10 Truck Driving Schools

Truck Driving Schools

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A reader posted a comment about truck driving schools on "Pros and Cons of Being an Owner Operator", so I decided to write a little something about them.

I hadnt written anything before because I really dont know a lot about them.

When I started driving a truck, all you had to do was go to the DMV and tell them you wanted a chauffers license.  If you already had a regular (car) license, that was all there was to it - no written test, no road test, no nothing - just pay your money and you were now a "professional driver"!

Most people learned to drive a truck by going with a friend or relative who drove a truck.  It was a lot like your parents or someone teaching you to drive a car.

Then along came CDLs and everything changed.  Now you have to have a physical before you can even apply.  You have to take a written test.  You have to pay for and take extra written tests if you want to be licensed to pull tankers, or doubles/triples.  If you want to haul hazardous materials, you have to jump through a dozen hoops - and pay even more.  And of course, there is the "skills" (road/driving) test.

When CDLs were first introduced, the "truck driving school" became real popular.  I am sure there are good ones as well as bad ones, but they all cost you a pretty penny.

Do you have to go to a truck driving school to get a CDL?  No.  If by some method you learned to drive a truck and can pass the written tests and skills test, then you dont need to pay someone to get your license.

  

Then why go to a truck driving school?  Well, how are you going to learn how to drive a truck.  Maybe in the military.  You can get a learners permit and go with a CDL holder and learn to drive sort of like the old fashioned way.  As for the written tests, all you need to do is get the study book from your DMV, study it well and you should be able to pass your written test without a problem.

The problem is mainly insurance.  If your friend is willing to teach you to drive, you probably wont be covered by their insurance, so they may not want you driving in case an accident should happen.  If your friend has his truck leased to a company, then it becomes even more difficult.  Most companies wont even allow passengers, and if they do, they almost certainly wont allow that passenger to be learning to drive.

From what I have heard and read, in addition to providing you with a truck to practice with, and helping you study, they also teach you things like how to fill out a log book.

Remember when you learned to drive a car and got your first drivers license?  Have your driving skills improved since then?  (I hope so!)  Well, it will be the same when you go to a truck driving school.  You may get your CDL, but there is still a lot to learn.

The main advantage of going to a truck driving school is having a truck to practice with and take your skills test with.

Even if you already know how to drive, it may be difficult to obtain a truck for your skills test.  As I wrote in another post, in some states you can rent a truck (so Ive been told), to use to take your skills test, but that is not possible in all states.

Also, if you are not listed on the truck insurance policy, then you may not even be allowed to use a borrowed truck.  I tried to let a friend take his test with my truck and even though I drove him to the test site, he wasnt allowed to use my truck because he wasnt on my insurance.

So beware, if you are thinking of going to a truck driving school.  Find out exactly what they will teach you, and how much time you will get in the truck, actually driving.  Make sure that when you finish you will actually have a CDL.  Try to find someone who has gone to the one you are thinking of going to and see what they think about it.

Like most things, truck driving schools can be beneficial, if you choose the right one.

I am sorry I have to do this, but due to spam "comments"  I feel I need to moderate comments from now on.

I am sorry for any inconvenience this may cause to my legitimate commenters.

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