Profile For Thomas D.

Mine was $32.50 for the permit, no endorsements. I have to get my CDL before background check for Hazmat, and each endorsement is $10.00 each, plus $7.50 for duplicate license fee. School bus and passenger endorsements require a skills test (anyone have a bus I could borrow?).

This was my experience, and how I handled it. I understand that everyone learns differently, but this worked for me. I went thru the HRT not once but twice many months ago, but once I decided to go full bore after my chance at becoming a driver I went to take the permit test at the DMV, and bombed the general knowledge portion at question 47. I thought I was prepared, but found out I wasn't. WV wouldn't allow me to retest until 7 days had elapsed, so I knew I had a week to truly prepare. I came back to HRT, reset my scores, and only studied the portions pertaining to the permit only. Then I took a couple of days away from studying. Reset my scores on HRT again, then the weekend before retesting I went back to HRT and the permit sections, and this time I decided to treat it like the DMV test. I didn't read the study material, just went straight to the quizzes at the end of each page. Monday I walk into the DMV and sit for the general knowledge test. I got 1 question wrong because I didn't read the question correctly. READ each question twice!! I missed a simple little word, the word NOT. I finished the test on question 41. I left the test room, was asked if I wanted to continue with the air brake portion of the test, returned to the same terminal that I was at before, and took the air brake portion. Took my time and read each question carefully, and didn't miss a single question. Repeated the process for combination vehicles, and the same result. All told, it took me 41 minutes from walking in to passing all three sections, and I give all the credit to the HRT program. Without it, I am reasonably confident I would have tanked test 2.

The only recommendation I would offer is a practice test similar to the DMV style testing in conjunction with the HRT program.

I crash studied the High Roads Training material for a week and then took all of my exams at the same time in AR. I took every endorsement exam just in case.

It was most efficient for me to do it this way.

I did the same thing, and when I tested at the WV DMV, I took each test individually and was asked after each one if I wished to continue to the next test. They explained the number of questions involved, and the number required to pass each part. Idk about your DMV, but in WV the test is given on computer, and when I acheived the minimum required to pass, the test ended.

Well folks, I did it! I ACED ALL 3 Parts!! And I have my start date, May 31st in Marshfield Wisconsin. I'd like to thank everyone involved in the creation of the High Road Training program of all the great information that helped me pass the tests, for everyone's support and words of encouragement and well wishes, and now it's time for my own training diary to pay it forward to anyone who has concerns, thoughts, and to keep everyone apprised of what I'm up to. I can't say thank you enough to everyone on here, I am in your debt.

Congratulations! Absolutely stoked for you!

Maybe we'll cross paths as that's where I am and just started on the 16th. I'm really glad I applied for and was accepted by Roehl, as their values and especially their focus on safety closely mirrors my own. Everyone here has been absolutely wonderful and I know you'll have a great time!

Good luck and keep studying, it'll help make your transition smoother as the program here is pretty intense (in a good way)!

Thanks! Glad you got on with Roehl, hope to meet you and see you out on the road. Good Luck!

Congrats Stevo Reno!! Safe travels and hope you enjoy this new chapter of life. Don't be a stranger.....

Well folks, I did it! I ACED ALL 3 Parts!! And I have my start date, May 31st in Marshfield Wisconsin. I'd like to thank everyone involved in the creation of the High Road Training program of all the great information that helped me pass the tests, for everyone's support and words of encouragement and well wishes, and now it's time for my own training diary to pay it forward to anyone who has concerns, thoughts, and to keep everyone apprised of what I'm up to. I can't say thank you enough to everyone on here, I am in your debt.

Hello Guys,

I have my CDL driving text next week, i'm not sure which company to start with to have my training, i heared about Schnider, Melton and TMC but i'm not sure which one is better or if there's other companies that offer good training. i'm located in Lexington, KY.

Thank you,

Mohamed, I'm just to your east in WV, near Charleston. I think I'll paraphrase some of the themes I've heard on here from more than a few members, and that really boils down to2 questions that you have to ask yourself first.

#1) What type of freight do you want to haul? A) Dry van B) Refrigerated C) Flat Bed

Once you answer that, then decide on how often you would like to be home.

Then you can see what companies meet your criteria. Then you can move on to the third part, and that's apply to each company, and see who's interested.

I've gone over every part that concerns the permit testing, and I'm about to go over it again without reading the study material. I'm going to treat the permit sections like the test itself, just go straight to the questions without reading the study material above each section and see how I do without it. I'm less than 17 hours till my second attempt, so here's to finding out if I got this, or is it an all night cram session. I'll let everyone know the outcome in 24 hours, please stay tuned for the next episode.....

I hope Monday brings even better news G-Town, and I can proudly report being a CLP holder and have a training start date. Here's to buckling down and studying to knock this test out of the park.

Thanks NaeNaeInNC,

I know what got me, nerves. But this week going back thru the High Road Training program is helping me refresh my memory, and I feel good about my retest on Monday.

Another quick update.

I earned myself a Homer Simpson award (for those not familiar with that particular award, for outstanding boneheadedness, it's a palm slap to the forehead, followed by the exclamation "DOH").

You may be wondering, "What did you do to achieve this wonderful honor?".

Very simple my friends, my first at bat with the CDL permit test, and I went down in flames within sight of the finish. I failed out at question 47 out of 50. Yes, that close.

I'll be back over at High Road Training, starting at page one, for the remainder of the week until my retest next Monday.

So, another hurdle cleared. I have my DOT physical completed, and I have my "test card" to sit for my written exam. My plans are to be at the main DMV when they open at 8:30 in the morning to take my test, so I'm on here running thru the High Road Training Program for a refresher before tomorrow morning. This is it folks, the last hurdle before entering training.

I know exactly how you feel. To be honest, the only positive encouragement I've received was right here, every person I've come across has been very negative as far as my plans to be a driver. I've reach the point that I don't even react anymore to the negativity, I just tune them out because I've heard it all before. Just keep in mind that all the naysayers have one thing in common, they are NOT living your life, they DON'T know your thoughts, and they DON'T have your passions and desires. Just smile and say "Yeah, possibly." . Then go and do it. Show them they ARE wrong.

My thing is that in order to take the written exam, I have to fill out the forms, including my papers (medical, birth certificate, etc) pay the fees, then wait for an appointment card to be mailed back to me. I can't just walk in, hand over my stuff and sit for the test. Craziness, just craziness.

I now have my physical and drug test scheduled for next Friday. One more step now in the rear view mirror. after that I get to wrangle my way thru the bureaucratic nightmare that is the West Virginia DMV. That hopefully is the last hurdle between me and Wisconsin. Until next time, be careful out there....

I want to thank everyone for the well wishes. If it weren't for all the support from everyone here, I may not have taken the plunge. I'll keep everyone updated ask I navigate the next steps on my journey.

Another quick update:

I GOT THE CALL!!!

Just a quick update. Just finished the interview over the phone, I feel confident that everything went well. My recruiter said that I should know by the weekend how everything turns out. A phone call is a good thing. An email, well, not so much. Here's to hoping the phone rings.

I've finally begun taking the first steps on my way. I've decided to start with Roehl in the next few weeks. I will keep everyone here updated with my progress, the good, the bad, and the ugly. To everyone here, thank you for sharing your time, your stories, and most of all, your wisdom. I hope our paths cross and I get to meet each of you out on the road.

Well, here's my 0.02. Why am I leaving an industry that I've been in my entire life to become a truck driver? First and foremost, for the money. For the benefits. Plain and simple. As a mechanic with experience in diesel repair as well, I make about 1/3 of what some of you rookie drivers posted for your end of year gross pay amounts. I have a wife and 4 children that I'm the sole provider for, and I've learned how to make ends meet (some days I'm not exactly sure how, lol) on roughly 26,000 a year. I'm tired of just surviving.

As far as what I'm afraid of? Not much tbh. As a tow / recovery driver, I have experience with medium duty trucks (my last tow truck was a 2020 Freightliner M2-102 with air brakes, air suspension, air cab, and air seat. GVWR was 26,000 lbs). I've held a Class D operators (non-CDL for hire) with DOT physical, and gone thru more than my share of Level 1 DOT inspections. I'm not an experienced truck driver, but I've handled backing trailers and wrecked vehicles on the back of towing apparatus. I know there is more for me to learn, and I'm mentally prepared to listen to more experienced drivers.