What are some of the best driving schools??

It doesn't matter how good the school is . There is a huge oversupply of drivers due to falling freight levels , carriers cutting their fleets back , and schools continuing to churn out students for jobs that aren't there . Read around here and see all the posts by both experienced drivers and recent graduates that can't find work . Then look at the posts by members that are working but are lucky to make $400 a week .
I wouldn't recommend any school . They are all a bunch of vultures well aware of the lack of jobs and exploiting desperate people .

 

Cowboy,

I'm a 50 yr old newbie to trucking. I attended a Sage school locally in December and have been driving since January. I was well pleased with Sage and would recommend their program to anyone looking for a start. Sage also has a placement service that generally does a very good job in finding you a driving job after graduation. If you have any specific questions about them, feel free to IM me.

 

Check out Crowder College in Neosho, MO, south of Joplin. They are a WONDERFUL school. They guarantee training but not a CDL.. unlike places like the CDL mills. They will train you to be prepared for the testing. Once we (my wife and I went together) were out on the road we were prepared for everything we encountered. We've been out of school for 6 months now and visit when we can. They have wonderful instructors there.

 

I just got out of a local collage that had a CDL program it was a 3 month course but I got a lot more training than the 3 week classes that are going around I got better than 500 road miles and maybe just as many on the driving range. and with a collage you get grants to pay for it so your not out 3 or 4 thousand dollars or having to sign a year or two of your life away with any one company

 

Community colleges are usually best and cheaper. But don't ignore the first response and do some reading about the downside. Have you looked at the military? The retirement plan is a lot better and the odds of survival are probably better than trucking.

 

I'll throw this out there because you are so young. Some LTL companies have dock to driver programs. Con-way Freight and UPSF do it - and when they need drivers I believe FedEx Freight does it. This is a way to start a career at a company instead of working for a predatory entry level outfit. I started at Con-way a few weeks shy of 23 but I know they have hired 21 year olds.

All those I have talked to at Con-way say the training was top-notch and the advice from the senior drivers was great. You also learn a lot more about the business in general. You learn how to properly load trailers, use a yard truck, and other various things you wouldn't pick up at most places. I have 7+ years driving and a little under 6 at Con-way and I'm a relative rookie here. Most have been with the company 10+ years and have driven for 20+. You can learn a lot from these guys. I'm not sure about your local commitments but you're home every day at the above mentioned companies. If you want to see the country first then by all means do the school and the otr thing but keep this in the back of your mind. The younger you start the better you'll be at a seniority based job.