As I stated earlier, in 1992 I became an over-the-road truck driver. In the fall of that year, my father passed away. When you're driving down the road in a big truck, you have the opportunity to do lots of thinking. One day, as I recall, my JD Truck Training Centre was out in the great northwest, Montana to be exact. Thinking of my past, my dad, and where I was, I started to create a poem. I call it This Great Land Of Ours.
To meet the CDL class-a requirements on your own all you have to do is go and take the CDL test at your local Secretary of State office. They will give you a written test and a practical test. The teat cost you a 100 dollars. It's cheaper than going through a school and gets you your CDL a lot faster.
When the issue of money is resolved, it's time to decide if the desired school's location will be a good fit for your current situation (i.e. single or married with a family). Are you going to commute daily? If so, how far? Gas can get very costly! Or, are you going to move to attend your choice of Truck driving school? If so, where are you going to reside and at what cost? Some truck driving schools do offer dorms similar to a college Truck licence campus; but it will obviously raise the cost of attending the institution.
Many schools will also offer financial aid. The money you are required to put up front is sometimes a big limiting factor on what type of school you can attend. Offering financial aid can open up your opportunities. Find out how long it will be before you are required to begin making payments after graduation. Most schools will allow you 3-6 months before you start making payments.
First I like to point out the legal side. This is a BIG ONE. Being a truck driver is fun and you can make a lot, or a ton of money. So what do I mean legal? Because we both know that you need a CDL license to drive... When I say legal we are looking at your MVR (Motor Vehicle Record). Why is this important? If you have 1 too many violations most trucking companies will not hire you. This is what the HR Truck Licence schools do not tell you.
For me making money was the bottom line and I was ready to sacrifice anything. Big money in big trucks sounded good and I wasn't gonna stop until I got on the road to change my life.
Today truck driver training is more affordable than ever. Most training schools can point you in the right direction to apply for grants and some trucking companies will pick up the cost of your training for free in exchange for an employment contract. Good luck.