No Formal CDL Training In Illinois

Os, I hear you. I am also considering going to a reputable trucking school, even after getting my CDL , if anything, to learn to drive Manual. Although I can drive manual in a car, it is very different in a tractor trailer. Thanks for your input. I do appreciate it.

I guess I'm more than a little confused as to why you would spend money to get your CDL on your own? Renting a truck for practice and to test isn't crazy expensive but it isn't cheap either. Then you're going to spend even more money at a reputable school to learn how to drive a manual? You do realize that you're going to have to test again to the the automatic endorsement removed right?

Something about all of this makes no sense whatsoever.

Robert, I have been accepted by 2 company sponsored CDL programs, as long as I sign, or commit to work for them for 1 year, the training and tuition is paid for by the company. I was a little hesitant to agree to a 1 year commitment, but from what I have been hearing, most companies will not give you your "release" so to speak and it will show up on your DAC report, preventing you from getting hired again, even if they don't pay your tuition. Anyway, I do agree, I will need better formal training from somewhere. Just have to decide how and where. Thanks

Robert, yes I do understand that I will have to test again to remove the automatic restriction. However, there are companies that are moving toward automatic. Thanks

I apologize if all this is confusing, my mind is all over the place right now. A lot of changes going on in my life. Good ones, some not so good ones. Thanks

Robert, yes I do understand that I will have to test again to remove the automatic restriction. However, there are companies that are moving toward automatic. Thanks

Many companies are moving towards automatics, in that aspect you're correct but most any company you apply with its going to perform their own road test and it will almost guaranteed be in a manual transmission truck.

About the commitment. Is 1 year so much to ask from a student? Think about it, a company is willing to train and mentor you. Then they're going to trust you with almost $200,000 worth of their equipment. All they ask is to be safe, be smart and be in time. A year goes by quickly, not to mention, you don't want to be jumping companies while you're still earning your stripes.

The decision is ultimately yours, I'm just trying to pass along information that has been put out there time and time again on this and many other sites. Also, a year goes by quick, don't sweat it.

Manuel stands on solid ground:

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.

It's good to have some standards of honor to stand on. As for the "defamation", no problem there, but any large trucking company has tons of bad but false reviews they could sue for if they wanted to waste their time.

As for Company-Sponsored Training programs, keep in mind they are the tougher, compared to private schools. The pressure is on to get through the evaluation. I went through Swift's last December. Bet of luck, and as always, keep us up to date on your study!

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?

Whether you believe it or not, there are schools like this. I can give you a name if you like but I will not broadcast it on this board. Even though the school's processes and teaching tactics leave a lot to be desired, the ones in charge are not hindering, and you could say they are even helping, my change to another school.

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.

Manuel, I believe I went to the school you are referring to. Your description and the location is spot on.

Annee says:

Manuel, I believe I went to the school you are referring to. Your description and the location is spot on.

The name of the school is really a non-issue now. But, Annee, you can Private Message Manuel to find out if you are co-alumni. Click on his name to get to his profile. At the bottom of that page is a link to send a message direct to Manuel's email. (It's a good idea to post out here "I sent you a PM" so he can look for it - maybe in the spam folder.)