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How To Choose The Right Trucking School

Now that you’ve decided to pursue a career as a professional truck driver, you need to choose which truck driving school to attend. Since you’re investing your time and money into this school you want to be sure you get the most from that investment. Trucking schools won’t make you an expert truck driver overnight, but a good one will help you get the fundamental training you need to learn to drive a truck and pass the test for your CDL.

There are some issues that are important to consider when choosing which trucking school to attend. Read on to learn more so you can make a better educated choice.

Don’t Get Taken For A Ride.

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Getting ripped off is a primary concern most people have when selecting a school. They fear they will be ripped off by the school either by not getting the training they need to get their CDL or by the school running off with their money. Rest assured in knowing that the vast majority of schools are legitimate so your odds of getting scammed are low. Remember, trucking schools rely on trucking companies to hire their students after graduation. If trucking companies discover the bulk of new truck drivers they get from a certain school are lousy then the trucking company won’t take their graduates anymore. This will cause the trucking school to go out of business because no one will want to attend a school that can’t offer jobs.

Now you may not be ripped off, but keep in mind that not all trucking schools are equal. Some provide better training than others and there are a few that are terrible. The best way to avoid getting stuck with one of the terrible ones is to do your homework.

Knowledge Is Power.

Once you have a school selected, prior to enrolling the first thing you should do is some research on that school. Find out how long the school has been operating. A school that has been operating for 20 years tends to have a better reputation than a school that has been operating for six months. Find out the school’s graduation and CDL pass rate. If most of the students aren’t passing the CDL test then there is a problem with that school. Take a tour of the school. Make sure the actual school matches the school in their brochures and sales material. While you’re at the school, ask current students about their experience at the school. Ask them how the enrollment process was. Ask how the instructors are. Be sure to ask several people to get a balanced appraisal of the school. If the school refuses to let you speak with any students then that should be a major red flag.

The next thing you should do is some outside research. Check with the Department of Commerce for your state to verify that the school is properly licensed. Check to see if there are a significant amount of complaints from students who were unable to earn their CDL after completing the school’s training. If the trucking school is accredited, check with the accreditation board they list to make sure it’s valid and up to date.

Another good idea is to check with local trucking companies to see what they think about the school. See if they take graduates from the school and how those graduates compare to other schools. Since your end goal in going to trucking school is to land a trucking job you should place a lot of importance on what you learn from the trucking companies.

Know Them, No Problems.

Once you’ve decided on a school be sure to read through a copy of their student catalog or an enrollment agreement so you can be familiar with their practices, policies and courses. Find out what their policies are for attendance, total class hours required, leave of absence information, cancellations or refunds. You never know if a medical emergency or some other urgent situation will arise that will delay or prevent you from completing your training. It’s important to know what your options are in advance.

Be sure to know the school’s total costs upfront and what the payment schedules are and if there are any charges that are non-refundable. Be sure to ask about all your financial aid options. Some trucking schools are able to offer federal financial aid. Other schools are owned by trucking companies and offer tuition reimbursement once you start driving for them. Be sure to find out what your options are in advance. Learn other mandatory disclosures regarding your rights and responsibilities as a student at the institution. (Education Code section 94810.)

The last thing is make sure you get everything in writing. Verbal agreements are useless and can be as damaging as sand in a gas tank. Be sure anything the trucking school promises or agree to is in writing. This will protect both you and the trucking school.

Like with all schools, trucking school is a much better experience when you do your homework.