No Formal CDL Training In Illinois

I obtained my CDL-A permit a month ago by studying on my own, using the CDl trainfing material and tests on here and another website, also studying the book. I rented a truck and practiced. I've passed the pre-trip, all I need is to pass the Basic Skills and Road Test next and I have my CDL-A. Now, I'll be taking the Skills and Road tests in automatic, I figured it would be best to just worry about getting my CDL-A now and I'll worry about Getting the restriction removed later. I've been pre-approved for a job, once I get my CDL-A, they said call them and they'll schedule training right away. But now I'm thinking about taking the test in manual. The problem is, when I took the truck out on the road, I stalled it over railroad tracks. So, I switched it to automatic. It's been 10 years since I drove stick and driving a tractor trailer with stick is very different then driving a car or pick up truck in stick. I test on 9/16. Any suggestions ?

Now first of all, Errol and Old School are 100% correct. Regardless of whether a person goes through a Company-Sponsored Training Program or a Private Truck Driving School you really need to go through the proper schooling to have a solid foundation for your career. Most companies will not hire anyone who hasn't completed their training at a legitimate school unless they have a year or more of safe, verifiable OTR experience.

And really, if you're going to knit blankets I would say go ahead and Google it a little and figure it out yourself. But you want to figure out how to drive an 80,000 pound truck without proper guidance or a set curriculum? Because once you start down a mountain with 80,000 pounds in a snowstorm or you head into Downtown Chicago for a 7:00 a.m. delivery on a Monday morning there is no "pause" button. It's not a game. You die or you kill someone if you do one little thing wrong. It's really not the type of activity I would consider a "teach yourself" kind of thing.

Finally, it's really not difficult at all to pick the right school. We have some great resources to help out:

Article Category: Choosing A Truck Driving School

Trucker's Career Guide: Choosing A School

forum topics tagged "choosing a truck driving school"

Thanks for the input.

Which you completely dismissed!

Manuel. guys like you amuse me. You come in here asking for advice, but you really have got it all figured out already. That was the reason for my short first response to you, but now for the sake of others who will read of your misadventure later on, I want to explain why the accepted industry standard is to go to a reputable school and get some training. Never take a "buddy's" advice when it is contrary to all the advice coming from everyone in the industry you are wanting to get started in.

Schools are not perfect, and they are certainly not meant to make you into a truck driver, but none the less they are the most acceptable way to get yourself into a position where you are hire-able into the industry. Why is that so? The insurance requirements. I hired drivers for my trucks for years, and always the first question from the insurance carrier was "how many years experience do they have?" If we couldn't prove their employment records as a driver we were not allowed to put them in our trucks and expect the insurance carrier to cover them.

Manuel seems to think he has a promised job, and I hope he is right, but if he has an accident at that job and they let him go, it is most likely he will never be able to get another trucking job anywhere - it's not impossible, but he will certainly be limiting his options to the most undesirable trucking jobs known to mankind.

Manuel, everyone who goes to a school will be doing the same thing you are - that is going out with a trainer to be properly trained for their job. The difference is that they have some sort of a foundation established that makes them a more likely candidate to succeed in a very challenging job. I hope you will reconsider your approach to this. We really do want to help you, but there are always those who seem to know better than us. You've got many years worth of experienced drivers in here willing to help you, but you are determined that your "buddy" knows best.

Trucking schools only take you to a certain point, and that is primarily to be able to successfully pass the driving test and obtain your CDL. After that you will go out with a trainer until he/she is willing to sign off on you. Then you start your solo career as a complete idiot behind the wheel (I can say that because I've been there, done that!) The real learning process starts on that first solo journey, and as far as I can tell it never stops from that day forward.

Good luck Manuel, you are going to need it!

Manuel, I realize you think this is a good way to go about this, but it is so short sighted. What do you think is going to happen when you have your first little accident? I don't see a positive outcome if you persist in this course of action, but you seem convinced of it.

By the way, you're not supposed to shift gears while crossing rail road tracks.

Manuel, I realize you think this is a good way to go about this, but it is so short sighted. What do you think is going to happen when you have your first little accident? I don't see a positive outcome if you persist in this course of action, but you seem convinced of it.

By the way, you're not supposed to shift gears while crossing rail road tracks.

Not to mention, it's an auto fail on any state CDL exam to shift across railroad tracks. It clearly mentions it in the cdl manuals and explains why you're not supposed to do it.

Manuel, I realize you think this is a good way to go about this, but it is so short sighted. What do you think is going to happen when you have your first little accident? I don't see a positive outcome if you persist in this course of action, but you seem convinced of it.

By the way, you're not supposed to shift gears while crossing rail road tracks.

I agree with OS, you might be thinking it is cheaper for you to take this course, but in the long term you are really setting yourself up for failure. If you don't have (or want to spend the money) on a proper driving school, you can always go the company training route Company-Sponsored Training . In the end, you would be doing yourself a HUGE favor by going through a proper driver training program.

Just some food for thought before you get yourself into any kind of trouble that will affect your life and others for a long time to come should the unthinkable happen.

Ernie

Thanks for the input. Did I mention I am taking the test in Automatic ? Plus, I have heard many stories about some of these truck driving schools, that really don't teach you anything. The instructors sit in their cars, while your trying to figure out how to drive the truck. They tell you "it's in your book, read your book" I went to 1 of these schools, not truck driving, it was an electronics school. Waste of time and money. Or my buddy went to 1 where you had to have 100 hours of classroom, which consisted of sitting in front of a computer, taking practice tests, which you can find free, online. No, I will go the route I've chose and get properly trained by a mentor from the company. Thanks again!

Manuel drinks the Kool-Aid:

Plus, I have heard many stories about some of these truck driving schools, that really don't teach you anything. The instructors sit in their cars, while your trying to figure out how to drive the truck. They tell you "it's in your book, read your book"

"Stories" include the "Big Bad Wolf", as well as George Washington and the Cherry Tree. Undocumented, one and all. Were did you read these stories? What company allows instructors to sit in their cars? Did you get the name?

Errol, it was BillyJoeJimBobs wacky school of crazy low priced truck driving. The practice equipment consisted of a 1952 cabover Ford retired by YRC 2 years ago with a bad clutch and a haywagon used in October for pumpkin patch rides.

Thanks for the input.

Which you completely dismissed!

Manuel. guys like you amuse me. You come in here asking for advice, but you really have got it all figured out already. That was the reason for my short first response to you, but now for the sake of others who will read of your misadventure later on, I want to explain why the accepted industry standard is to go to a reputable school and get some training. Never take a "buddy's" advice when it is contrary to all the advice coming from everyone in the industry you are wanting to get started in.

Schools are not perfect, and they are certainly not meant to make you into a truck driver, but none the less they are the most acceptable way to get yourself into a position where you are hire-able into the industry. Why is that so? The insurance requirements. I hired drivers for my trucks for years, and always the first question from the insurance carrier was "how many years experience do they have?" If we couldn't prove their employment records as a driver we were not allowed to put them in our trucks and expect the insurance carrier to cover them.

Manuel seems to think he has a promised job, and I hope he is right, but if he has an accident at that job and they let him go, it is most likely he will never be able to get another trucking job anywhere - it's not impossible, but he will certainly be limiting his options to the most undesirable trucking jobs known to mankind.

Manuel, everyone who goes to a school will be doing the same thing you are - that is going out with a trainer to be properly trained for their job. The difference is that they have some sort of a foundation established that makes them a more likely candidate to succeed in a very challenging job. I hope you will reconsider your approach to this. We really do want to help you, but there are always those who seem to know better than us. You've got many years worth of experienced drivers in here willing to help you, but you are determined that your "buddy" knows best.

Trucking schools only take you to a certain point, and that is primarily to be able to successfully pass the driving test and obtain your CDL. After that you will go out with a trainer until he/she is willing to sign off on you. Then you start your solo career as a complete idiot behind the wheel (I can say that because I've been there, done that!) The real learning process starts on that first solo journey, and as far as I can tell it never stops from that day forward.

Good luck Manuel, you are going to need it!

I hear your comments, Thank you!

Errol, I will not name names as far as trucking schools. 1. I did not attend, 2. I don't want to be sued or accused of defamation. But 2 1st hand accounts I heard from 2 friends that attended the same trucking school in Chicago's NW suburbs. Others, you hear about on blogs. Though I have heard of some very good schools and some very good company sponsored CDL programs, just the whole contract thing kind of puts me off. However, from what I am also hearing from several people on forums such as this, you have to be with a company for at least a year anyway when starting out. The companies I have applied to do offer CDL training programs, which I also considering taking. I have been accepted by 2 programs already. Thanks again.