Who says I have to go to driving school?

yep and it really doesn't take much to be LCV trainer

 

really want to get back into trucking,3 preventable and 3 termination, but no dui, no drugs, and a very hard worker need help, alsap!

 

Been out of truck since 2007, but do have some experience

 

Technically, you don't have to go to school. And this is a viable alternative; Overnite(now UPS freight), old dominion, fedex freight all offer free driver training if you work the dock. So, you're making $17+ an hour and you'll be trained to get your class A cdl all on the house.

As far as the written tests, no, you absolutely don't need to go to school and SHOULD NOT go to school for these tests. i think if you go to the dmv, they should have a commercial vehicle handbook and in it, it shows what kind of subjects will be on the test.

The actual driving test is the problem---you'll need to be able to borrow/rent a legal suitable test vehicle. Which means you need a legal way to get it to the test site.

 

Thanks danc694U!
I've been accepted at Misissippi Gulf Coast Community College George County. The Commercial Driving Course used to be at the Perk campus. I've also applied at Pearl River Community College in Popularville. I went on line before I applied to PRCC and was satisfied with the tuition stated in Registration and Fees ($1500).
Just for the heck of it I called them last week and was told the tuition is now $3500. Seems they haven't updated the info on Driver Training for a couple of years. The counselor I talked with started pushing the WIA program saying that if I qualified I could go at no cost. I did some research myself on WIA. I don't qualify!
What I'm thinking now is that with Uncle Sam being willing to foot the bill, some, maybe not all, schools have boosted tuition.
I don't discourage easily and can pay my own way. I've got time to research every option I can uncover. I don't plan to launch my new career until next summer.
Thanks for your time and suggestions!
Oldnew....

 

UPS, yet another option! Thanks!

 

I guess part of my motivation for looking into this option is that I might have more control over who trains me. I've read too many posts from newbies who have had and are having horrible experiences with their trainers. Plenty of others are giving glowing reports on the training they have had or are having. I just want options! At age 55 I don't want to half-step on the job training. Those #### tractor/trailers are big! Now, I'm not afraid. But I'm real, real respectful!

 

For the time being you can go it on your own, but in reality with the state of the economy and the numbers of unemployed drivers, it's going to be up to you to sell yourself as the better alternative. Its luck of the draw on CDL instructors at any school, but if you go with a good school (community colleges qualify) you should end up with good instructors.

Any company you go with you're going to ride with another driver for awhile as a "trainer." Keep an open mind, and learn what you can. Also, keep your objective in mind - driving a class A rig.

 

You might want to keep that to your self since not using a class a vehicle would void your license. Theres no way to perform the required air leak down, pressure up test in a pickup since it does not have air brakes. Not performing required sections of the test would kind of have a negitive effect on your license.

I have seen other use trucks with hydraulic brakes to do this, just goes to show even the state trained inspectors are not qualified if they can not tell the difference.

 

There are some obvious issues with self training and driving a 80,000 lbs vehicle down the highway, negotiating corners without taking out light, cars and people. Backing into a blindside dock, or docks that do not have enough room in front of them to swing the tractor. Docks that were built for 38' X 7' trailers. cross winds that will flip you like a pancake woithout notice, snow ice, fog, rain. Not to mention or ther drivers truck and 4 wheeler alike. staying out of certain lanes because of the cost of using them, equals a weeks pay. Where its safe to sleep, how to deal with scale houses logging wise. I guess the list can go on. But yeah theres no reason for formal training. Did I forget to mention log violations can be as high as $1100.00 per violation and there is no maximum number they may find on each days page.

A good mentor can be invaluable as to what they could save. A couple of days ago a Knight truck got hung up on a right hand street corner (Sierra Hwy & Ave. E, Lancaster, CA) . It took almost 2 hours to get his trailer out of the ditch he put it in plus the time to transfer his load into my trailer another 3 hours, Towing Company cost about 750.00, plus the cost of replacing the guardrail.
He was a driver that got his license by the lie and learn quick method according to the driver as he was telling me stuff better kept to himself. I'm pretty sure that Knight will have good things to say in his DAK, hopefully they keep him on. All in all cost someone 100,000 or so. including the totaled trailer.