Many people dream of a job that allows them to travel and to see the world. Being a truck driver does just that. And more and more people are choosing to be one. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, truck driving as an occupation is projected to increase by six percent by 2026. In order to be a truck driver, you have to go through truck driving school to be adequately qualified.
But is truck driving school hard? The program is designed to be difficult to push its students to learn the correct way of operating a truck. When operating a truck of that caliber, it is important to understand exactly how it works to protect the driver and others on the road.
Truck driving school teaches you a significant amount of information and expects you to be able to understand and apply it.
Although driving school is intense, it’s well worth it if you want to be a truck driver. To get through it easily, you’ll have to be prepared about what to expect during the program.
Is Truck Driving School Hard?
Like most other people enrolling in truck driving school, you probably won’t have any experience behind the wheel of a 14 wheeler. The first time driving the truck will most likely be difficult. But with enough practice and support from your teacher, you’ll eventually learn how to maneuver it.
Since truck driving school prepares you for your Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) exam, you’ll have to study the material. You’ll need to memorize truck controls and all of the road laws for truck drivers to get your CDL and to safely drive the truck in real traffic. For someone going into it with little to no knowledge of trucks, this will definitely be a learning experience, but not impossible.
Here is an example of the Class A CDL course break down from the United States Truck Driving School:
CLASS A CDL:
- 3-6 weeks/160 hours of training
- Day & Night schedules available for classes
- Must have a Class A License or Instruction Permit
- Must pass a drug screening
- Must be 18 to enroll
Instruction Breakdown Includes:
- 50 hours of classroom instruction
- 15 hours of laboratory & parked vehicle instruction
- 24 hours of basic range vehicle handling
- 71 hours on public roadways with qualified driving instructors
As you can see, there are a lot of hours that are required for in class instructions, training, parking instructions, and more. It’s not something you can get in a day, it’ll require you to be dedicated for a few months.
Just keep in mind that this is just one example of a program and they all vary.
Although truck driving school can be intense at times, not giving up is key to passing the program successfully. Just like learning how to drive a regular car, driving a truck takes lots of practice. There may be times where you struggle with parking or driving through traffic. But sticking through it and with enough practice, you’ll be able to make it through.
How to Get into Truck Driving School:
Getting into truck driving school is actually pretty simple. Most people can get into truck driving school if they meet the following qualifications:
- At least 18 or 21 years old (Depending on your state)
- Allowed to work in the United States
- High school diploma or GED (Most driving schools and companies require this but not all)
- Clean driving record (Most driving schools will overlook parking or other minor tickets, but all of them take DUI’s extremely seriously)
Truck driving school can be pretty expensive. Some driving schools can range from $3,000 to $7,000. Unlike college, truck driving school charges for the full program, not by semester. The price is dependent on what exact licenses you want to earn and how long the program is. Most driving schools have programs that can take anywhere from 30 days to 10 weeks.
Although this may seem expensive, there are options to help you pay for your education. For instance, some schools offer grants, scholarships, payment plans, and even accept the funding from the G.I bill. Some companies will even offer to help cover some tuition expenses as a benefit of working for them.
What You’ll Learn in Truck Driving School:
Each state has its own laws for the road, especially with truck driving, so you have to attend a truck driving school in order to be a truck driver to properly learn how to handle a big rig.
Licenses:
Truck driving school prepares you to get your CDL. There are different classes of CDL and each one permits you to drive different vehicles:
Class A:
- Combination vehicles with a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) of at least 26,001 lbs
- Can operate Class B and C trucks
Class B:
- Vehicles with a GVWR of at least 26,001 lbs
- Vehicles with a GVWR of at least 26,001 lbs, towing a vehicle with a GVWR less than 10,00 lbs
- Can operate Class C trucks but not Class A
Class C:
- Vehicles that carry at least 16 passengers if GVWR is less than 26,001 lbs
- Vehicles containing hazardous materials with a GVWR less than 26,001 lbs
In the Classroom and Behind the Wheel:
Truck driving school has you both behind the wheel and in the classroom. The classroom teaches you important things like the rules and regulations of being a truck driver. While a lot of the rules are the same as regular drivers, commercial truck drivers have to follow specific rules in addition to those. By the end of the program, you’ll know the road laws for trucks, how long you’re legally allowed to drive a day, and safety protocols.
However, you’ll have plenty of time behind the wheel of a truck. You’ll learn everything from its controls to how to actually drive it. The program will teach you how to operate your truck in traffic and close spots, how to park your truck, and most importantly, to be comfortable behind the wheel of a big rig.
You’ll also learn everything you’ll need to know during your career. You’ll learn how to inspect your truck before your trips and how to properly load and unload the truck to protect the materials and the drivers on the roads. You’ll also learn how to handle different materials. As a truck driver, you could be transporting hazardous materials, and you’ll need to learn how to manage them properly.
What Happens After Truck Driving School:
After you graduate from truck driving school, you have to pass your CDL exam and your Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) exam. The FMCSA tests your vision and hearing and also includes a written test that examines your traffic law knowledge.
Much like before getting a license for a regular car, you have to have your Commercial Learner’s Permit, known as a CLP, for 14 before taking your CDL exam. After having your permit for 14 days, you can finally take your CDL test.
There are two parts to the test: a written exam and a road exam. The written portion of the exam tests your knowledge of the road laws and safety regulations for operating a truck. The road portion of the exam tests your ability to apply your understanding of the rules and your ability to drive the truck safely with you behind the wheel of a truck.
Because you’ll be on your own a majority of the time in your career as a truck driver, you need to be in good health. Personal health is significant when operating trucks of those sizes. You’ll need to have a medical examination and some jobs also require you to have a DOT Medical Card, which states that you’re in good health to operate a truck.
How to Get Hired as a Truck Driver:
After you obtained your CDL and certifications, you now have to find a job. The easiest way to find truck driving jobs is through online job listings and ads. You can find these on sites such as Schneider Jobs, Roehl.Jobs, and Indeed.
You can also make connections within your truck driving school. Most schools will actually have resources available for this. Making personal connections is also really important because they can be used as references. Most job listings that you’ll find will require a few years of truck driving experience, so an excellent reference could help you get around that requirement and give you a jumpstart in your career.
The pay is for truck driving is almost double the minimum wage. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, truck drivers make a yearly average of $43,680, which is about $21 an hour. On top of the pay and benefits like health and medical insurance, you get to experience the country, drive through beautiful roads, and meet interesting people along the way. For most people, truck driving school is well worth the money and the time.