Knowledge About Schools After Asking Drivers

Hello. This may be a answered somewhere and thus a waste of time.

I recently spoke to several drivers, most of which come from PA. I have asked them about whether to take lessons or go to a school. Most of them told me they attained more knowledge at the schools in their home state rather then friends who hail from NYC. They told me the schools here ( NYC ) don't teach you about loading and such. Just how to pass the test / drive. From the ones I have spoken to in NYC. They mostly just tell me which to go to because they provide a cheat sheet.

I want to know if it's better to take lessons or go to a school in terms of hiring probability. I mean will the employer think something like " oh he just took lessons and basically took a short cut ".

Also I would like to thank Brett Aquila and the community for helping him pass the general knowledge and air brakes. Just need the combination vehicle test.

One question about the test. I have taken the first two and had to leave the dmv due to an emergency. I don't have to retake the tests I passed right? I can just take the combination vehicle and they will merge into a learners permit?

The biggest reason to go to a school is the 160hr certificate that you get at the end. Most companies require you to have it in order considered for employment.

Once you pass a test at the dmv you don t need to retake it, but I'm not sure if there is some type of expiration date on them if you don't get your CLP

The biggest reason to go to a school is the 160hr certificate that you get at the end. Most companies require you to have it in order considered for employment.

Once you pass a test at the dmv you don t need to retake it, but I'm not sure if there is some type of expiration date on them if you don't get your CLP

Art, John is correct. Please do not attempt to learn how to drive a tractor trailer without going to an established school; either Paid CDL Training Programs or Private Truck Driving Schools

You might also review these links for further information bits, as follows:

• Trucker's Career Guide: Choosing A Truck Driving School
• Article Category: Choosing A Truck Driving School
• Forum Topics Tagged "Choosing A Truck Driving School"

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Art reports:

{Some drivers} told me the schools here ( NYC ) don't teach you about loading and such. Just how to pass the test / drive. From the ones I have spoken to in NYC. They mostly just tell me which to go to because they provide a cheat sheet.

The first part is correct. Any school's job is to help you to pass the CDL tests, both written and the skills (driving) tests. And not much more. Even company schools take you only that far. So don't worry about that.

Don't waste your time with "cheat sheets". You can't take one in to the written test, and it would be useless for driving. Have you been studying with the High Road Training Program? You won't need any more help than that for the written test.

I have taken and passed the general knowledge and the air brakes at the dmv. They asked me if I wanted to get processed or not. I said no and left. I assume I can just take the combination vehicle portion now. I am studying that section of the manual now and will take the test tomorrow. I have used the android app ( CDL practice test ).

I was not aware of the 160 hours permit. But to tell you the truth I have no interest in enslavement of a contract. Are all the schools generally the same amount of cash? And the ones which are listed on this site are those counted as the better ones?

I was not aware of the 160 hours permit. But to tell you the truth I have no interest in enslavement of a contract. Are all the schools generally the same amount of cash? And the ones which are listed on this site are those counted as the better ones?

Art, you're killin us here. You're cramming every stereotype or piece of misinformation into everything you say.....

The 160 hours isn't for the permit. The 160 hours is a requirement that most major trucking companies have regarding the schools they hire from. The 160 hours is the minimum length of training most companies will accept.

And the contract isn't "enslavement". They're paying up front for your training and in return you agree to work for them for a specified amount of time. I don't know how anyone gets "enslavement" out of that but somehow it happens.

Listen, please go through our Truck Driver's Career Guide. It will help you understand how to choose a school and how all of this actually works. Obviously you've been getting some lousy "information" (if you can call it that) from other Websites so you really need to purge your thinking at this point and start over. You're all twisted around in your thinking.

Art wrote:

But to tell you the truth I have no interest in enslavement of a contract.

Geez, really? It's rather obvious you have been talking to "other" drivers.

I made just shy of 40k my first year and that included 6 weeks of road training at a low hourly rate. I won't use the word you hastily chose, but what I experienced my first year, wasn't THAT. SWIFT supported me and provided me all of the tools I needed to be successful and absorb the steep and often unforgiving learning curve. Besides we recommend a 12 month commitment with your first company regardless. Because? Like it or not, it's going to require that length of time to figure all of this out, learn how to driver safely and efficiently, and establish positive/proactive relationships with your driver management.

For the 160 hours permit. Bad choice of words. My fault. I understand it's a certification. Permit / certification just meant / means the same thing in my mind.

As for the enslavement. Approximately how much do they pay. You don't have to give me your exact number. I mean if it's under $20 per hour. I'm fine throwing out 5k for training.

I mean, this is what I have in my head. I get a job where I can drive to NYC and reside either upstate or Jersey ( some state next door ). I don't even mind an area with the occasional serial killer.

Because under $20 per hour doesn't sustain you well in the this cesspit.

I will take a look at the career guide after this post. Thank you.

For the 160 hours permit. Bad choice of words. My fault. I understand it's a certification. Permit / certification just meant / means the same thing in my mind.

As for the enslavement. Approximately how much do they pay. You don't have to give me your exact number. I mean if it's under $20 per hour. I'm fine throwing out 5k for training.

I mean, this is what I have in my head. I get a job where I can drive to NYC and reside either upstate or Jersey ( some state next door ). I don't even mind an area with the occasional serial killer.

Because under $20 per hour doesn't sustain you well in the this cesspit.

I will take a look at the career guide after this post. Thank you.

To be honest,...based on your reply, I think you might be trolling. Or you didn't read or understand anything Brett wrote. Let us know if you really want to learn something.

And in case you didn't get the hint, let me be clear, no tolerance for use of the word enslavement.

Art, it sounds like you haven't done enough research, what with the terms you've used, and looking for a $20/hour job. The trucking business we deal with here does not pay by the hour, rather by the mile. Now don't go all crazy about mileage pay. The distances are set by your company, and you get a certain amount of time to deliver. Plus, everybody works under Federal Hours Of Service rules so you won't be exhausted.

Also, G-Town quoted his first year at $40k. That works out to the same as 1 year (50 weeks) of $20/hour 9-5. His first year! But over the road you have no real schedule beyond your pickup and delivery appointments, and those could be anywhere in 24/7.

Have you looked through these:

• Truck Driver's Career Guide
• Brett's Book: The Raw Truth About Trucking (free online version)