How to Choose a Good Truck-Driving School

Look for certification and good reviews when choosing a trucking school.

Difficulty: Moderately challenging

Instructions

1. Check with your state's department of motor vehicles or public safety to learn what it takes to get a commercial driving license where you live.

2. Look for a program certified by the Professional Truck Driver Institute. Although not all good schools choose to have their programs certified by PTDI, looking for the certification is one quick way to find a school that meets at least minimum standards.

3. Check the course syllabus for course material that covers the basics of what you need to know. Talk with teachers, administrators and past students to get a feel for how the school operates and the quality of equipment it uses.

Tips & Warnings

• In addition to PTDI, some state departments of education also certify programs; check where you live.
• Postgraduation placement services are a nice plus for a school, but not absolutely necessary in the truck-driving business. So many opportunities abound that you won't go long without work if you learn the job well, pass the physical exams, keep a clean record and stay dependable on the job.
• Beware of "license mills," which offer short courses that cover only the material expected on the tests. You might get your commercial license, but you're likely to lose out later when you compete for the best-paying jobs with more qualified graduates of thorough schools.

[willowman1]

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on 11/22/2005 Look for schools that offer one-on-one training. Some schools place 3-5 students in a truck at the same time. Most students get the best training when it is private driving instruction with only one student in the truck. This is critical. Otherwise, you are paying to watch other students drive.

on 11/22/2005 The best schools always train with a 1:1 student to instructor ratio. Schools that put 2-5 drivers in the cab provide less training, because students are paying to watch. You learn to drive a rig by driving, not by watching.

on 11/22/2005 It's not how long you're behind the wheel, but what you're taught while you're behind it. Price is no criteria either. Higher prices are needed for expensive advertising. Lower-price schools thrive on recommendations; that should tell you something.

on 11/22/2005 Be careful with the phrase, license mills. Length of training is not as important as quality. I have seen 3-week courses that were much better than 3-month courses. Remember, the desired end result is safe, confident drivers.