With over 220,000 available CDL jobs and truck driving positions,  there’s never been a better time to enter the truck driving industry.  Truck driving and CDL jobs are in massive demand all across the country and they need qualified truck drivers in order to fill them.  Demand likely isn’t going away anytime soon, so a truck driving job will provide both the salary and the job security you need to have a successful career.

AN ARTICLE FOR NEW DRIVERS:

7 Things to Look For in a CDL school…

1. How Long Have They Been In Business?
How long a trucking school has been in business speaks volumes about their character. CDL schools pop up all the time in the form of small mom-and-pop operations with two trucks and a trailer for an office. These operations are interested in only one thing, taking your money. They have no track record with the State Licensing Agency. They have no history of graduation rates for you to examine. They have no relationships with the major trucking companies. And most importantly, they can’t offer placement assistance should you lose your first job, because:
they can’t afford it, they don’t have the contacts in the industry and they simply won’t still be in existence when you need them.

2. What Is Their Track Record?
Does the school give you info about its graduation and employment numbers and percentages?

3. Does The Trucking School Provide Job Placement Assistance?
Do they have full-time employees who help find you a job? Many schools offer only training and then throw you to the wolves to find your own job.

4. Do They Have A Website?
Is the website useful to you? Are they transparent? Do they provide you with all the information you need to evaluate them and to make an informed decision? Does their website answer YOUR questions? If not, they are most likely either a small-time operation or a fly-by-night scam. If they do have a website, is it just nice and flashy? Does it actually provide you with their contact information, who they train for, and placement assistance?

5. Who Do They Train For?
Does the school train for all major carriers? Some trucking schools don’t advertise themselves as contract trainers.  These schools simply train for a pre-hired position with that company.  If it’s not a contract training school, they will have all companies offering you positions.  Depending on your circumstances and what needs you need, should determine whether you go to a school or a pre-hired position.

6. Are They A 3rd Party Tester?
Some states allow a trucking school to employ their own CDL testers on-site. Other states restrict CDL testing to only state facilities. If 3rd party testing is allowed in your state, does the school offer 3rd party testing on-site? Only the very best trucking school is allowed by state governments to maintain 3rd party testing due to the large amount of documentation and regulation necessary. If a school isn’t a licensed 3rd party tester, you may find delays waiting in line with the graduates of all the other schools to take the CDL exam at a state facility, and you will end up waiting to start your new job.

7. What Is The Ratio Of Students To Instructors?
A ratio that’s too high means you won’t get the hands-on driving time and one-on-one instruction you need to become a skilled and competent driver.

If you would like more information on Free CDL schools, freecdlschools.com is a great place to check out to learn about new opportunities.