How To Locate The
Best Truck Driving Schools.

Well, You've Finally Decided....

to answer the unmistakable call of the road and take the plunge to get your CDL. The passion in your heart says I am ready for the open road and your head is asking what is the best way for me to accomplish that goal?

One of the top five most critical decisions in undergoing the training process is where you decide to get your CDL training.

There are hundreds of truck driving schools out there - some with exceptional, plong standing reputations and others with less than stellar student testimonials.

One way to make sure you are evaluating perspective professional truck driving schools equally is to create an evaluation sheet that identifes all the features you shold be demanding from a truck driving school. Most importantly, complete the evaluation immediately after you visit each truck driving school. 

I can assure you that if you visit between 8-10 schools, you will undoubtedly forget some of the feautres that will be important in your decision making process. It is important to know what you are looking for before signing up for CDL training. Ok, before you fork over any of your hard earned cash, let's take a quick look at what your expectations should include from a truck driving school. A top notch truck driving school should have the following:

Large classrooms and practice space. The rooms should have enough space for each student to sit comfortably. There should also be a practice area that is closed to the public. The surface of the practice area isn’t as important as the surface being level and large enough for the trucks to maneuver safely. Ideally there should be half an acre available per truck and if there will be night driving, then their should be adequate lighting as well.

Expecting a brand new truck to train in is a very unrealistic expectation due to the wear and tear trainees put on the vehicles. A good school should have “late model” equipment that is both safe and well maintained.

Schools should have a good amount of videos for students to watch and use in order to see and understand the concepts of driving, however, that should not be the only tools used in the course, You should ask beforehand what methods are used for teaching and if videos and audio equipment are available for students to use outside of the classroom.

If you are looking at schools that have externships, be careful. A good program will be a joint venture between a training facility and outside company, not just a single company that provides on the job training. Also, the externship should last for 5-15 weeks with the driver being paid for the duration of the externship. Companies that just get you in the driver’s seat as soon as possible can be a danger to you and others on the road since the driver doesn’t have the practice needed to drive safely.-->

Finally one of the most important things to ask when looking for a truck driving school is how many practice hours you will be getting. All schools are different, but ideally you should receive at least 44 hours behind the wheel - not just watching someone else drive.