back again w/ no school kind of.

I already have gotten my cdl permit and dot physical, Also found a school that will let me rent truck time for practice and getting my lic. back.

I have not one single worry about getting hired and driving again.

But I'm putting this off til spring cause I just got hired to temp drive for fedex ground doing package delivery's which should last thru Janurary, Driving a step van but Its money for now.

 

Most mega carriers required that the drivers they hired when to a approve school.Now that's if your a newbie who just got your CDL.Also companies that train required new drivers to be out with a trainer from 4 to 8 weeks.And to answer your question about trucking in the USA,we have rules to keep us safe..

 

Its not really the companies decision its the insurance.

Even if you buy a truck your insurance company will want to see your schooling and experience.

I highly advise not obtaining your CDL yourself. It will come back to bite you in the butt. Many have tried and then they come on this forum crying about what to do now because no one will hire them and now they have to spend even more money to go through an accredited school.

If you think you are a smarty go back and read all the posts from the other drivers who KNEW WHAT THEY WERE DOING and obtained their license themselves! Its funny how like 1 out of 20 drivers think they can beat the system and get around doing it the right way the first time. If you are that person do yourself a huge a favor and do it right the first time. There's no shortcuts and there is nothing that hasn't been tried to avoid it.

p.s. Things have changed a little in the trucking world since 1985!

 

Where does one obtain a DOT physical?