Picking A School.

I downloaded the CDL manual to begin studying for my permit test

The CDL manual was a confusing tool to me. It cramps a lot of information into a book and some of it may apply to you and some of it won't. I recommend using the high road program here.

High Road CDL Training Program

^^^^^ THIS!

I still drill on the High Road Training Program - just to keep myself up to snuff.

Thinking of dropping my HM next renewal though. The test was a PITA. A lot on my last test - that wasn't on any of the pre stuff I usually go through. That, and the expense of keeping that endorsement (plus, going from a 7 year renewal to a 4 year because of the HM) - when I'm not even driving.

Might even put my Medical on Intrastate Exempt next time around - for the same reason.

We always recommend COMPANY TRAINING WHEN POSSIBLE - as private schools are no guarantee of a hire - while company training is a 100% job offer (assuming you pass and don't run anything over)

Rick

If your in AZ. Look into Swift and Knight are based in Phoenix.

Once you get your medical DOT and Permit. Start of school can happen in a matter of a couple weeks.

Thanks for all the great info. I have started the High Road CDL Training Program and it has been really useful; a lot better than trying to just read the manual. I have found a lot of useful info on this site and appreciate the ability to read about both the struggles and successes of people who have already started down this road. Nothing like standing on the shoulders of giants, right?

Hello to S.T.M., I offer you this bit of my recent experience cuz maybe you'll find it a little helpful. I completed "private" CDL school in Tucson and one thing I learned through that whole process is that Phoenix, which looks like the city you're closest to (?), for sure has a couple of decent schools like the one I went to. One is named "Phoenix", of all things; the other even more imaginatively calls themselves "Southwest", both of which have affiliated schools in Tucson too. I wouldn't want to argue for or against that route, but you might want to include such schools in your research as well as Swift and other company-sponsored options in AZ. I was aware of the conventional T.T. wisdom here advocating more for the latter and that did inform me, but for a few reasons I finally decided to go private. Between my dad dying a year ago and losing my new job to the COVID crisis this year, I was wiped out financially...but then able to apply for and receive a full tuition grant. After researching the scarily super-compact and time-intensive nature of company schools, their non-reluctance to dump students for sometimes seemingly sketchy reasons, and for the majority who do make it through there's the potentially regrettable costs of the contracts...I didn't see going that route as an overall plus, FOR ME.

The school had the whole CDL permit curriculum conveniently compartmentalized into a bunch of online modules which are obviously made readily available to schools. They were efficiently do-able both in class and at home. Though the TT approach is probably just as good or better overall, either way, still it may seem daunting to get ready for that test. That said, my take is that it's not really not as hard as it seems. Once you do some serious studying, it's really not an overwhelming amount of information to be able to handle multiple choice questions about... Especially since the vast majority of the info is interesting and memorable, due to its real-world relevance for those serious about the career.

Anyway, good luck with your decision and I hope you stay in touch!

Heres the negative when coming to Prime with a CDL.... You get paid LESS on training, you have to do MORE miles to upgrade, and you are not offered the early upgrade option that Prime graduates get. Prime reimburses $1500.

The positive for Prime: You go out delivering loads during schooling in rain snow fog mountains cities heavy traffic and more. A lot more experience in a one on one situation.

Hello to S.T.M., I offer you this bit of my recent experience cuz maybe you'll find it a little helpful. I completed "private" CDL school in Tucson and one thing I learned through that whole process is that Phoenix, which looks like the city you're closest to (?), for sure has a couple of decent schools like the one I went to. One is named "Phoenix", of all things; the other even more imaginatively calls themselves "Southwest", both of which have affiliated schools in Tucson too. I wouldn't want to argue for or against that route, but you might want to include such schools in your research as well as Swift and other company-sponsored options in AZ. I was aware of the conventional T.T. wisdom here advocating more for the latter and that did inform me, but for a few reasons I finally decided to go private. Between my dad dying a year ago and losing my new job to the COVID crisis this year, I was wiped out financially...but then able to apply for and receive a full tuition grant. After researching the scarily super-compact and time-intensive nature of company schools, their non-reluctance to dump students for sometimes seemingly sketchy reasons, and for the majority who do make it through there's the potentially regrettable costs of the contracts...I didn't see going that route as an overall plus, FOR ME.

Anyway, good luck with your decision and I hope you stay in touch!

Wow! A full tuition grant would be nice. I've definitely opened up my list of possible routes to a CDL since I've found this site. I'm lucky in that I don't need to make a snap decision but it is beginning to sound like many of the training schools are similar and that my attitude is at least as important the school I choose in determining my success.

The positive for Prime: You go out delivering loads during schooling in rain snow fog mountains cities heavy traffic and more. A lot more experience in a one on one situation.

Real world experience...exactly what I'm looking for!