The truck driving school that you choose to attend could have a tremendous impact on your future career. While there are numerous truck driving schools to choose from, they are not created equal – and failure to get your certification from a good school could make it hard for you to get hired.
Read down for other major information on stuff you need to know about.
Are you worried that your lack of training or experience will make it impossible for you to get started? Don’t be! There are plenty of companies that have sponsored training programs—you can get trained and hired all at once!
The Basics of Professional Truck Driving
is growing and there is a long-term shortage of drivers. That is a fact that nobody is disputing. It is evident in the and every transportation, haulage, and logistics company’s human resources department is under pressure to hire and retain professional truck drivers.
The income potential for is around $38,000 to $43,000 per year for most positions on the road. Experienced drivers can earn more. Management and Instructors earn more based on position and experience.
Truck drivers who lease their trucks, go self-employed, and stay on the road as much as possible, are able to earn considerably more. However, that makes the driver responsible for more expenses and compliance issues regarding regulations and laws.
This route does give more independence and is a beloved way of life for many independent truckers across the country. If you think that you may want to become a self-employed truck driver and you have yet to begin the career you might want to take it step-by-step and start as an employee for one of the big freight companies, once you have qualified for your .
How to Become a Truck Driver
If becoming a is your ultimate goal, you will want the best possible education and experience on the road before you commit irreversibly. You can take a CDL crash course and then take advanced courses later.
The Right CDL School – For You
A professional driving career can be rewarding a career with perks like good pay if you land the right driving job or the flexible lifestyle. Moreover, the increasing demands of professional truck drivers set the stage for you to leap into this worthwhile job.
But if you think the basic driving skill is all it takes to have a successful career as a truck driver, you are mistaken. A good truck driving school is what you need to start your career on the right foot. A good truck driving school will not only train you for your driving test but also enable you to graduate and come out as a skilled professional that companies are looking to hire.
However, not all schools for driving are cut from the same cloth. With a number of options out there with varied costs, time commitment, and depth of training, it can be difficult to decide on a good driving school to attend.
Things to consider when selecting a school
There are certain things that will make a good truck-driving school stand out from a mediocre one. Some things to look for include:
- Accreditation – a good school will have sought out accreditation by an agency approved by the U.S. Department of Education
- Certification – meets or exceeds the Professional Truck Driver Institute standard, including a least 44 hours of actual drive time
- Cost – consider the cost of the school in relation to the number of hours behind the wheel, and look for hidden fees that may not be included, such as obtaining a permit, drug screening, insurance, and more
- Drive time – you should have at least 44 hours of actual driving time, not including observation time
- Equipment – well-maintained recent model tractors and trailers, including weighted trailers (because pulling empty trailers isn’t good practice)
- Facilities – clean classrooms with audio-visual capabilities, a library, and a practice driving range
- Financing – reputable schools will have financing options
- Instructors – teaching staff should have at least three years of driving experience, as well as an educational experience
- Placement assistance – while no school can guarantee you a job, they can provide you with assistance in finding one after graduation
- Program length – a good truck driving school will be at least 3 weeks long to provide you with adequate drive time
- Student to truck ratio – the best schools will place just one student per truck, giving you individualized attention.
Requirements To Qualify For A Truck Driving Training Program
No matter whether you choose paid CDL training or a private truck driving school, here are the necessary requirements to qualify for the training program.
- Age – The required age of the driving program may vary depending on the program. Usually, 21 to 23 years are considered suitable for most truck driving programs.
- O.T drug test – You need to pass the D.O.T drug test to qualify for your truck driving program.
- Clean criminal history – The applicant should have a clean criminal history, although there are allowances, depending upon the nature of the convictions/charges.
- S. citizenship – You must be a U.S citizen to qualify for CDL or truck driving program in the US.
- Driving history – Proof of a minimum of 3 years of work history that can be verified by past employers is essential to enroll yourself in a truck driving training program. Also, you must not have the ‘Driving under the Influence’ charges within the last five years and moving violations for at least the past three years.
- Commitment – In the case of company-sponsored training, a potential student may have to commit to a long-term work period that is 1 to 2 years after training. So make sure to understand the commitment, prior to signing on the dotted line and committing to training.
Other Reads:
Here’s a list of some top trucking companies that offer sponsored CDL training:
- S. Xpress, Inc.
- Schneider National
- KLLM Transportation Services
- Baylor Trucking
- Crete Carrier Corp.
- Werner Enterprises
- JB Hunt
- TMC Transportation
- Prime Inc
- Maverick Transportation
- Gordon Trucking, Inc.
- Con-way Truckload
- Covenant Transport
- Shaffer Trucking
All of the companies on this list are well known and have solid reputations, but don’t forget—you should still do your research when choosing the one that’s best for you. Company-sponsored training can be fast, easy, and free you from upfront costs, but be certain that the specific terms in the agreement are acceptable before signing on.
Make sure you choose a good company that offers thorough CDL Training and reasonable work hours at an acceptable wage!
StudentsandScholarship Team.
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