ASK Before Choosing A CDL Class A Truck Driving School

What Should You Know ?
- And -
What Should You Ask ?

BEFORE You Choose A  Truck Driving School
- And -
BEFORE You Sign Any Contract

Assuming that you don't have any felonies, DUIs, misdemeanors or anything else in your past that could or would prevent you from being hired by a trucking company, (and therefore you probably shouldn't spend the money to attend CDL truck driver training school) here are some excellent guidelines for you to follow when selecting a truck driving training school to get your CDL Class A License. 

Finding the right truck driving school can be very confusing for the driver who needs a CDL Refresher Course, but it is doubly challenging for the newcomer who wants to get a CDL Class A License and begin a professional over the road driving career.  What questions should you ask ?  What should you be looking for in a cdl truck driving school?



CDL Training Schools
The Good, The Bad &
The Ugly



Making the right choice can possibly make or break your career before you even get started.  The phrase "the good, the bad and the ugly" is not limited to the movies; there is a lot of good, bad and ugly in the trucking industry, and there are schools whose only objective is profit, and a big profit.  Their business practices are questionable, and too many students have spent a lot of money to get their CDL Class A License, only to find out that he or she is ineligible for hire by any trucking company.  The school knew that .... but they took the student's money anyway.  And then there are the schools that charge an incredibly inflated tuition fee. You can read more about telling the difference between a 'good' school vs. a 'bad' school at our website.

Before you hand over thousands of dollars for your CDL school training, let's look at some important factors that you need to consider:  

1. Is the school licensed by the State
2. Is the school Accredited
3. Is the school Certified

To understand the importance of these questions you need to understand what each of these terms represent.

Why You Should Attend The Second Annual Truck Driver Social Media Convention



James S. McCormack

 The Second Annual Truck Driver
Social Media Convention
"United We Stand, The Circle Of Trust"

With the awaited Second Annual Truck Driver Social Media Convention coming up in October, we are re-posting this article ....and I am honored to have been asked to return for this year's event as a Special Guest.

This past October I had the pleasure of addressing the attendees of the First Annual Truck Driver Social Media Convention, a one-day event held in Tunica, Mississippi at the Gold Strike Resort.  I also had the opportunity to finally meet two uniquely dedicated, committed and highly regarded individuals that I had only previously talked with via phone and e-mail over the previous 12 months .... Allen and Donna Smith, of Truth About Trucking LLC and AskTheTrucker.com, the forces behind this first of what many hoped would be an annual event. 

OTR Driving Jobs & Convicted Felons-A Hiring Guide

Confused About Whether You Can Get
A Truck Driving Job As A Convicted Felon?
These Guidelines May Help ....

If you are confused about whether you would be able to get an otr driving job with a major company as a convicted felon, before you read this we suggest you view our recent article  "How Convicted Felons Can Get An OTR Driving Job".  This article addresses specific felonies and is a basic checklist for potential problem areas; criminal activities that could prevent you from being hired by a trucking company.

Valid Driver's License:

  

Do you currently have a valid driver's license in the state in which you reside or did did you lose your driver's license while you were incarcerated?  Most trucking companies require that you have a valid driver's license for at least (1) year, and some require that you have a valid driver's license for (3) consecutive years.  In most cases you are required to have a driver's license in the state in which you reside.

Without Truck Drivers America Stops

This is a powerful article written by Allen Smith of askthetrucker.com that we are re-printing on our blog in its entirety and without any alterations.  Allen is an otr driver and an advocate for truck drivers across the U.S., has written and published several books about the trucking industry, and hosts a weekly live radio show at www.blogtalkradio.com/truthabouttrucking.

I'm dedicating this article to my father-in-law, Harold O. MacDonald, who worked in the trucking industry for more than 30 years, and retired with a good pension plan which continued from his retirement at age 65 until his death at age 93 in 2002.  He spoke very often and with great fondness of the people he worked with and how highly he regarded the company and its attitude to their employees.

**********************************



From Askthetrucker.com



Should you ever find the time to sit down with an "old timer" truck driver and listen to the tales of "the good ole' days" in trucking, you just may be surprised at how the industry has changed.

You will hear stories of how drivers worked together and created the "brotherhood" between the professional trucker; tales of camaraderie and respect as well as pride in their chosen profession.

In those days, there were no barrier between the driver and motor carrier.  The trucking company and truck driver worked as a team with each one valuing the other and sharing the same respect.  They understood that each needed the other and worked together for both of their success.  The driver asked for an honest day's work for an honest day's pay, and the carrier delivered on their promise.  As difficult as it is to believe, in day's past, the truck driver and motor carrier were actually friends.

In those days, the trucking company knew the driver by name, understanding that they had bills to pay and a family to support and the company did its best to "take care" of their drivers.  In "the good ole' days" of trucking, there existed an unspoken bond between trucker and carrier, each realizing their dependence on each other and even more so, appreciating with each had to offer.

How Convicted Felons Can Get An OTR Driving Job

You Can Get A CDL License But ...
Can You Get An OTR Driving Job ...

Finding a job has gotten tougher for convicted felons.  Life in general has gotten tougher for convicted felons.  Hiring policies by trucking companies have gotten stricter, and the whole process of getting a cdl driving job for felons has become extremely challenging and downright depressing.



Dazed and Confused?



Oh yes, you can get a CDL Class A License through an accredited truck driver training school.  It may cost you several thousands of dollars, or you might even qualify for a federal or state grant.  But once you've graduated, there is absolutely no guarantee that you will land a job.  In fact, job placement directors at some schools will deliberately mislead you and tell you that you can get a job.  They will gladly take your money and train you.  Or,  you might be told that you can drive for a small owner operator.  This is in reality untrue  because an owner operator's insurance company may not insure and bond you.  So, all too often, the path to your new career will end there along with your hopes and dreams.

To make matters worse, while you are beating the bushes to find a trucking company that will hire you even though you have a felony on your record, the time allowed between when you get your CDL License and when you are hired, expires.  This can be 60 days, sometimes 90 days.  But the general rule is if you don't find a driving job within 60-90 days of graduating from a CDL training program, the majority of the trucking companies will not hire you until you take a CDL refresher program.  And that can be anywhere from $500 - $2,500 or more.  The good news is that you're still in the game,   the bad news is that you have to spend additional monies, and there are very few trucking companies that offer a CDL refresher course.  Back to the training school for probably another $1,500, more or less.

So What Can You Do ?

The number (1) rule is:  DO YOUR HOMEWORK BEFORE YOU GO THROUGH CDL TRAINING!  And here are some valid suggestions......

Before you even begin your job search make sure that you have a valid driver's license.  If you lost it or it expired while you were incarcerated, get a new one.  Trucking companies require that you have a valid driver's license and many require that you have it for at least one year.  Some require three years.

Don't bother applying directly to the major trucking companies until you've spoken with a recruiter because you probably won't pass their underwriting guidelines.  Depending on the nature of the felony and how long ago it occurred, the likelihood is that you won't be eligible for hire.  If you are still on parole, you are going to be ineligible for hire by just about every trucking company out there.

Don't spend money for cdl training until you have found a company that will hire you.  It may be a Mom and Pop outfit, or a small local company, or even a larger regional type company.  There are also some mid-size to larger trucking companies that advertise that they will hire  convicted felons .... there are not many and they are probably not the companies you'd like to work for, but it's a start. 

Approach companies first, ask them for their recommendation for a training program, and try to get a pre-hire letter from a future employer.  A small company may even agree to pay for your CDL training; it's unlikely but it's possible.  You may even be able to work out a reimbursement program to repay your employer.

If you are still on probation, you are even more of an insurance risk and you may not be able to travel outside of your own home state.  You may be restricted to finding a job with a company where you travel within your own home state only.

Face the fact that you have a lot of work ahead of you .... get on the Internet and research any information that may help.  Phone trucking companies and talk with their human resources people.  Talk with an independent recruiter for clarification and further information.  Contact your state government and even the federal government for back-to-work programs that offer felons a way to get back into the workforce.  Normally, there are job workshops, seminars, grants and training programs available, and resources available for blue-collar positions such as truck drivers.  Also check with your local department of labor.

We will be publishing guidelines for specific convictions, such as alcohol related or drug related felonies.  These will be published in the next posting and we hope this article and the subsequent follow-up article will be helpful and informative. 

In the meantime remember that old quote that says something like ..."a journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step".  You may have to work hard to get to your dream of being an otr driver but with the right attitude, persistence, a belief in yourself, and maybe a little bit of luck, anything is possible.

Good luck and all the best,