New Driver Seeking Advice On CDL Training And Trucking Career ??
Topic 34380 | Page 1
David, have you checked out all the various links on the site? Your questions cover a lot of ground and much of the information that will be helpful to you is already on the site. You can also make use of the “search” feature.
- Truck Driver's Career Guide
- Brett's Book: The Raw Truth About Trucking (free online version)
- High Road CDL Training Program
- CDL Practice Tests
High Road CDL Training ProgramPaid CDL Training ProgramsApply For Paid CDL TrainingTruck Driver's Career Guide
Becoming A Truck Driver: The Raw Truth About Truck Driving
And remember, it usually takes about one year of solo driving to really settle into the career, so don’t be thrown off course by some ups and downs.
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
Oh I almost forgot. Company sponsored training is the recommended way to go. There might be a few exceptions, but company sponsored training has tremendous advantages.
Company Sponsored Training:
A Company-Sponsored Training Program is a school that is owned and operated by a trucking company.
The schooling often requires little or no money up front. Instead of paying up-front tuition you will sign an agreement to work for the company for a specified amount of time after graduation, usually around a year, at a slightly lower rate of pay in order to pay for the training.
If you choose to quit working for the company before your year is up, they will normally require you to pay back a prorated amount of money for the schooling. The amount you pay back will be comparable to what you would have paid if you went to an independently owned school.
Company-sponsored training can be an excellent way to get your career underway if you can't afford the tuition up front for private schooling.
New Reply:
New! Check out our help videos for a better understanding of our forum features
Preview:
Why Join Trucking Truth?
- The High Road Training Program
- The High Road Article Series
- The Friendliest Trucker's Forum Ever!
- Email Updates When New Articles Are Posted
Apply For Paid CDL Training Through TruckingTruth
Did you know you can fill out one quick form here on TruckingTruth and apply to several companies at once for paid CDL training? Seriously! The application only takes one minute. You will speak with recruiters today. There is no obligation whatsoever. Learn more and apply here:
TT On Facebook
Hi everyone,
I am new to the trucking world and just started my journey toward getting a CDL. I have been doing some research and found this forum to be a great resource. I am hoping to get some advice from experienced drivers here.
Best CDL Schools: ?? – I am trying to figure out if I should go with a company sponsored training program or pay for schooling myself. What’s the best route, and why ??
Life on the Road – I understand that life as a trucker can be tough, especially when starting out. How did you handle being away from family ?? Any tips on staying connected or managing the challenges of long hauls ??
First-Year Expectations – I have read that the first year can be the hardest. What can I realistically expect in terms of pay, lifestyle and learning curve ??
I appreciate any advice or personal experiences you can share. I am eager to learn and make the best decisions for a successful trucking career !! I also read this thread https://www.truckingtruth.com/truckers-forum/Topic-9210/Page-1/new-driver-wanting-cdl-training-and-needing-some-guidance-azure-admin/ but looking for some more guidance.
Thanks in advance.
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
Dm:
Dispatcher, Fleet Manager, Driver Manager
The primary person a driver communicates with at his/her company. A dispatcher can play many roles, depending on the company's structure. Dispatchers may assign freight, file requests for home time, relay messages between the driver and management, inform customer service of any delays, change appointment times, and report information to the load planners.Company Sponsored Training:
A Company-Sponsored Training Program is a school that is owned and operated by a trucking company.
The schooling often requires little or no money up front. Instead of paying up-front tuition you will sign an agreement to work for the company for a specified amount of time after graduation, usually around a year, at a slightly lower rate of pay in order to pay for the training.
If you choose to quit working for the company before your year is up, they will normally require you to pay back a prorated amount of money for the schooling. The amount you pay back will be comparable to what you would have paid if you went to an independently owned school.
Company-sponsored training can be an excellent way to get your career underway if you can't afford the tuition up front for private schooling.