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Starting Out: CDL School

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By: Steve Irick

Making the decision to become a truck driver isn’t easy. It’s a different way of life. You’ve talked with other drivers, and after hearing what they say, you’ve decided to share in those adventures. You want to get behind the wheel of a big rig and see the world through a windshield.

But before hitting the road, you’ll face one more challenge: getting your CDL.

The Commercial Driver’s License dates back almost 30 years, when Congress signed the Commercial Motor Vehicle Act of 1986 into law. The purpose was to improve highway safety by ensuring truck drivers were qualified to operate their equipment. The Federal Highway Administration developed testing standards for licensing drivers and on April 1, 1992, all truck drivers were required to have a CDL.

Truck driving schools existed before that time, but after the CDL law came into existence, schools became necessary, and while attending a school is not required to obtain a CDL, it was and still is the best way to obtain your license. Today, schools teach almost everyone seeking a CDL the knowledge and skills necessary to safely operate a big truck.

Truck driving schools offer classes catering to every student’s needs. But before signing up, it’s important to visit as many schools as possible. Inquire about tuition cost, job placement, class size and how much experience the instructors have. Visit http://www.cvta.org for more information.

How much will it cost to attend school? On average, tuition is about $4000. Reimbursement programs are offered by many employers, although they are typically disbursed incrementally and then, only after working for a specified period of time. Some employers do offer full scholarships, but be cautious; terms and conditions can have damaging consequences. Truck driving schools also qualify for student loans as well as military tuition assistance.

Job placement is a standard at truck driving school. Even though finding a job shouldn’t be difficult; recruiters are usually included with tuition.

The number of students in the classroom isn’t necessarily as important as how many are riding in the truck. While some schools will assign several students to each truck, others will offer one-on-one training. This is an important issue to consider when choosing a school. What feels best for you?

Once you’ve selected a school, don’t expect to hop into a truck right away. About 20 hours will be spent in a classroom gaining the skills necessary to pass the written part of the CDL. In addition, class time can also be spent learning about federal regulations, log books, pre-trip, as well as map reading skills and trip planning. Some schools will offer simulator training, but this shouldn’t be considered as “driving” experience. Occasionally, guest speakers (truck drivers) will visit and talk about the industry.

The second portion of truck driving school is spent hands-on with the equipment. At this point, some schools may even offer a block of instruction on how to chain-up. The truck you’ll drive will usually be a sleeper cab with considerable mileage. Some schools will provide training on day cabs, single axle trucks or even a rig with an automatic transmission. You should expect to spend about 20 hours on a closed course learning pre-trip and basic driving skills followed by about 20 more hours driving on a designated route through your community. The typical route usually includes city and highway traffic situations: hills, stoplights, left and right turns, rail crossings and highway merge/exit.

When finished, you’ll take the CDL test. Successful completion will earn you the opportunity to begin your adventure with the transportation industry!

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