You should understand several things about the procedure if you want to drive a truck but are unaware of how to do it.
It is essential to get your new career off to a good start.
And now for the good news. The procedures you must follow to get a CDL are rather simple.
It is crucial to get the “early stages” properly.
Your ability to get a truck driving license may be delayed or even jeopardized if you make mistakes, such as selecting the incorrect driver training school.
Here, we will walk you through obtaining a Class A CDL so you may get behind the wheel of a truck and start the truck-driving job of your dreams!
How to Work as a Truck Driver in the U.S.
5 Requirements for Becoming a Truck Driver (In a Nutshell)
- For you to operate a vehicle, you must have a license.
- Write the FMCSA exam, pass it, and pass the medical exams.
- To get a CDL Learners’ Permit, you must apply and pass a test ( needed for initial training )
- Take the CDL test and get your license to drive a truck.
- Get driving experience after receiving your CDL to help you find employment.
The training institution you choose will provide the means to finish all of the above, apart from possessing a driver’s license for a vehicle.
What Is the Job of a Truck Driver?
Transporting products from one place to another is a crucial service provided by truck drivers.
Some drivers make daily local trips, while long-distance truck drivers may travel for days or even weeks at a time. Although some drivers are in charge of handling packages, others deliver heavy equipment or dangerous products.
Knowing the various forms of commercial driver’s licenses is crucial if you are considering learning how to drive a truck (CDL).
Class A – The gross vehicle weight (GVW) of Class A vehicles must be 26,001 pounds or more. A caravan or vehicle being towed must weigh more than 10,000 lbs.
- Combination semi-truck/trailer (van, temperature-controlled trailer)
- Tanker trailer and a lorry truck
- Combined with a livestock trailer (typically known as a Bull Hauler)
- Combined with a flatbed trailer
- Almost all Class B and Class C cars (according to what special endorsements are required)
Class B – Class B automobiles have a GVW of at least 26,001 pounds.
- Delivery vehicles
- A number of box trucks
- Dump trucks pulling light trailers
- Slender trucks
- School buses
- Buses for sightseeing
- Town buses
If the driver has the necessary special endorsements, certain Class C combinations.
Class C – A single vehicle with a GVW under 26,0001 lbs., a vehicle towing a caravan under 10,000 lbs., or a vehicle carrying 16 or more people, including the driver.
- Buses
- Tanker Vans
- Cars for Hazmat
- Double
- Three trailers
The 10 Steps to Becoming a Class A Driver After Obtaining Your CDL
Before diving in, it is crucial to understand that state governments, not the federal government, are in charge of granting CDLs.
Most states have laws requiring students to enroll in and complete an accredited truck driving school.
In certain states, if a person is qualified and successfully completes the required examinations, they may get their CDL on their own.
Assuming that you are committed to achieving your goal of earning your Class A CDL, let us examine more closely at each stage.
1. Ascertain your eligibility. What Qualifications Are Needed to Become a Truck Driver?
You may get a CDL if you are between the ages of 18 and 21.
At age 21, you may also drive a commercial vehicle outside your own state.
Additional requirements include a physical examination and DOT medical card from an examiner on the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSR) nationwide register.
The following identification, residence, Social Security, and driving record proof is also required of each potential commercial driver:
- Birth certificate
- Driver’s license
- Social Security card
- Utility bill
- Copy of MVR
Ask your recruiter if there are any residency restrictions for students in the state if you will be attending an out-of-state truck driving school.
Remember that although obtaining a high school graduation or GED is not a necessity for obtaining a CDL license, certain businesses may do so to consider you for the position.
2. Take care of any concerns that prevent you from obtaining your CDL.
Even if you fulfill the aforementioned qualifying criteria, a few things can prevent you from acquiring your CDL.
They consist of the following:
- Certain prescription drugs
- Health issues include diabetes, high blood pressure, and sleep apnea
- Impairments of the body, such as missing fingers, toes, or limbs
- Charges for serious crimes like drunk driving or dangerous driving
- Criminal convictions for abduction, extortion, and arson
Suppose you have one of the aforementioned physical impairments or medical problems. In that case, you may be able to get a doctor’s signed waiver indicating that you will not be unable to safely operate a commercial vehicle.
A criminal conviction may not always be the end of the road for people with a tarnished background.
Drug testing is not required as part of the CDL application procedure. Yet, they are necessary when submitting a job application for a commercial driver.
After being employed, you can be subject to a sporadic drug test. Also, it is required that you submit to a drug test if you are in an accident.
Casual drug usage usually nearly catches up with you since many carriers often test drivers who have just returned to work from holiday or brief holidays at home.
That will not happen to me; I think a lot of new drivers when it comes to drug testing.
Spending months of your life, thousands of dollars, and a CDL is stupid, only to waste it all on some casual (and illegal) pastime.
All those years ago, Nancy Reagan was on the correct track.
Just said no when it comes to drugs.
3. Enroll in an excellent truck driving program.
Schools for CDL truck driving come in many forms and sizes.
These include:
- Community college programs and private training institutes with skilled faculty are available.
- To massive CDL driver factories owned by mega carriers, many of which produce truckloads of drivers with minimum training.
4. Get a copy of the CDL Handbook (For Your State)
While they are now mostly standardized, CDL study guides differ significantly from state to state. Get a guidebook from the state where you will train and take your exam.
The DMV has printed copies available, or you may download a PDF to your computer.
To simplify learning, you may print a copy if you choose the latter option.
They might be able to provide you with a link to the training material if you are going to an out-of-state university.
5. Fill out an application for a CDL Learner’s Permit.
An application for a learner’s permit may be filled out by students online, in person, or at the truck driving school they are enrolled in.
Students will additionally require the following in addition to the papers stated above:
- A copy of the MVR with all 50 states and Washington, DC’s driving records included
- Your address at home
- A copy of your most recent driver’s license and details on previous state-issued driver’s licenses
- Supplementary identifying documents, such as a passport, credit card, or Social Security card
If the application fee was not already covered by tuition, students could have to pay it separately.
It is usually a good idea to complete your application while attending driving school, if feasible.
6. Pass the general knowledge test for the CDL
Your learner’s permit application and fee must be completed, and you must pass a general knowledge exam.
You should not encounter any issues if you give your studies adequate time.
7. Research, Practice, and Learning
According to FMCSA regulations, students must practice driving while receiving instruction from a trained CDL holder in the passenger seat.
Instructors are employed by private and corporate-sponsored driving instruction programs. You must locate a certified instructor independently if your state does not mandate formal education.
While driving is undoubtedly more exhilarating, classroom instruction is as crucial.
Around 300 hours are normally spent in the classroom throughout training, including on-site driving and maneuvering practise on public highways.
8. Pass the CDL tests
You must use what you have learned in the classroom and on the road to pass these final exams to get your CDL and join the ranks of commercial drivers.
- An automobile inspection (Pre-trip Inspection) Test: For combination units, this entails inspecting the engine compartment, the tires, the suspension, the braking system, and the coupling devices.
- A Basic Controls Test that involves parallel parking, alley docking, straight line, and offset backing
- During a road test, a driving instructor will assess the student’s attentiveness, general vehicle control, use of mirrors and turn signals, and aptitude for routine braking and acceleration.
- Appropriations: You may also get several endorsements to improve your career prospects in the trucking sector. (HazMat, for instance, or Twic Card)
Note that you cannot take the final exams until you have your learner’s permit for at least two weeks.
When you enroll in a school, they will arrange all of your appointments and ensure you have access to the right car for the license class you are applying for.
If you are applying for your Class A CDL, you must take the exam in a combination vehicle—not a dump truck & a school bus.
You must take care of these processes to acquire your CDL independently.
Ask before making appointments since certain states may provide test cars.
9. Get Your CDL (And What to Do if You Fail on Your First Attempt)
You will get a copy of your new license if you complete your final CDL examinations.
After a brief waiting time, you may repeat the exams if your failure was due to nervousness, test-day jitters, or a lack of preparation.
Be careful to enquire about the costs and interest intervals associated with your school’s retesting policy.
Some provide free, endless retries up until you succeed. After the first test, some people could charge more for each try.
10. Finding Work as a Truck Driver
You will need a job after you obtain your CDL, of course!
There will be an automatic job placement for you as a truck driver if you are enrolled in a paid CDL training program.
A private truck driving school may offer a placement program with a few chosen trucking firms if you successfully finish the curriculum there.
If you have not already, you must start your employment hunt elsewhere.
Several trucking firms provide training to CDL holders as part of their finishing and training courses.
These courses typically span two to four weeks, sometimes longer. These are excellent beginner’s courses for your new career. They will impart knowledge to you that you probably missed out on throughout your official education.
Your Choices for Truck Driver Training: A Decision to Be Made Seriously
Four methods exist to get your CDL and work as a truck driver.
Which solutions will work best for you as an individual truly DEPENDS on you.
After deciding whatever training program you want to pursue:
- Make contact with the program or school of your choosing.
- Ask heaps and tonnes of questions.
- Plan to visit the school to view the facilities and understand its character.
- When selecting a school, take whatever information they provide you home and thoroughly analyze it. Making wise academic decisions will have a significant impact on your driving career in the future.
To choose the finest CDL school for your requirements, compare your findings on the different schools and programs. That will determine the course of your professional truck driving career.
The Value of Selecting the Correct CDL School
The significance of picking the best CDL school cannot be emphasized enough.
You must choose the CDL training program that best fits YOU if you want to start your truck driving career off on the right foot.
- Depending on your chosen training program, you might be a truck driver in as short as some weeks, or the training may take up to a year. But you may not have much time, so you should probably acquire your CDL soon.
- Maybe you do not have the additional cash to pay for a training school’s steep tuition, and you are also ineligible for financial help.
- Maybe you have personal reasons why the school’s location is significant.
Well, let us get to it.
Choosing the best training course for YOU and your requirements is crucial.
You must be aware of the following:
- Your desired length of stay at a training facility.
- Your financial commitment to training.
- Where you would want to take the training.
- How soon do you want to start driving with a CDL after certification?
Next, you will have to decide the training option you want. Consider these three fundamental training modalities and choose the one that best meets YOUR requirements.
Or maybe you need to start earning money immediately and need that CDL in your possession.
1. CDL private schools
The price of tuition varies from one institution to another.
At the very least, budget a few thousand bucks. The tuition for this kind of professional driver instruction is often paid in full. You could find this program appealing if you can pay for your truck driver training.
Programs generally last a few weeks to a few months, depending on the particular college.
Some programs provide financial assistance with educational expenses.
In most parts of the US, there are several private CDL driver training schools from which to pick.
As a student may enroll in practically any program at any time to finish it, there should not be much of a waitlist. If this is something you value, you ought to be available to get your hands on a CDL quickly.
Most respectable schools participate in a driving job placement program with trucking businesses, wherein the trucking company will give you a job when you have completed your CDL training.
Not all schools follow this policy. Also, there are occasions when the firms the school is associated with are not ones you would want to work for.
To ensure that a school provides a reliable, high-quality education, look for one accredited for CDL training.
After receiving your license, you have a few options if you need to locate driving Employment. How to Get a Job Driving a Truck Without Experience.
2. CDL Training Paid + Employment
Other names for these initiatives include:
- Company-Sponsored CDL Training
- Free CDL Truck Driver Training
- Company-Sponsored CDL Training Schools
An employer-funded CDL training school program is a common alternative among drivers who do not desire to pay money for their instruction.
This is why people looking to become truck drivers find this kind of training to be very appealing.
While there will be some expenses for the student in this kind of instruction, they will be quite low.
Large trucking businesses that provide these programs will teach students to get their CDL in return for a promise to continue working for them as truck drivers for a certain amount of time, often one year.
The learner must reimburse the employer for the training expenses if they breach the contract.
Usually, the first year of work has low pay. So, the trucking firm more than makes up for the free CDL training or cheap fees to the student during the first year of work.
This kind of program’s training is regularly and continuously delivered.
Programs are often brief, lasting just a few weeks. A student may quickly earn a CDL, but after that, they are bound to that company’s terms for the next year or so.
The fact that the trucking firm will offer the student a truck-driving job when the CDL training is complete is the biggest benefit of corporate training. This is a crucial consideration since many carriers would not employ a truck driver who has never had a job.
Several regions in the United States provide these programs. Several training facilities provide unique accommodations for students from outside the area.
Nevertheless, bear in mind that, as a student, you have liability for the cost of your travel to and from the program (depending on the program).
The following are just some of the CDL schools sponsored by businesses where you may learn more about their courses.
- CRST CDL School
- Prime Trucking School
- Schneider Training
- FFE Trucking
- Stevens Driving School
3. CDL Instruction at a Community College
These programs include tuition costs; however, prospective students can access several financing options via community college CDL training programs.
It can take some time until the next program begins since programs only begin a few times a year.
The speed of the training is often substantially slower than that of the majority of private CDL schools.
Given that they currently have a full-time jobs, this might be advantageous for students who can only attend classes in the evenings or on a part-time basis.
Before a student receives their CDL, it could take some time. A community college program might be an excellent option if you are not hurrying to acquire your CDL.
4. Obtaining Your CDL by Yourself
Obtaining your CDL is feasible in certain areas without enrolling in an official training course.
Yet, there are initiatives in the US to entirely do away with this practice.
Visit your state’s website for the most recent laws.
Assistance with Costs for CDL Programs
The cost of CDL programs might rise. Thankfully, folks who need financial help have options at their disposal.
Corporate Training Initiatives
Several trucking firms provide their own CDL training courses. This is a less expensive option than attending private CDL programs.
After you start working, some employers take money from your income until the “cost” of the program has been recovered. Some businesses could charge for their program, but they will pay you back once you have worked there for “X” months. TMC Transportation, C.R. England, and Rapid Transportation are a few businesses that carry out this service.
Government Grants
Grants are a sort of financial assistance offered by the government that, most of the time, does not require repayment. Two awards that may be useful to CDL trainees are:
- This award under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) is intended to assist adults who have lost their jobs. It may provide varying degrees of coverage for your program.
- FAFSA determines a student’s eligibility for the federal Pell Grant. Filling out the application will allow undergraduate students to determine how much they could be eligible for. The application deadline is June 30 each year.
Scholarships
Women hold just approximately 24% of the employment in the transportation industry. Women in trucking are underrepresented in this industry. Thus scholarships like the “Woman in Trucking Foundation Scholarship” are designed to help. Women who want to get a CDL license may apply for up to $1,000 in training assistance.
Which are preferable private CDL schools and paid CDL training?
The most important decision in your new driving profession may be selecting a trustworthy training school.
This may be your best option if you are close to a private CDL school or community college that provides CDL training and prefer not to spend months away from your family living in a budget motel with another student (and potentially bed bugs!) (if you can afford it.)
They often have the greatest professors and programs as well. There are, of course, many more excellent private schools, but some have a less than outstanding reputation.
Several company-sponsored CDL schools have a bad reputation for producing drivers who are not certified.
Some of them demand that students labor for them for a year or more after graduation for very little salary to cover their tuition.
Key Factors to Take into Account While Selecting a CDL School:
- Are they state or residents?
- Our hotel, food, and transportation provided if out of state?
- Do they accept credit cards or other forms of payment?
- If they provide paid CDL training, will you have to drive for them after graduating?
- If you finish your required job time, would your tuition be waived if this is the case?
- Are the costs for applying for and getting a license for a learner’s permit included in the tuition, or are they extra?
Do not only choose the school with the shiniest vehicles and the trendiest website.
Spend some time carefully researching each institution.
Why Do Truck Drivers Work?
In conclusion, if you choose your job properly, truck driving may be a successful field.
The pay scales for professional drivers vary depending on where you work and the sort of truck driving job you have. Usually, some states have higher average taxes than others.
Truck driving positions are plentiful in the United States. In the US, there is a severe and persistent shortage of truck drivers. Therefore if you have chosen to become a truck driver, you do not need to worry about finding a job.
You should not have any trouble finding a job driving a truck. The key is to get quality instruction, practice your abilities, and carefully seek the ideal driving position with a trustworthy employer.
Why Should I Obtain a CDL?
Driving may be a satisfying vocation that gives plenty of recession-proof work prospects and the chance to travel to places in the nation that most people can only imagine.
As qualified drivers are often in short supply, safe, seasoned truckers have stability and opportunities for promotion.
Yet, trucking can also be isolating, demanding, and difficult for families.
Despite these drawbacks, enrolling in a truck driving school might be a wise financial decision.
How Will My CDL Training Be Paid For?
The majority, if not all, of your expenses will be reimbursed if you enroll in one of the company-sponsored training programs (although the requirements are many!).
These are some ways you may pay for your truck driver training options: 10 Options for Paying for CDL Training.
Q&A: How to Become a Truck Driver
Is a Career as a Truck Driver Really Worth It?
Indeed, it is worthwhile for individuals who are committed to a career as a truck driver. The profession of a truck driver has several benefits. North America is now experiencing a truck driver shortage. Truck driving employment is available since it is expected to continue for a long time. Almost everywhere in North America is livable, and you may still use your CDL to find work as a truck driver. The pay for driving jobs has lately increased, increasing their desirability.
Is a Class A CDL the best license out of all the classes?
The Class A CDL is the best option since it gives the bearer more freedom and work options than the other classes of licenses.
What Is the Time Frame for Becoming a Truck Driver?
The training is part of acquiring a CDL that takes the most time. Depending on whether the learner has selected a company-sponsored school (a few weeks), a private CDL school (a few weeks to six weeks generally), or a Community College training program, the training may span anywhere from a few weeks to several months (could be several months). Every program is unique.
What Does a Truck Driver Get Paid?
The sort of license a truck driver has, how many years of experience they have, and the business they work for are just a few of the variables that affect their pay. The average annual wage for drivers, as published by Glassdoor in 2022, includes the following:
- $51,894 for new drivers
- Experience of 4-6 years: $57,290
- 10-14 years — $63,382
- 15+ years — $68,021
How Much Does It Cost to Become a Truck Driver?
Typically, truck driving schools cost about $3,000, but depending on the institution, their programs may cost up to $10,000 or more.
Exist any online programs for truck drivers?
There are, in fact, online training programs. The written CDL permit test, the final CDL license exam, and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) exam may all be prepared for by taking these online courses. To get a job, though, you will need driving experience.
The Facts About How to Become a Truck Driver
Truck drivers go through intensive training to guarantee that they are ready to operate a truck safely and successfully. Many hours of study are required for truck driving positions, from the independent study for the first knowledge exam through on-the-road training for the final CDL test.
Start strong with a respected truck driving school that will provide the skills necessary for the road ahead if being a truck driver is the appropriate career choice. Have a spotless driving record and plan for the upfront fees of your Class A CDL training. You can acquire your CDL with the right instruction and enough practice.