Tag Archives: attending truck driving school

4 Mistakes That Cause Students To Fail CDL Training & How They Can Be Prevented

While the majority of students have success during their time at CDL training, there are others who come up short in their quest to become a professional truck driver. So, why do they fail? And how can it be prevented? Let’s take a look at the four most common mistakes and how to prevent them. Continue reading

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Financing Options For Truck Driving School

There are numerous options for funding your tuition to truck driving school and in this article Tonya Bons of Spirit CDL Training lists a whole slew of options including grants, student loans, tuition reimbursement, and many more. Continue reading

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A Trainer’s Perspective On Teaching Students How To Shift

Today, I became a fully certified CDL instructor (woo hoo!). It feels very strange to be teaching students how to shift a truck when it feels like I just got my CDL license last week. Of course, I’ve had my license for over two and a half years now, but it sure doesn’t feel that way. Continue reading

Posted in Advice and Opinions, Becoming A Truck Driver, Career Help, Tips, Advice, Great Stories, On The Road In Training, Safe Driving Tips, The Trainer's Viewpoint | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

What You Need To Know Before Choosing A Truck Driving School

I have been in the truck driver training industry for several years now and it still dumbfounds me as to how individuals choose their truck driving school. Often times they make the least important factors a priority, while failing to evaluate the most important factors properly. You want the best quality education you can get for the money, and most importantly you want to be able to land a job after graduation. Here are some factors to consider when comparing truck driving schools. Continue reading

Posted in Advice and Opinions, Becoming A Truck Driver, Career Help, Tips, Advice, Choosing A Truck Driving School | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

The Completion Of CDL Training (After A Lot Of Stress!)

I completed my truck driver training last week and got my CDL. I also got hired by the two best companies that were recruiting from my school. Overall it went well but there were some really tough teachers to deal with and not everyone made it through. Continue reading

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More Boot Camp Stories From My Time In A Company-Sponsored CDL Training Program

Going through a company-sponsored CDL training program is no bed of roses. Here are some of my experiences and some challenges you can expect to face. Continue reading

Posted in Advice and Opinions, Becoming A Truck Driver, Career Help, Tips, Advice, Great Stories, Week 2 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

The Boot Camp Known As Company-Sponsored Training

Company-Sponsored CDL training is a lot like boot camp. Be prepared to have your self worth, your dignity, your brains, your ability and your patience tested. Once you sign those papers you are at their mercy. Boy could I have begged for mercy more times than I care to admit. Continue reading

Posted in Advice and Opinions, Becoming A Truck Driver, Career Help, Tips, Advice, Free CDL Training, Week 1 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Remembering My Earliest Days Of Trucking School

For many of us that drove truck, the early days of becoming a truck driver were some of the most exciting times in our lives. Here’s the story of some of my earliest days in 1993 attending truck driving school and heading out on the road for the first time. Continue reading

Posted in Becoming A Truck Driver, First Solo Months On The Road, Passing The CDL Test, Stories of the Road | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

New Rules: Going Back To Truck Driving School

On September 10th of 2009 things changed. We have to go back to school!!! Before that date for the Netherlands it was enough to get your Truck Driver’s Diploma and that was it for life. In order to get this diploma you had to do three courses: Traffic rules for Big vehicles, Auto-(truck)Technique and Administration (paperwork and HOS). But from September 2009 on all truck drivers who live and work as a driver in the European community must go back to school. Continue reading

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An Intro To Big Trucks And Truck Driving School Part III – The CDL Exam

After exploring the operation of a big rig and taking a drive, it’s time to take the CDL exam and wrap up this series with some thoughts about the process of getting your CDL. Continue reading

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An Intro To Big Trucks And Truck Driving School Part II

In Part I of my intro to big trucks and truck driving school I talked about signing up for truck driving school at North Cross Commercial Driving School and covered a bit about the anatomy of a typical big rig. Now in part 2 I’ll talk a little bit more about the mechanical aspects of big rigs and we’ll take one for a drive! Continue reading

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An Intro To Big Trucks And Truck Driving School Part I

If driving a truck has ever crossed your mind, or you just like the looks of that Kenworth, Freightliner, or Peterbilt going by, maybe you would enjoy reading a little more about the trucks and driver training experience, so here goes… Continue reading

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Truck Driving School Part IV – Taking The CDL Exam

Finally, the time to take the road test arrived. We would go, in small groups, to the testing facility in Hartselle, Alabama over the next five days. I would test on the second day, and Alan would test on the fourth. Everyone was nervous, and most of us failed the first attempt. Continue reading

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Trucking School Part III – Boot Camp

Almost everyone is abysmal at 45° angle backing to start with, and I was no exception. However, I was not the only one having difficulty. Alan even resorted to mathematical solutions to crack this puzzle, but it didn’t seem to help either of us. But a couple of great instructors stepped in and helped get us going in the right direction. Continue reading

Posted in Advice and Opinions, Becoming A Truck Driver, Great Stories, Week 2 | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Attending Truck Driving School Part II – First Day On The Yard

Alan and I were both nervous, yet excited about the new challenge before us. We’d be spending the first couple of days in the yard, learning straight-line backing and 45° angle backing. Here we go – my first attempt at backing up a truck. Continue reading

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