Best Strategy To Acquire My CDL In Augusta, GA.
Topic 5503 | Page 1
Hey there, and welcome
If your considering prime, why not get your permit and RU. Through then to get you your license? I believe they do 1 on 1 training.. I know Ken went through them and Daniel B drives and did training for them. If you stick with em for a yr the schooling is paid for, nothing out of pocket.. You can check more on them in our Company-Sponsored Training page.
David
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.
Hey there, and welcome
If your considering prime, why not get your permit and run through them...
Damn phone and its auto correct...
Hey there, and welcome
If your considering prime, why not get your permit and run through them...
Damn phone and its auto correct...
Thanks for your response, David. That is indeed a consideration, but I'm looking to cover all of the pros and cons of obtaining my cdl with them or without them.
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.
I'm probably not going to be much help on specifics, as there are many means to an end, some more desirable by any given individual than others.
Some of us chose the path we took, some of us ended up on a different path after we'd intended to go another route.
But, for what it's worth, if I had it to do again... if money wasn't an issue, and time wasn't an issue... I would go to a school like the one my last team partner went to. It was 3 months long. They drove days, nights, different weather conditions, did everything repeatedly, and learned it well. Then I would find a company that offered what I was interested in, and stick with them for at least a year.
I don't even know if schools like that exist anymore or not. I think that the longer school is better if it is doable for an individual. I didn't have that option, as I needed a CDL fast. Just make the most of the training that you get, wherever you go.
Sorry if I went off on a tangent.
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.
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.
Just realized you both have prior experience! Doh! Well, forget all that I said. lol
Oh, yeah, if you have military experience then you can probably get most if not all of your school paid for.
Your buddy should only need a refresher and depending on who you speak to (company) you might get away with the same. The big thing is you wanting to team, everyone is looking for team and a lot of them have Big bonuses to join. I would hit the companys first before jumping into school. Just my two cents. Good Luck to you both!!
Thanks for the replies, guys. I am contacting companies now. Starting with Roehl. I'm at the point now that I do not believe getting the CDL on my own (renting the truck for the road test) is the best way to go. Companies ask about "an approved school" when I tell them I have limited road experience. So I will be going through a sponsored program. Now to find a program that pays enough and doesn't keep me in training status/team driver for months. I see the advantage of this for the company, but I would like to limit the exploitative aspects of this relationship. I'll go through the list and see what's what.
This site is a great resource, btw. Great info for a newbie.
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.
New Reply:
New! Check out our help videos for a better understanding of our forum features
Preview:
Why Join Trucking Truth?
- The High Road Training Program
- The High Road Article Series
- The Friendliest Trucker's Forum Ever!
- Email Updates When New Articles Are Posted
Apply For Paid CDL Training Through TruckingTruth
Did you know you can fill out one quick form here on TruckingTruth and apply to several companies at once for paid CDL training? Seriously! The application only takes one minute. You will speak with recruiters today. There is no obligation whatsoever. Learn more and apply here:
TT On Facebook
http://www.csratransportationcdl.com/
Hi Brett (and this forum). I am considering attending the school above for my CDL-A, but I'm hoping you have some info on them. Good rep or bad?
Also, I would like to drive "team" with a partner of mine. We both have military backgrounds, and just left the same conductor position for a large railroad company. He has experience driving, but it was 3 years ago. I drove 24 years ago, and now need to go through a program from scratch ( I lost the endorsements). I do have my permit, though. We're looking at Prime, Schneider and US Express. We figure we would be in a stronger position with recruiters if we both have licenses when we contact the companies. The problem for me is I would need to pay for a school out of pocket. I am willing to pay, but because it would be a huge financial sacrifice, I am seeking some guidance from you (and this board) in this endeavor.
I live in Augusta, and CSRA seems to be the only CDL school in town. The next one is 2 hours away.
Is our strategy a good one?
Pay for and complete a school before we contact the companies?
Maybe pay upfront for company sponsored training so as not to be beholden to that company and strengthen our position?
Maybe go to a school that offers lodging in Atlanta, GA. that is cheaper than the $4,500 CSRA Trans is requiring?
I'm considering all the above, and I hope you can offer some guidance to a newbie.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
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.