Choosing The Right CDL Training School

Choosing the right CDL training school can be a big challenge for many potential truck drivers. You may be thinking that a school is only one of the requirements to get your commercial drivers license (CDL), however, attending the right school will play a very big role in developing the skills and knowledge needed to land you a good and stable driving job and an avenue to meet and mingle with a network of other professional drivers.

As you know, choosing a company to work for, career or college can be a daunting task. On that note, you need to understand the rubrics and factors very crucial to you. 

Are you looking for a CDL school with a flexible schedule due to your family or job engagements? Or you looking for an on one driving school? Or probably you are looking for a school with a team of professional and well-disciplined tutors? The following factors are what you should consider before choosing a CDL.

 

What is a CDL Training?

CDL training program is specially designed for those who want to obtain a license in driving heavy trucks for commercial purposes. The training often starts in a classroom environment; the prospective drivers would learn the theories of driving such trucks and gain background information, specific requirements in each state, the use of a road, driving hours, maximum weight of contents each truck can carry, etc. This stage must be passed, to show that the driver is qualified for a permit.

This permit is the same as any certification you would obtain to move forward in securing a driver’s license in any class that allows you to train for classes in heavy trucks driving.

Factors To Consider Before Choosing a Driving School

• The Type of School
• Comprehensive Programs
• Job Placement
• Cost

1. Comprehensive Programs

Your driving school should be comprehensive and include a generous mix of classroom time, range, and on-the-road training in a truck. You’ll learn all the basics like road signs and rules, map reading, managing logbooks, and all the driving skills like turning, backing up, and maneuvering. Some schools might even go above and beyond and require you to learn all the important state and federal regulations.

Choosing the right CDL Training School is one of the most important decisions you’ll make in your truck driving career. Your education is just the start of your career so make sure you put your right foot forward and choose the school that will provide you the best training and gets you the job that you want.

2. Job Placement

CDL training schools will often help you with your job search after you graduate. When looking at various schools, consider if they offer personal coaching or if they partner with local transport companies. Don’t be afraid to ask the school what their job placement success rate is and what companies recent graduates have found work with

3. The Type of School

There are three different types of CDL training courses: licensed, certified, and accredited training courses. A licensed school has met the minimum state curriculum, facility, and training requirements.

A certified school is fully licensed by the state and inspected by a third party company to ensure that the school meets a certain standard. In a certified school, students only graduate when they pass the US DOT standards for the trucking industry. An accredited school is a school that meets certain regulations and policies set by the US Department of Education.

A great starting point would be to make sure the school you are considering has PTDI-certified courses. PTDI works with both carriers and truck driving schools to make safety on the road a priority. For the past 30 years, PTDI has been developing curriculum and certification standards for truck driving schools.

4. Cost

Avoid schools that use “free training” language because it is most likely a scam. Truck driving education is expensive. Your tuition needs to cover the costs of equipment, fuel, materials, and your instructors’ time among other things.

Driving schools vary widely in pricing depending on a number of factors, but expect to pay anywhere from $3,000 to $10,000 for your training. There are some carriers that will cover a portion of the costs for their recruits. The cost of training will include your classroom time plus actual in-the-driver-seat training. Make sure you read the contract carefully before signing to make sure all the costs are included and you aren’t surprised at graduation.

Is CDL Training School Worth It?

It is not all trucking jobs that require undergoing training. However, in order to be a certified driver, one needs to undergo driving training and get the necessary certification. That said, whether the trucking company that you drive for is individual owned, federal or state rules and regulations abides. One needs to undergo all the required training and certification each on accredited CDL training schools.

Accredited CDL Training Courses

Accredited CDL training schools are approved by the education regulatory body at the federal level, under the department of education. The schools are accredited having met the requirements for schools standard, keeping to rules and regulations. These types of schools are not many.

Licensed training schools have met the least requirements in curriculum, instructors, training facilities, training quality, and so on. They are licensed by the state where it operates having met the standard of the state.

Certified training schools are schools that have been inspected by a designated group to check if they have met set out standards in every aspect required. For drivers to graduate from certified schools, they must have gone through training and met the standards of the trucking industry and that of the department of transportation.

Types Of Commercial Driving license

After completing your CDL Training School and passed all the necessary tests, you would get your license. However, there are three types of licenses, according to size and content the trucks can carry. They are class A, class B, and Class C licenses.

Class A license is required for drivers of trucks, tractor-trailers that are transporting up to 26,000 pounds or more of goods. Class B license is for drivers who are transporting a maximum weight of 26,000 and towing 10,000 pounds in excess. Class C license is to carry hazardous contents, chemicals, for larger vehicles that don’t fit into class A or class B.

To get the right training and have the proper license, prospective truck drivers need to know what they want to drive and then choose the right training school that fits this career path.