If you go to trucking school, get your CDL and then don't use it for awhile - you will be considered a "student driver" and not a recent grad to trucking companies - as you will have no experience.
This means either doing a refresher, or just joining a company as a "new recruit".
So - while you will not "mess up your chances" - going to school and not using it immediately, is somewhat of a waste of time & resources on your part.
Best thing is to go to school and get a trucking job immediately after - or just go to a Company Sponsored School, when you are ready to enter the industry full time.
Rick
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
Yep I agree with the above. There are a few that might take you, such as the larger comps, like Swift, Prime, CR England.. But its really up to them.
John, welcome to the forum!
It's always best to get started immediately after school. I ran into this problem as I had some surgery after trucking school and then a six weed recover time period. Some folks wouldn't touch me because there was too much time between my schooling and application.
I would recommend you just go ahead and finish up your union job, and then start your schooling. Don't ignore the Company-Sponsored Training opportunities available to you. Some people don't like them because you need to make a one year commitment to working for them, but I think they are a great chance to get in without having to spend your own money. We always advise people to commit to one year wherever they go anyway. One year of safe driving under your belt will open up a world of opportunity to you in this business. Some of these company sponsored training programs offer top wages for rookies, and are definitely worth looking into.
John familiarize yourself with our web site and you will find a plethora of helpful information here. You really should take a read through the Truck Driver's Career Guide, follow the links in there and you will discover all kinds of valuable information. Also you may find the information in How To Choose A Company helpful to you as you are deciding where to start your career.
One last thing John, just remember that wherever you go to school they are basically getting you to the point where you can pass the tests and get your CDL. They don't really produce professional truck drivers, the time you spend on the road is what will make you into a real driver. There is a world of adventure and opportunity out here in this industry. Take care during your first year and be very safe (translation: don't hit anything), and you will open up for yourself a whole bunch of options for the future.
Again, welcome and feel free to ask us anything you like. We will try and answer you with something that is helpful and honest. We've got a no B.S. guard at the gate here, and when we smell a rat we throw em out real fast.
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
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.
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.
When a violation by either a driver or company is confirmed, an out-of-service order removes either the driver or the vehicle from the roadway until the violation is corrected.
Oh, dang it John I forgot to mention to you about our completely free and totally awesome study guide that will help you tremendously as you prepare for your permit tests. It is the High Road Training Program. You will find no more effective way to prepare for school than taking about two weeks in the evenings after work and working your way through that thing. It is invaluable and very effective at teaching you everything you need to know while in school.
No matter what a recruiter may tell you, it is always beneficial to get your permit before you ever start school. This is something you could be doing now that will benefit you later on when you are actually in school. You could work your way through the High Road, then go ahead and get your permit. You will discover in school that you will look like a trucking genius compared to the slackers who didn't know about the High Road. You may want to check with the DMV in your state to see how long a Commercial drivers permit lasts before getting it, but I know here in Texas it lasts until your regular license renews. So, as long as your permit is still good by the time you are planning on starting school, I would go ahead and get started on the High Road Training Program, and then go get your permit. You will be so glad once you start school that you did this. Others there will be cramming all night, while you are laying back enjoying the evening and getting a good rest before the next day of class. You might even get to get out on the practice range in a truck before the other people in your class.
Good luck John, and keep us posted on how things are going for you.
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
The state agency that handles everything related to your driver's licences, including testing, issuance, transfers, and revocation.
Thank you all so much!
I was afraid of that. I thought just maybe if I graduated, worked immediately after graduation for 4 or 5 months, then took 6 months off to get my union hours, I might be able to return to driving in the off season and alternate between the two jobs for my last couple years.
So I would be a student driver then, not a recent graduate? That makes sense.
Well, heck, I guess I will get started on my permit then, as well as familiarizing myself with the rest of the website.
I appreciate the thoughtful replies, and a special thank you to old school for his time spent giving me all that information! I will archive it all!
Best wishes,
John
John, welcome to the forum!
It's always best to get started immediately after school. I ran into this problem as I had some surgery after trucking school and then a six weed recover time period. Some folks wouldn't touch me because there was too much time between my schooling and application.
Was it the time between school and working or the six weed recover time period? LOL
I knew someone was gonna call me on that one! Yeah that should have been "six weeks" - Gotta love what happens sometimes when your fingers just go flying across the keyboard and you don't stop to re-read your posts before you hit that send button.
I knew someone was gonna call me on that one! Yeah that should have been "six weeks" - Gotta love what happens sometimes when your fingers just go flying across the keyboard and you don't stop to re-read your posts before you hit that send button.
Yep, the weed will get you every time!!!!! 
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I am finishing up the last few years in a seasonal union job so I can put in my 20 and get retirement. I work about 6 month of the year.
Could I go to truckdriving school, get a job for 3 or 4 months, then go back to my union job for 6 months to accrue benefits?
Would I be able to get another driving job after working just a few months, then taking a 6 month hiatus?
I'd hate to go to all this effort just to find out I had messed up my chances by going to school before I was able to fully commit to driving.
If it helps, I live near downtown Los Angeles, intend to pay for school out of pocket (or get my union to pay), and would like to do long hauls.
Thank you, I am so lucky to be able to hear from experienced guys without an agenda!