Serious Potential Trucker Needs Answers.

I am seriously looking at going to a company sponsored cdl program soon. I could do a private school and sit around wasting my time looking for companys and so on. I have been studying solid for two weeks now. I read a thread recently where a guy said he was the only guy to pass out of a full class. I personally find this disturbing. Why did they fail? Was it because the recruiter gave them a simple packing list of everything they must bring and they were missing items? If you cant follow a simple packing list before school why would a instructor ever want to send you on the road carrying cargo. Was it because they screwed off in school? Not taking it seriously and having booze in the hotel?. Did they fail because they were simply immature incompetent and had a hard time passing tests and operating machinery? This is what I want to know. I've been through army bootcamp and I've been through special schools where I've seen a guy sent out the door because he didn't have a pencil and the pack list said pencil. Attention to detail. I want to know from guys who have passed these schools why people fail out.

I've had family and close friends that were and still are otr drivers. I am taking this serious as a career option and would like your input.

Private school is not wasting time looking for companies.....it actually gives you more opportunities with companies......my school has recruiters coming in weekly from over 20 large trucking firms. You have a lot more options if you have the money to pay for the private school.....and NO contract to full fill with a company based training program. Also most large carriers will offer reimbursement for your private tuition.

It looks to me like a bunch of idiots not knowing what they are getting into thinking they are getting a easy check just walk in and get cut. I mean it sounds funny.

There are many factors why people fail or drop out. I went to Roadmasters school where you pay up front and the class started with 21 people. After you take the drug test you end up losing some people. Then you go to the DMV and get your permits if you don't have one already and some people drop out after that cause they can't pass the permit testing. After the first 40 hours class time we moved out to the yard and started driving and backing skills. We lost some more people in the second week cause they found out it wasn't for them. By the end of the third week we had 8 people left in class. As far as I know only 3 of us got our class A license and the other 5 are still doing brush ups to pass the driving exam to get their license.

The 5 people that didn't pass on their first or second times probably would have been told to go home at a company sponsored school. Roadmasters will keep working with you till you get your license.

Hope that helps moving metal Good Luck!

Tuition reimbursement and company sponsored sound like the same deal. Unless you want to pay cash or get a loan. Either way you are paying somebody back unless you pay cash.

Thanks brian and chris d. This sounds like trucking truth. It was like that when I got my motorcycle license years ago. Only a lot cheaper. Either way I'm not going to fail. Plan to see me on the road and ill be back when its done. There are those who talk and those who do it.

If I were you I would study the High Road Training program on here. That's all I used and passed my permit with all endorsements the first time! Go to the top of the page and click on CDL Training Materials to get started. There is a ton of useful information on this website so take advantage of it!

I am doing the high road training next. Thats why I signed up here.

We had about 60 in my class at a company sponsored school on a Monday. By the next Friday, there were 34, and there were some who didn't make it after that. I don't have details on even the majority of them, but I know some were sent home for alcohol in their rooms, some for failing the background or drug test, some for failing to pass the permit test, and one guy who went out to drive with an instructor and scared him with his lack of attention while driving.

I don't know of anyone who was sent home for failing to pack everything on the list. Just be sure to bring patience, a desire to succeed, and some common sense and you should be fine.