Question:
Why do you people waste 5-10k to go to a driving school when you could just go to the dmv,take the test and get the license.I got mine for free,just like when i was 16 and all i paid for was the fees to the state to administer the test which was much less than 10 grand,it was more like 200 dollars and hey i'm done.

Answer:
Do you have to practice a lot at this or does it just come natural to you?
Semper Fi,
Wayne

Answer:
Most Carriers require formal training unless you have several years expierience.
Some require the training to be PTDI certified.
Some require the training to to be a certain amount of hours.
I agree you can go down and pass the written test by doing your own studying.
However, having the equipment available and the area to practice shifting, backing and general driving of a big truck is somthing most of us do not have. Also having the vehicle available to take the driving portion of the test for DMV (Since they do not provide it).
I do find it hard to believe that you could pass the road test without some sort of training.
Also, finding a carrier that would hire you, (contingient on you passing a road test) then give you one of thier trucks to take the DMV road test in.
But if you can do that, I guess your better than most. at least me, Im glad I went to school.
I studied the CDL manual and FMCSR for almost a year before going to school. it helped a lot, and I did very well on the writen tests. but the school taught me a lot about logging, trip planning and pre-trip inspections that were not in the books, Hands on stuff.
Good luck to you.
Ike
"The world is a dangerous place to live, not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don't do anything about it."
Albert Einstein

Answer:
well i never when to a school either but i was a truck mechanic for four years between backing 10 to 20 trailers in at night to road testing tractors to recovery type work the frist company took that and a 2 hour road test then spent 6 weeks with a trainer from hell that loved ny city
that was my schooling
YOU CAN SLEEP AFTER YOU DELIVER THE LOAD

Answer:
I did work at a freight company while i got my cdl and later went to work for an o/o which i guess was me paying for my schooling since he paid me peanuts anyway.

Answer:
I imagine that going to school and getting a certificate will look good for the company's insurance.
Proving that you are certified by a professional instructor certifies that you are aware of safety procedures and driving techniques. Some companies also see a certificate from a school the same as 6 months experience to a year experience.
And it's hard to find a job that will hire you without any experience, unless you have connections.

Answer:
GOD I hope your not driving when I'm out there. I recently finished RDTC with ROEHL and I can tell you this brother. Anyone who looks for the easy way out ain't worth a S**T.
Why pay the big $$ to get PROPERLY trained, because Safety and learning the right way are worth that to me. Leaving it up to some o/o who has total disegard for the regulations and the SAFE and proper way of Driving (no offense to o/o's who do not fit this mold)
Antone that would openly brag that that a few sawbucks got him a CDL license and that a written test is all you need, well I guess that is the difference between a driver and a PROFESSIONAL DRIVER! I don't feel safe and secure knowing that people like you are out driving with little or no training while my parents , kids and friends must share the road with you because you decided to take the cheap and easy way out.
STAND UP FOR WHAT YOU BELIEVE IN, EVEN IF IT MEANS STANDING ALONE

Answer:
usmc devildog
have you seen what is coming from 95% of this school. for someone that has never been in a truck a school is the way to go but like i said before the produce that these schools are turning out is anything but professionals and just because someone like you when to a school does not make you a professional some times the best way is the hard way to learn it gives you pride in what you do and respect for the ones that learned the hard way like me . ihave been around this stuff for many many years and for someone to say because i did not go to a school to learn how to log and double clutch and back up is just STUIPED plain and simple
YOU CAN SLEEP AFTER YOU DELIVER THE LOAD

Answer:
I agree with Devildog.
Any licensed driver could teach you how to drive, and pass the DMV portion, but theres a lot more to drivin' than drivin' (if you know what I mean).
Im sure a few of these more expirienced drivers can tell ya. and mabe they will.
All in All I don't look at my school as a waste of money. As I stated above, I studied the CDL manual and the FMCSR for about a year before going to school, just to give me a headstart. the classroom portion was still invaluable.
Lot to learn, about bridge laws, trip planning, HOS, axle weights, HAZMAT etc...
But if you already know all that, then you are well on your way.
Good Luck
Ike
"The world is a dangerous place to live, not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don't do anything about it."
Albert Einstein

Answer:
usmc devildog
have you seen what is coming from 95% of this school. for someone that has never been in a truck a school is the way to go but like i said before the produce that these schools are turning out is anything but professionals and just because someone like you when to a school does not make you a professional some times the best way is the hard way to learn it gives you pride in what you do and respect for the ones that learned the hard way like me . ihave been around this stuff for many many years and for someone to say because i did not go to a school to learn how to log and double clutch and back up that makes me a unsafe driver is just STUIPED plain and simple

YOU CAN SLEEP AFTER YOU DELIVER THE LOAD

Answer:
I had to go through Schniders school when I hired on with them. I had YEARS of verifiable experiance before. I was a local driver. No OTR training.
I was a little upset about this at the time. Now, I think ALL drivers should have at least a yearly refresher.
The driving was the easy part. The facts and statistics were great. These folks easily spend MILLIONS to develop a good training plan to teach about medical effects and so on.
They will teach how the body works when it comes to sleep and so on. The CDL mills do not do this. Their purpose is to get you your liceanse and that is it.
They do not "train" you for road operations. They train you to pass the CDL test and that is it.
This is why MOST carriers will still require you7 go through their training. It may be driving with a experianced driver for ony 4 weeks or 2. It could be going ALL the way back through school.
One carrier a major one. Makes you surrender your CDL and test for a new one. They will repay the school you went to if you sign a 1 year agreement. MOST are better off by just going right to the carrier to go through school.202 N Main Street
Summerfield Il 62289
TRUCK PARKING AVAILABLE!

Answer:
a good school opens doors that otherwise wouldn't be there.
I am working for a local owner operator hauling dry freight, and while it has it's ups and downs it is a bit better than being a slave to the Qualcomm. My biggest beef is not having benefits, but that will change soon enough.
In the grand scheme of things this allows me to "learn" what is involved in being an owner operator in a different way than driving for one of the larger carriers. This way if and when I do decide to go at it on my own I feel I will have an edge.
Plus I take time off whenever I want.

Answer:
Mudslinger,
Mabe I read your post wrong, (I hope I did).
What I got from that was, you need to learn the hard way to be proffessional.
The main reason I persued this, and have wanted to drive for many years is I had an Uncle that was an owner operator, and a brother that drove for years. I like to feel they gave me a lot of advice, and direction.
That doesn't mean I learned everything I needed to do the job.
If you had someone that taught you everything you need to know, and you passed all the requirements, good for you.
No driver will be a proffessional coming right out of school. Nor will any driver that "learned the hard way"
the only thing that makes a driver a proffessional is expierience. as with any job. it takes time to learn the right way and wrong way. and become proficient.
Hope this isn't taken the wrong way, I just feel that there is more than 1 way to learn to be a proffessional Truck driver.
Ike
"The world is a dangerous place to live, not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don't do anything about it."
Albert Einstein
[This message was edited by ike910 on December 31, 2003 at 8:57.]

Answer:
ok, here's what irks me. Some of these schools, the 12 days and you're on the road, that charge $6,000, is silly. Can you really get $6,000 of valuable and professional driving experience in 12 days?
I mean, if these schools, had say,
10 students x $6,000 each= $60,000.
Now you could have fresh students twice a month so that's
$60,000 x 2 = $120,000 in one month and in one year that would be
120,000 x 12 = $1,440,000
Does the school really need to charge that much? Does a person really need to spend that much money for a quick lesson in a professional career?
Just research your school. The certificate will help, if you get that at graduation. If another professional driver is training you, then obviously, you already know someone in the trucking industry and have them recommend you, like they could say to their employer, "This is a good kid, I taught him everything I know!"
The best lessons are the lessons learned through experience.

Answer:
I agree some schools are a rip-off. unfortunatley, without that certificate its hard to find employment. someone mentioned it earlier, I believe its an insurance issue. like Blackat said, you have to be careful and research the school.
Ike
"The world is a dangerous place to live, not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don't do anything about it."
Albert Einstein