The Complete Guide To A Career In Trucking

Company Training: What Should I expect during my company training phase?

An instructor and his trainee in front of their tractor trailer at Prime Inc headquarters

Managing to get your CDL is just the first part of your truck driver training, as your CDL schooling will have taught you the barest of essentials.

New CDL drivers will almost always have to go through some type of company-training period, with an experienced trainer, to help prepare them for solo careers.

You will normally be living in the trainers truck for 3-6 weeks or so, as you learn not only the companies way of doing things, but how to handle real-world driving.

What is the company-training phase like?

What else will I learn during the company training phase?

Will I be forced to participate in team-training?

For new drivers, your training will usually be over-the-road with a trainer, but not necessarily driving as a team. Meaning rather than 1 sleep/1 drive, you may both keep the same schedules as you are trained, depending on the company.

Video - Phase 2 CDL Training: A Certified Driver Trainer's Perspective

This video gives the perspective from a certified truck driver trainer's perspective.

How long is the company training phase? Will I get home time?

Generally, company training will mostly be in the 3-6 week range, with some programs lasting longer.

If the training is long enough, your trainer may take home time. Every scenario is different, but generally don't expect to get home time during training, as it depends on many things such as the flow of the freight and where your trainer lives.

What to expect at truck driver OTR training

This video is an interview with a female truck driver about her time on the road in training with Swift Transportation.

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