Why Take A Refresher Course If You Have Trucking Experience?

I will never understand why trucking companies will have an experienced trucker ---- who stepped out of trucking for a few years and wants to get back into it----go take a refresher course for $2,000 ? The trucker is going to be re-trained by the company anyway.

Same goes for my own situation. I got my CDL 6 months ago at a trucking school and never used it because my plans changed. But I would like to go into trucking someday and still use my CDL that I worked so hard to get. So why should I pay $2,000 for a refresher course when a trainer with Swift will take me out on the road to train me anyway?

Insurance company's require it

Insurance company's require it

not only that, but some of the information you learned could have changed, and you have to be re-taught how to maneuver the rig.

I agree with all three of you! The guys are right about insurance requirements and the possibility of things changing. They're also worried about people being a bit rusty with their skills and getting in a wreck right off the bat.

But I agree with you.....that always perplexed me about trucking. I mean, you don't have any experience yet so that's a little different. But even someone like myself with 1.5 million miles behind the wheel would have to take a refresher course or start all over because I haven't been OTR in a while.

And yet I had a friend who graduated from college with a four year degree in finance. She never used it once for 17+ years. Never had a single job related to finance. Then one day she went downtown and landed a job in a giant corporate banking center processing multi-million dollar transactions for high end clients based on that degree from two decades ago she never used.

Exactly Brett.

A degree in Finance or even nursing holds more weight than a CDL when one decides to get back into it without any refresher course. I'm glad I still have my CDL though.

BTW, cool pics.

Just do yourself a favor if you go the route, If it's not with the Co. that your going to be driving for: Make sure of what they are actually going to be refreshing, IF they say classroom hours Ask "What is being taught?" you might end up in a class with a bunch of "Newbies" that haven't even touched a truck, Meaning, your starting at General Knowledge 101 Road time, how much is driving and how much is sitting in the back?, watching your life flash in front of you multiple times.( See how many students are in each drive time) or" What the student to trainer ratio is while driving? Remember that you get what you pay for, and I can tell you that an extra $500. would have gone a long way between a 4 to 1 ratio and kindergarten or a 1 on 1 ratio and knowledge. It might seem like a pain in the ass but if it keeps you behind the wheel or with license to do so, isn't it worth it? and more than likely your going to get reimbursed anyways by the company.

I just did the same thing. i got a list from some companies i might hire on with and started calling. most schools were between 2800 and 3200 dollars. some told me that i should start over for 5400 dollars. i got down to a community college and was ask if i was a Florida res. i said yes and he said it was subsidized and only 600 bucks to a state res. i just finished. get a list of schools from some companies u want to work for, call any community college in your state, its way cheaper.

"6 months ago at a trucking school" is considered "entry level" anyway - and not an "experienced driver".

I got my CDL 6 years ago, at a trucking school (and never used it - even though I keep my TWIC , HM, DOT Med and endorsements current).

The companies I talked to were all looking for a refresher - or just come in as a student. If you're planning on sticking with your first company for a year (as most here would advise anyway), showing up at Swift/Prime/Etc. already having a CDL puts you ahead of the rest of the class from the get-go. At that point - who cares if you have to stay a year to pay off "company sponsored schooling" - it gets you on the road.

One of the main things that kept me out - was that (back then) I pretty much had to relocate out of South Florida to get a hire (unless I wanted to run team with Armellini or CRST). Now there are more options (Werner & a few others) for SoFla residents. My instructor (County Vo-Tech) are still friendly after all these year - and I could do a refresher for $4-500 (original 9 week course was $2K).

Private CDL schools are intended for folks that will sign on somewhere within a month of graduation. After that - with no OTR experience - you are considered an "entry level student".

Rick

I drove truck several years ago and I also spent several years driving a tour bus all over the place.

And when I got back into trucking, I had to go the whole way. Not just a refresher course.

I questioned it a few times till one day one of my instructor said, "Just because a driver has been driving for years, doesn't mean he has been doing it right".

Keep it safe out here, the life you save might be your own. Joe S (The Blue Angel)

A Pilot,, private or commercial can't fly passengers if he hasn't flown in 30 days, until he logs 3 take off and landings, if the flight is going to be at night, then those 3 practice take off and landings must be at night also.... this is called Currency,, It's use it or lose it, a person's body and mind need to practice, Fly/Drive to stay current. Even thou a Pilot may stay current, he still has to get checked out every 2 years with a flight instructor to be signed off on his skills.. A truck driver who hasn't driven in 3 months or 3 years should have some kind of skills pactice, it's just not as regulated as the FAA so far.