How To Get CDL B By Oneself?
Topic 10981 | Page 1
Amanda, I'm not sure if that strategy is going to work out or not. I'm leaning toward 'not'. First of all, has he spoken with any local companies to see what Class B jobs are available and did he ask specifically if they would hire him even though he isn't going through a school to get it? Having that Class B doesn't mean he'll find work so don't make that assumption. Also, most Class B jobs don't pay very much and they will often times require the driver to do the unloading. So be aware of that also.
Swift is the best company-sponsored program in the area (we live in FL)
There is no such thing as a bad company-sponsored program. Have you guys spoken with any of the other Company-Sponsored Training Programs to see if they hire out of Florida and will take him now? I wouldn't worry too much about getting on with Swift specifically. If there's another program ready to take him now, that would be a far better option than going the Class B route.
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
Company-sponsored Training:
A Company-Sponsored Training Program is a school that is owned and operated by a trucking company.
The schooling often requires little or no money up front. Instead of paying up-front tuition you will sign an agreement to work for the company for a specified amount of time after graduation, usually around a year, at a slightly lower rate of pay in order to pay for the training.
If you choose to quit working for the company before your year is up, they will normally require you to pay back a prorated amount of money for the schooling. The amount you pay back will be comparable to what you would have paid if you went to an independently owned school.
Company-sponsored training can be an excellent way to get your career underway if you can't afford the tuition up front for private schooling.
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I've talked about my husband's drama at the tech college he went to for CDL A in a different post. Anyway, long story short, he was pushed out of his program, we believe unfairly. He has put enough time and energy into the CDL thing that he wants to continue. Swift is the best company-sponsored program in the area (we live in FL) and he's not qualified to go to their school until he has had my regular driver's license for a year. So we decided that he should take the Class B test on his own so he can start working and then go to Swift school later (if he's not happy with the job he gets). The reason Class B is because he feels at this point more confident driving a straight truck than a tractor-trailer. Has anyone ever done this? Any tips before he starts calling down the list of places that offer testing?
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles: