Truck Driving Schools: A Few Things To Consider

Note: We now have an excellent series of articles on choosing the right truck driving school which will really help you understand in great detail how to choose the right truck driving school when the time comes - don't miss it!

Ok, so you've decided you want to become a truck driver and it's time to find a truck driving school. Though all truck driving schools are not created equal, the good news is that almost any of them will get the job done just fine. Here are a few things for you to consider when choosing a truck driving school.

The whole point of going to school for truck driving is to get your CDL - period. Most schools are only about 3-7 weeks long. Anyone who thinks they are going to come out of school really knowing much about driving a truck has unrealistic expectations. The trucking schools will teach you a lot about the DOT rules, some specifics about the trucks themselves like how air brakes function and how to do a pre-trip inspection in the morning, and the very, very basics about driving a truck and backing them up. More than anything they will teach you the written and driving skills needed to pass your CDL exam so that you can get hired by a trucking company.

Once you get hired by your first company, your real training begins. You will go out on the road with a trainer and he or she will travel with you as both teacher and guide for up to two months. Believe me, you would not want to go out on the road alone fresh out of school. You have no idea how little you know at that point.

I've heard people out there - one in particular which I will not name, but his audio book is everywhere - talk about "Look out for scams! The schools and companies will scam you! Buy my materials or you too will be scammed!" I'm paraphrasing - sort of - but you'll find it out there if you're looking for it. Let me tell ya something - don't be scared by that nonsense. The schools are going to scam you? Their only job is to teach you what you need to know to get your license. If their students aren't getting their licenses and being trained properly, trucking companies will not hire their drivers, their reputation will be squashed, and they will soon cease to exist! Am I saying every last truck driving school in the country is perfect? Certainly not. But you will not have any problem figuring out if the ones you are considering will get the job done.

Talk to some of their current students and see what they think about how it's going. Talk to a couple of trucking companies - preferably over-the-road companies - in your area to find out their opinions of the schools you are considering. You can also check with the BBB to see how many complaints have been filed against that school. Unless you see some really obvious red flags, the school should be just fine. They should be an accredited school and hopefully they have been around for at least a few years.

There are also schools that are owned and operated by some of the larger trucking companies themselves and that type of training is referred to as company-sponsored CDL training. Although there are a few differences between attending a company-sponsored CDL training program versus an independently owned truck driving school, the differences are certainly not going to make or break your career - not even close. I've talked with hundreds of drivers that have graduated from both types of schools and they all did just fine in their truck driving careers. I have more on this particular subject in my blog: Becoming A Truck Driver Part 6: Free Truck Driving Schools and also in my book: Becoming A Truck Driver: The Raw Truth About Trucking.

So don't get caught up in all the garbage about getting scammed, and don't lose a moment of sleep worrying about picking the right trucking school. Spend a little time researching your options and get out there and become a truck driver! It just might be the best move you ever made!

Until next time - here's more resources for ya: