State Approval

One of the initial questions that you must determine when choosing a driving school, whether it is one that you physically visit or one that you attend online, is whether or not the school is approved by the state. Some online driving schools, such as I Drive Safely allows you to pick your state out of a drop down box and determine if the program is approved in the state.

Pricing

The second thing you will want to investigate in your endeavors to find the perfect driving school is the pricing of the program. Obviously, the defensive driving school that you choose will depend on the amount you wish to spend on the program. You will want to determine.

About the Schools

There are several things about the schools themselves that you are going to want to investigate before choosing a school. Lon Anderson and John Townsend offer in the Washington Post several different ways to determine if a program is right for you. The school should have certified instructors who should be licensed. There should also be plenty of classroom space. There should be 6 to 8 weeks of lessons with both classroom and in-car sessions. A great place to start, according to Anderson and Townsend is the DMV, MVA or the Better Business Bureau.

The truck driving schools will always tell you that you will have no problem getting hired after you achieve your CDL. This in fact, is true to a certain point, but what they don’t tell you is the key factor you need to know BEFORE you enter into a truck driving school.

Laws concerning the commercial driver have gotten very strict in the last several years, especially after 911. New drivers are always telling me that the company wants at least six months to a year of experience before they can hire them. So now, they have spent thousands of dollars for a CDL, but have no driving experience, so they cannot get hired. It really is not the company that won’t hire them, but the problem lies with their insurance company.

The trucking company’s insurance carrier is actually the one that requires the six months to a year of experience. So how can the truck driving schools claim that you will have no problem getting hired? The answer lies with the mega trucking companies. These giant companies offer their own “truck driving schools” that will land you your CDL, and then you will be required to work for them and them alone, usually riding with a “trainer” for 6-8 weeks before being allowed to “go it alone.” In addition, during all this time, you will be at the low end of the pay scale. Also, many of these massive trucking companies are their OWN insurance company! Therefore, they can “bend” the rules so to speak.

If the truck driving school tells you that you will have no problem getting hired, asked them about the six months to a year of experience that the insurance companies require and see what they say. Most all of these “schools” have contracts with certain trucking companies that will hire you after you complete your CDL course. But you can only work for them, therefore you are stuck with that company only. If you believe you can go to a truck driving school and immediately go anywhere and start working locally, chances are you will be wrong. Your only choices will be to go with the giant trucking companies working over the road, until you can build up the experience required by the insurance companies. There are hundreds of these trucking companies that will hire “new grads” and get them “pushed” through on “their” insurance. The only problem is that over the road may not have been in your plans.

Also, keep in mind that while you are at the mercy of these giant companies, you will be at the low end of the pay scale . . . usually around $300 per week. Thereafter, the raises will be slow coming. This is how trucking companies can get their freight moved cheap . . . by constantly hiring “new grads” and weeding out the drivers that are now at the top end of the pay scale.

If your plans are to work locally as a professional driver and you have no experience, chances are you will have to attend a truck driving school and be forced to work for one of the larger trucking companies as an over the road driver. These schools provided by the trucking companies can run as high as $4000 or more. There is a much cheaper way to go than using these trucking company’s so-called “schools.”

Only after you accumulate six months to a year of driving experience meeting the criteria of the insurance companies, will you be able to go anywhere and get a job . . . including a local one.

Better still, try approaching truckers at the truck stop, alongside the highway. They will tell you where their truck driving training originated, what’s new in the road freight industry, your perspectives for employment, which transport company is better than others, etc. Ultimately, the time will come when you’ll have to make up your mind, as to what truck driving commercial license course you are going to enroll to. Let me help you here, with giving you the overview of three very different kinds of truck driving schools. Each one will be outlined with its more important characteristics, and the factors that may affect your choice, will be explained in detail.

Truck driving school run by the dedicated educational institutions.

Usually, staffed by experienced instructors and trainers. Trucks and training equipment are new to medium old; the age can gravitate towards the older, for small outfits. Ratio of teacher to student can be quite high, thus limiting your “real” truck driving time. Fees can be quite high, depending on the school’s reputation in the industry, and local competition. Classes’ times is flexible, and can accommodate individual student’s requirements. Basic CDL course lasts about 6 months.

Universities and colleges run training.

Truck driving courses are run as a part of their regular vocational training. Due mainly to insufficient financial resources, the equipment is old and hardly resembling the modern rigs you see on the roads today. Classes have a set timetable. Very low fees or free of any charges. Tend to attract mainly school leavers. Duration of the course can be as long as two years.

Truck driving company run training.

You’re learning on the job. Driving instructors are of considerable experience. Training facilities modern and well maintained. No charges for students who agree to work a fixed time after the graduation on company’s trucks. The training fleet is modern and versatile; from small Dodge pickups, to huge B-doubles, long semis and dangerous goods vehicles. Course lasts about 6-8 weeks.

Hopefully by now, you’re able to decide where to sign the enrollment forms. Before you do, ask if the truck driving school you’re considering is accredited with the Professional Truck Drivers Institute. This organization tries to maintain a uniform truck drivers’ training standards across America. Also, visit our website: truck-driving-school.biz for the latest info. Well, right now, you’re ready to enter the first stage of your rewarding professional career. Transport companies are waiting for you, with the CDL license in hand!