60 Hour Local CDL School, Is That Enough?

thanks, I'm going to have to go with a Company Sponsored program. Which is fine. The appeal of CSRT is 10 month contract. Other items not so appealing though. Still Prime and Roehl are most appealing from my point of view. Can anyone clarify the Hazmat Endorsement? NY doesn't list any training requirements, just passing a test. Which I find a bit unbelievable as even for my job I have to take the basic 172.700 training. 181, 215, and 126. Is there more to it than what I'm reading on the DMV website?

As others stated if you do private school most (if not all) companies want 160+ hr certificate. Once you have your CDL and have finished orientation (officially an employee); your time with a trainer varies from company to company. Those who team train tend to have longer training. Those companies that run the truck as a solo truck tend to be shorter. Some of us ended up with very short training lengths. I did a private school (3 weeks), 1 week of orientation, 2 weeks with a trainer, 1 week testing out to upgrade to solo. My trainer actually tried to leave me at the terminal after 1 week. My poor trainer. He likes his beauty sleep and I don't sleep a lot, lol.

Getting a Hazmat endorsement has 2 parts. 1) passing the state approved endorsement test 2) a federal background check.

There is no formal training. By passing the written test you are demonstrating practical knowledge. The High Road Training program on this site includes training for endorsements.

thanks, I'm going to have to go with a Company Sponsored program. Which is fine. The appeal of CSRT is 10 month contract. Other items not so appealing though. Still Prime and Roehl are most appealing from my point of view. Can anyone clarify the Hazmat Endorsement? NY doesn't list any training requirements, just passing a test. Which I find a bit unbelievable as even for my job I have to take the basic 172.700 training. 181, 215, and 126. Is there more to it than what I'm reading on the DMV website?

As others stated if you do private school most (if not all) companies want 160+ hr certificate. Once you have your CDL and have finished orientation (officially an employee); your time with a trainer varies from company to company. Those who team train tend to have longer training. Those companies that run the truck as a solo truck tend to be shorter. Some of us ended up with very short training lengths. I did a private school (3 weeks), 1 week of orientation, 2 weeks with a trainer, 1 week testing out to upgrade to solo. My trainer actually tried to leave me at the terminal after 1 week. My poor trainer. He likes his beauty sleep and I don't sleep a lot, lol.

Don't be swayed by shorter contracts. We recommend you stay at least one year at your first company. People get wrapped up in the contracts thinking they can be a free agent if they go to private school. But if you leave a company before the first year your next potential employer may frown upon it. And not be as forgiving when you have an accident as the company that invested in your training.

Be aware that CRST is a team company which teaming is not for everyone and you live in a rolling closet with a total stranger (unless you bring a partner along). CRST has a very very strict contract and if you check them out in the search bar you will.find many threads where people either could not get hired elsewhere because they quit or got fired before the end of the contract, or they had to buy out the contract because of the "non compete" clause. That is not to say they are a bad company, just have aspects to consider.

Roelh seems to have better home time options than others, but in general prime pays more. So its important for you to figure out what matters to you: home time? Driving area? Equipment? Pay scale? Benefits? Pets? Training length?

Holy smokes. I have to take 8 hour training once every 3 years here. To ship the occasional safety device or used fuel tank or injector or whathave you. I guess it's only to my benefit in the end. Good to know though.

Getting a Hazmat endorsement has 2 parts. 1) passing the state approved endorsement test 2) a federal background check.

There is no formal training. By passing the written test you are demonstrating practical knowledge. The High Road Training program on this site includes training for endorsements.

I think what's most important to me is the quality of training. My end goal isn't to have just a CDL. I am very good at my job now but in a declining field. I fought long and hard to get where I am because initially my training was subpar. There's nothing more frustrating than having to find your own way in any field. Learning by trial and error makes for great process retention, but that's not what anyone wants or needs when you're operating a massive vehicle.

The second most important thing would not so much be region, but the ease of getting home when it was my time to be home. Honestly, I have no idea how to even figure this out. HOW do y'all get home, anyway? I live in a rural region of NY. I have a great reliable vehicle but it's my impression that you aren't getting a trip back to the car to get you home.

As far as equipment goes, I'm not sure that I care. Be clean and comfortable and reliable? What matters when you're looking at equipment (I work at a blue oval dealership, and have worked for Honda, Mitsubishi and Fiat Chrysler, to me EVERYTHING is junk!)

CRST is all team. Make sure you think this through because they are the most hardline company when it pertains to contract adherence. Search on on CRST topics by using the search bar in the upper left hand corner for additional information.

I also want to mention Swift. Not a plug, but information. I have been with them for almost 5 years running Walmart Dedicated. No interest in looking elsewhere, the job meets all of my needs. There are other Swifties on the forum as well.

The Swift contract is one year, they deduct $38 per week for 52 weeks, then at week 53 of employment, they will reimburse the same amount for each paycheck until the schooling cost is totally paid back to the driver. After two full years it's free.

Michelle, we typically suggest a new driver commit to their first company a minimum of one year. Most of the folks on this forum have accomplished that. Truth is, it will take you that long to really understand how to be a top performer and develop the driving skills necessary for safe and efficient operation.

Rookie drivers with a positive attitude and a willingness to learn, work hard will likely be successful no matter what company they choose.

Good luck.

Thanks for the info, I hadn't really thought about swift, mostly because I hadn't seen anything advertised locally from them.

I still am wondering about how you actually "make it home" especially if you live a good distance away from your employers drop sites or terminals or whatever. Can someone explain that portion to me, please? lol

CRST is all team. Make sure you think this through because they are the most hardline company when it pertains to contract adherence. Search on on CRST topics by using the search bar in the upper left hand corner for additional information.

I also want to mention Swift. Not a plug, but information. I have been with them for almost 5 years running Walmart Dedicated. No interest in looking elsewhere, the job meets all of my needs. There are other Swifties on the forum as well.

The Swift contract is one year, they deduct $38 per week for 52 weeks, then at week 53 of employment, they will reimburse the same amount for each paycheck until the schooling cost is totally paid back to the driver. After two full years it's free.

Michelle, we typically suggest a new driver commit to their first company a minimum of one year. Most of the folks on this forum have accomplished that. Truth is, it will take you that long to really understand how to be a top performer and develop the driving skills necessary for safe and efficient operation.

Rookie drivers with a positive attitude and a willingness to learn, work hard will likely be successful no matter what company they choose.

Good luck.

You simply take the truck home with you and park either at a truck stop or place that gives you permission. ;)

Living near a terminal doesn't really matter. I messagey FM and tell him the date I want and always get home on time. Only delated once due to snow....not his fault.

Michelle, Considering you eventually want a pet to accompany you, Prime might be your best choice. Swift (at least for the moment) doesn't have a pet policy for company drivers. Rainy is the resident expert on all things "Primal" and "Nocturnal" (she's a self-proclaimed vampire), you are in good hands with her guidance.

You guys are so helpful. :) Thanks so much for answering all of these questions. My dog far exceeds the weight limit for all of these companies so...that's ok. I have a great vet friend who would board him for me (but keep him in her home and not a kennel) maybe after a year my situation would allow me to find a company for a dog but at the moment I am more focused on doing this right.

Would it be a good/bad idea to try to obtain my cdl permit prior to attending company sponsored training? I assume the cost to pay for my own physical and drug test is negligible compared to most things.