Welcome aboard!
Generally you have two strategies you can take:
You can go with a Company-Sponsored Training Program. Those companies have their own schooling. They'll put you through whatever training they feel you need and get you on the road as soon as possible.
If you'd rather work for a company that does not have their own training program then you'll want to Apply For Truck Driving Jobs with the companies you're interested in hopes of getting a pre-hire. If you land a pre-hire from a company they'll tell you what they require of you as far as a refresher course goes. They'll even tell you which schools in your area you can attend in order to fulfill the requirements.
What I would not do is sign up and pay for a refresher course before getting the approval of a company that's going to hire you. There's no guarantee that the course you choose will meet the requirements of the companies willing to hire you. So make sure you find out which training program you'll need to take from the company you're going to work for.
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
Pre-hire letters are acceptance letters from trucking companies to students, or even potential students, to verify placement. The trucking companies are saying in writing that the student, or potential student, appears to meet the company's minimum hiring requirements and is welcome to attend their orientation at the company’s expense once he or she graduates from truck driving school and has their CDL in hand.
We have an excellent article that will help you Understand The Pre-Hire Process.
The people that receive a pre-hire letter are people who meet the company's minimum hiring requirements, but it is not an employment contract. It is an invitation to orientation, and the orientation itself is a prerequisite to employment.
During the orientation you will get a physical, drug screen, and background check done. These and other qualifications must be met before someone in orientation is officially hired.
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.
New! Check out our help videos for a better understanding of our forum features
I drove ten years ago,but now I'm ready to come back,I need some help with a company or school that offers a refresher course.Thanks