I'm Looking To Get Started

Hello, I've been reading and checking all the info you have, and I a few questions I would like to ask. I don't have a CDL learners permit yet and my question is "Can I apply to the company sponsered training programs and then get it? Or should I wait till I already have it to apply?" I know it's a simple problem but it's bugging me.

In general it probably doesn't matter. I would talk to the companies prior to getting it. Some companies would rather you not have it. Others will want you to have it. Others it doesn't matter. I would decide where you want to go prior to doing it. That way you know where they stand.

Oh right I prolly should have introduced myself first... So i'll just do that now then lol. My name is Tony I'm 26 with no wife or kids so I'm pretty much free to do whatever I want. I've been wanting to become a truck driver ever since my Uncle who was let me ride with him OTR during summer vacation when I was in high school. Now I know you maybe thinking "High school? No way a teenage kid could enjoy this." But I did, I loved it... Well maybe the trip to NYC gave me a few nightmares for a while... But still I had a blast. I've been putting it off, kept feeling like I wasn't ready to do it, but it's time for me to grow out of this and finally do it.

Tony, welcome aboard! We're glad your here, and don't be shy about asking questions - we're here for that purpose. We just enjoy the heck out of watching people come through here and start to understand the things we're saying about getting started in this industry. There is so much misinformation out there on the internet about trucking companies that you would think the Devil himself started this whole concept of moving freight across the country in a truck.

The Trucker's Career Guide is a great place to read and get a load of information on the trucking business, and you will never go wrong by using the High Road Training Program to prepare yourself for getting that permit.

I'd advise you to go ahead and get that permit before you go to school. It can only help you, and you will be so much better prepared than anyone else in your class. Trust me, you will be so glad you did it once you get there and see the other folks stressing out and cramming just to do what you've already got accomplished.

The reason I think it's better is that you will really learn the materials if you do it the way I'm recommending. Most of the folks at school have merely prepared themselves enough to squeak by on their permit tests, but you will have seriously learned so much of what is in the CDL manual that you will be very surprised at how easily you will succeed at passing any kind of test they throw at you while at school. I still remember on the fifth day of the school I attended they gave us a test that evaluated how effectively they had been teaching us, and later on at the end of the day the owner of the school pulled me aside to say that after eight years of running the school I was the first person to ever score 100% on that test. Well, my score didn't reflect anything about the way they were teaching, or they would have been getting a lot of 100%'s if they were doing an effective job. What it did show was the amazingly effective results that the High Road Training Program produces.

Get started, and go get that permit.

Thanks, for the advice that's a pretty good point. I was gonna read the CDL manual a few times anyway, I might as well go ahead and grab the permit. I think I'm gonna put a few applications into some Company Sponsered Training programs then sit down and read the manual over the weekend and start calling recruiters on Monday morning. Get out to the DMV sometime next week and take the written exam, that part at least should be easy. And yeah I'm gonna work through that High Road Training program, already read some of the reviews of it and I'm looking forward to trying it out myself... wow did I just say I was looking forward to studying and taking a test?... ANYWAY I'm gonna go get started, wish me luck.

Thanks, for the advice that's a pretty good point. I was gonna read the CDL manual a few times anyway, I might as well go ahead and grab the permit. I think I'm gonna put a few applications into some Company Sponsered Training programs then sit down and read the manual over the weekend and start calling recruiters on Monday morning. Get out to the DMV sometime next week and take the written exam, that part at least should be easy. And yeah I'm gonna work through that High Road Training program, already read some of the reviews of it and I'm looking forward to trying it out myself... wow did I just say I was looking forward to studying and taking a test?... ANYWAY I'm gonna go get started, wish me luck.

Don't just sit and read the manual. Go through the training program on this site. It will prepare you far better. It goes through the manual page by page with review questions at each page. Its a great setup. It helps you retain the information way better than just reading the book. I used it and passed all tests for the permit and endorsements on the first try. Many others on here have done that as well.

Britton R. it's exactly right about the High Road Training. I went through the book a couple of times to but did my real studying with the High Road training program. I feel that I learned much more with the program and it made it much easier to learn. I passed my test the first time around too. Good luck to you and I hope you do well.

Yeah I decided to give the High Road Training program a try first, been working on it all day I need to take a short break. 50 pages done so far it's looking good

Yeah I decided to give the High Road Training program a try first, been working on it all day I need to take a short break. 50 pages done so far it's looking good

To elaborate on how well, I'm 41% complete with 99% score so far

That's great Tony. keep up the good work and before you know it you will be smiling for the camera.