Private Skills Training

Hi Guy's, Is there any way or has anyone gotten there CDL by using a private skill trainer. Maybe paying a certified trainer with a truck on the side? I can do the written stuff for practically nothing and to pay a trainer on the side 3k would be half the price of school

It is possible to get your CDL this way. It is not possible to get a job this way. Most companies require you to have formal schooling and require a certain amount of hours of learning.

Yup, most companies require a certificate of graduation from a school with at least 160 hrs of training.

And consider that the majority of schools are going to be taught by trainers that have spent years on the road. The tips tricks and guidence I received from my instuctors that had nothing to do with passing the tests but everything to do with actually doing the job was of high value to me.

The cost of my school was 5995, which I finanaced through the shcool. A month later they made me an offer and since I was then employed I went to my bank and took out a personal loan and was able to pay my original loan off in full for 4500. Not everyone will have this opportunity but things sort of fell into place at the right time.

I know its tough, I was out of work over a year before getting into trucking. But hopefully you will be doing this a long time so don't short change your learning experience by trying to save some money, it may cost you in the end. There are a lot of companies that offer tuition reumbersment that will help you recover the cost of your training.

Woody

Buck B,

Hey you are most definitely not alone, I am 51, and was let go at the beginning of the year. No degree and half way through life expectancy not many construction outfits are buying into my prospects.

Enough of that negativity. I signed up for a private driver training course here in Connecticut. You're right it isn't all that cheap to start out with, however, as Woody suggested you most assuredly do not want to skimp here. One thing I could suggest, if I may, is to check with your state's unemployment board, there may be a grant that will assist you. In CT said grant is worth $3500! That's a pretty fair value if you ask me. The school accepts it and it essentially cut my tuition in half. Look into it, you may be surprised. Also, if you are a veteran, there may be some assistance there as well.

Good luck, I'll be right there with you at 50+.

Murph

It is not possible to get a job this way.

I would not say that, there are many companies that will hire someone. They will not be larger trucking outfits or they may not be OTR but they are still driving jobs. People have to remember that not all driving jobs are OTR.

BTW How I got my driving job was to go to work for someone that decided he needed another driver and well that turned out to be me! Now I am looking at buying my own truck and trailers. Yea I said trailers, and none of them are vans. I have discovered that specialized hauling on a route that I have discovered. 2200 miles per week and only one run per week. Believe me, this is a VERY profitable run, but it entails a lot of manual work with my loads on securement, loading and such.

Is it possible to do this on your own being an o/o? Sure it is, if you find a niche.

Is it possible to do this on your own being an o/o? Sure it is, if you find a niche.

Pat, there is no one here who is more appreciative of the good old hard working American entrepreneurial spirit than I am. I was self-employed for thirty years and owned as many as six big trucks at one time. What you've said is correct, but since our aim here is to help new drivers who simply don't have a clue about how to break into this career, we always recommend that they go the way that is more traditionally acceptable as an entry level driver who is just getting started. Therefore we would always recommend going through a driving school and then doing a year's worth of over the road driving to get yourself established in your career. That is simply the most reliable way for a beginner to have a successful run at getting started on a rewarding journey in this career.

I agree wholeheartedly with Old School. We try to steer people toward the safest, surest bet for getting their truck driving career off to a great start. By sending them through one form or another of traditional schooling they'll get the best training, they'll have the most job opportunities, and they'll have the most options for further down the road, including starting their own business if they would like to.

Believe me, this is a VERY profitable run

There are only two types of runs for owner operators or lease drivers. Those that pay a lot because they haven't been discovered yet (luckily) by your competition and those that pay lousy because they have been discovered by your competition already. If you could discover good-paying freight and you're not even an owner operator yet then how long do you think that freight will remain undiscovered? May luck remain with you as long as possible!