Question:
I need some helpful advice from those of you currently out there in the business of trucking. I am currently in the military stationed in North Carolina (currently hold a NC driver's license) and am going to National Training, Inc in Jacksonville Florida for my CDL. After I complete the driving portion of the school in Florida I can utilize the school's trucks to take the CDL driving test at the Florida DMV, but I must have a FL drivers license to do that, and in order to get a FL driver's license I have to be a resident of Florida, which I am not. Someone recommended that I 'pretend to be a FL resident' so I can get a FL drivers license and take the test before leaving Florida. I am not sure how much I really want to falsify residency just to take a driving test utilizing the school's trucks, although I will leave Florida with a CDL. The other option is I can go through the school down in Florida and NOT take the CDL test at the Florida DMV and instead come back to North Carolina and have to try and find someone with a tractor that would allow me to use it for the North Carolina CDL driving test. I get out of the military in August and plan on moving back home to Minnesota, so I could always wait until I get to Minnesota to take my CDL driving test but there again I will have to find someone with a tractor that will allow me to use their equipment to take the driving test with. The downfall of waiting until I move back to Minnesota to take my test is that I won't be able to apply with the different trucking companies because I won't have a CDL. Any advice as to how to go about going to school in Florida, having a North Carolina license and planning on moving back to Minnesota and start my driving career from there would be greatly appreciated!!

Answer:
Is it an option for you to taake your training in Minnesota, where you have or will have a lawful address? Then the entire issue goes away. Unless somehow you are taking the training while you are still in the service, it would seem best to take it in yoru home area. And that simplifies a lot of other issues, since you are going to have to have a place to lay your weary head whil in Fla for training anyhow..lAs long as the paperwork's clean, you boys can do whatever you want to out on the road" Mad Max ...1979

Answer:
I went to the same school right before I retired from the military. The majority of people in the class used the schools address as a home address to get the Florida license. I elected to return to my home state and get my license. I failed the first driving test because I had to perform the parallel parking different than the way we where taught in the school, and the truck they provided had a tank trailer connected to it. I did not pull a tank in training. When I retested they gave me a flat bed trailer and I passed the backing test and the 40 min road test.
I was aggravated that the NM road test was a lot more difficult than the one the other students had to take. But I am very honest and could not bring myself to fake my home address, even though it was what everyone else did. Just my opinion.

Answer:
Why go all the way to FL to begin with? NC has schools. Johnston County community college has a CDL program.. about 1 hour north of Bragg if your stationed there??
http://www.johnston.cc.nc.us/academics/tdt/tdt.html
Answer:
Thanks everyone for your advice and input so far!
Burky - I chose this school because it is the one location I can do to that is approved by the Marine Corps and I don't have to pay a dime for. Because I am still on active duty, I use my Tuition Assistance to pay for the school, which covers the entire cost. That way I don't have to dip into my GI Bill.
rwings - I am in the same boat you are, I try my best to be as honest a person as I can. On top of that, with all the background checks and everything these days (which isn't a problem for me, as I currently hold a security clearance) I don't really want to have 3 driver's licenses from 3 different states in a period of about 5 years. It just looks a little fishy, although the reason I am on my second is nowhere near a shady one.
Gonzo - The reason I chose not to go to a school in NC was, as mentioned above, I can utilize Tuition Assistance if I go to National Training, Inc in Florida. If I wanted to go to some of the schools around NC I would have had to dip into my GI Bill and they wouldn't have footed the entire bill for schooling up front like they did with my current school.
Thanks again everyone for your helpful input! I greatly appreciate everyone's help.

Answer:
Don't worry about the number of licences you have that has no bearing on what kind of guy you are. Your employmeny background only need be validated to see why you had them.. It is legal to do so why worry? It is not however cheap to get so many, unless that state provides a military discount, as most states do. (Providing you with a sort of duel statesmanship) You are a legal resident of your home of record (unless you move your permanent home of record) You are a resident of the state you are stationed in for things like drivers licenses and hunting, fishing licenses..ect.
This question has no doubt been a issue at the school, call and ask what they do in a case like yours? They are there to assist you, make them work for you.
I wouldn't give up on the community college route.. At least check them out.. They are usually a LOT cheaper than regular CDL specialty schools. (Not much out of pocket expense in your case w/ the GI Bill) Also look to see if that community college has slots avail for active durty military to use if not filled.
I was active duty, just got out after spending 13 yrs in.. (medical) Even though my last hitch was Army I am a former Marine.. I would go to your education office on base and see what arrangements they have with the local community colleges. Lots of guys in the military never take advantage of the opprotunities or even know they are there till they get out.. Ask around! We had one, where you had to be physicaly present at the start of the class ready to start that day, to take a open slot.. BUT if 1 slot opened up, the class was not full.. we could attend for free (This was in GA @ Ft. Stewart) I see no reason why the Marine Corps should not have a similiar plan? All sorts of continuing education classes were in this program.
Finding someone to "let" you use their truck will not be easy, going that route, there are restrictions. You must get another learners permit for that state, the truck must insure you, and then there is the downtime the truck is doing to train you and not make $$.. BUT is burning fuel, wear and tear.. A local driving school will let you use 1 of theirs to take the road test for a fee, though they usualy just have a truck at the testing site, you jump in cold and test.. no driving around practicing first to get used to it.. good luck.. right lol
Hey, here is a novel idea.. re-enlist for Motor T... lol they'll let you drive trucks!
Answer:
Look for "Third Party CDL Testing Site" in NC. Some community colleges and truck driving schools. They supply the equipment.***Patience is the hardest thing to learn..