Are you considering obtaining your CDL license but are put off by the high cost of private truck driver training schools? If so, paid training at CDL may be the perfect alternative for you. Company-sponsored CDL training programs are available at most large airlines and offer to pay you (albeit a low salary) during the training period. It may sound too good to be true, but there are some advantages and potential disadvantages to taking advantage of one of these programs. Paid CDL training or company-sponsored CDL training is exactly what it sounds like.
You contact a carrier telling them that you want to learn how to drive a truck and they agree to pay for your training to obtain a CDL license, on the condition that you work for them later. Several of the big American truck companies have their own training schools for truck drivers. They'll teach candidates how to drive a big platform, get their CDL license, and then give graduates of their training program a driving job. Most business schools are actually free and you may even be paid to attend their training program.
However, after factoring in low salaries for about the first year as a driver, and at the same time fulfilling the contractual agreement to receive free training, a private training program may be the best option. It's very important that you ask questions before you sign up to make sure you know exactly what you're getting into. There are a few distinct advantages to enrolling in one of these free truck driving schools. It's low-cost truck driver training and graduates are guaranteed a driving job with the transport company.
This is very important, as graduates of some training schools may struggle to get a job. Many transportation companies prefer to hire experienced drivers, so it can be difficult when you're a new driver who just got out of a CDL training program. It's also an advantage to learn about the company's team. Chances are, as a new driver, you'll suffer a few minor bumps here and there as you learn to maneuver and drive the truck in tight spaces. Therefore, if you are going to bounce off something, it's best to do it on a truck that belongs to a mega-carrier.
These huge transport companies are very used to damaging equipment, so it is more likely that the penalties for the driver will not be as severe or maybe without any penalty. Another advantage of applying for one of the big carriers is that they generally have the easiest equipment to drive. In general, they will have trucks with a folding nose with great visibility and automatic transmissions. You'll have enough to think about when you're learning, so you don't want to worry about whether you're setting the right pace or not. The use of automatic transmissions during a training period has a clear advantage - it allows you to focus more on the location of the vehicle on the road instead of having to worry about where the cane should be. When you're learning, the easier the better.
Many of the big companies have branches in different parts of the country, so you won't have to travel far to attend one of their schools. It won't be much money, but most of the schools sponsored by the company offer students a payment while they learn the ins and outs. The transportation companies that train you will train you enough so that you can successfully approve your driver's license and their goal is to do so in the shortest possible time. If the company isn't a good fit for you, however, you could get stuck all the time (it could be 6 months, 1 year, or even 2 years).There is one major disadvantage when it comes to paid CDL training - some employers feel that this type of training is insufficient and does not meet their hiring standards. However, not ALL of these programs sponsored by companies are like this.
