Profile For a_moran224

98% of your private, or company sponsored schools will only teach you to pass the CDL test. Depending on class size, and how the program is set up, will determine how much actual time behind the wheel you will get. It could be as little as 8 hours, or as many as 30. The only "requirement" companies look for is 160hrs of total instruction, which is classroom+range+driving.

The company, will then teach you how to operate the truck safely, or, at least they should. Your school wasn't :shysty," that is just how it is in this industry. Your real training/schooling begins when you are out with your trainer.

Swift, Prime, TMC, and Roehl, all have really good programs, that will not only teach you the basics, but pretty much guarantee you a job once you graduate from their schools. They also have good training programs, after you graduate.

Hope this help a little.

Stay safe

Thank you for your input DanielSahn, never even thought of that now that you mentioned it that 98% of the schools are just there to get your CDL, and the real training begins with the company you go with. I'm looking around right now for schools in TX that got the PTDI certification, I'm guess part of it is I just want more drive time with a school that has a real thorough program, cause allegedly if it has the PTDI seal of approval the minimum drive time per student will be 44 hours. I think mainly I just want to be damn good at driving a truck before I go with a company, rather than show up, suck at truck driving and get the yee old boot out the door. I'll definitely look into those companies training programs you mentioned. Thank you again for your feedback, much appreciated.

Best Regards,

a_moran224

Hi Everyone,

I wanted to write about my experience, but also get your advice. So I got my CDL almost 2 years ago, at this school, was a 4 week program. Long story short I never actually ended up really using my CDL. Your probably wondering ...well what the hell happened? This school is probably like some other private truck schools. Basically, my training experience was in the morning we would practice in the yard straight backing and parallel parking, then in the afternoon we would drive out on the road, 3 students to a truck, 1 hour of drive time. First 2 weeks is classroom stuff. Week 3 and 4 is driving in the yard and on the road. The total amount of drive time I got was a little over 10 hours on the road. I guess what I'm getting at is, can a Truck school legally get away with running a shysty program like that? I'll be honest with you I didn't really feel confident in my abilities partly because of the lack of drive time with this school, but somehow by the grace of God I passed, I got a 75 in case your wondering, but I still think for me personally I failed. So got my CDL, got hired on by Basic Energy Services, and when I got their, everything kinda went out the window, My Boss basically wanted me to float gears and instead of double clutching. I was training for about 3 weeks, with my trainer, I could float gears on lease roads ( oil field dirt roads) no problem, but when I would get on the main roads, I just really kinda sucked floating the first few gears, and the other problem I was having was backing into awkward positions. I'm a noob long story short I was gonna get let go if I couldn't adapt to floating gears, and rather than get fired I quit. That's my story, I don't blame anyone but myself for my decisions. I just wanted advice, if their are any truck schools that are really thorough you might recommend I look into?I'm currently just in school working towards my degree, but I still have my CDL would like to give it another go but with a good program where I will be confident in my abilities.

Best Regards,

a_moran224