Are you planning to apply for a license permit to drive commercial trucks? Do you have any questions about what type of training is necessary to pass the CDL training exam?
If that’s the case, read on as this article will detail all of the most important things you need to contemplate when searching for a course. CDL training is no joke, and not all commercial truck training courses are created equally.
According to Statista, about 15 million private and commercial trucks will be registered in California in 2020.
Here are some things to consider when signing up for a commercial truck driving course:
Table of Contents
1. Check The Quality
The first thing that you should do when looking for a commercial truck driving course is to check the quality of the school. There are many great CDL training programs, but as with anything else, not every CDL training program provides the same quality of service.
You should start by researching different commercial truck driving schools in your area. You can use reputed websites and social media platforms to find commercial truck driving courses reviews.
People will usually post negative reviews when they feel wronged by a company. For example, if their CDL training course was insufficient and the licensing exam was challenging for them to pass, they might write a negative review about their practice.
You can look for positive experiences by reading positive reviews on websites and social media platforms. You should find out if these courses are reputable and the most critical aspects of the training regimen. For example, you might learn what time of day commercial truck driving classes will be held so that you can plan your plan accordingly.
2. Class Timings
You should also check the time of day that these commercial truck driving courses will be conducted and whether or not this time is suitable for you. The best way to find out about class timings and schedules is by calling the training center directly.
It gives you a better insight into their standard practice and lets you know whether or not the training center is flexible regarding timings. For example, if they say that classes will be held on Saturdays and Sundays for full-day sessions, you might want to consider other commercial truck driving courses.
You should consider the timing of your breaks. If the commercial truck driving school does not provide lunch breaks, you might find it difficult.
3. Site Location
It’s also essential to visit the commercial truck driving course training center before signing up for a program. This way, you will better understand their location and whether or not it is accessible by public transport or private vehicle.
If you have to drive 45 minutes one-way to get to the training center, it might not be an ideal fit for you.
4. Mobilization
You should also evaluate whether or not you will need to move your car to go from the school to the actual driving location. It will be a nuisance if you have to move your car from the commercial truck driving school to an exact spot where the examiners will inspect it.
You might look for a different commercial truck driving school if this is necessary.
5. Price
Another crucial factor that you should consider when looking for a commercial truck driving school is the price of their courses. In California, the minimum cost of a commercial truck driving course is approximately $1,000 – provided that you don’t have to retake any tests.
Some schools offer discounts if you enroll for an entire program, whereas others charge a flat rate for a shorter period. Discounts and flat rates vary from school to school.
You should find out as much as you can about the price of a commercial truck driving program before you sign up for one. It will help you determine whether or not this is an ideal fit for your budget.
6. Training Methodology
Before signing up for a commercial truck driving course, you should ask all the questions you can think of. For example, you might ask how they prepare people for their CDL exams and their success rate using that particular training methodology.
You also need to determine whether or not your classmates are properly screened ahead of time. Some CDL training schools bring together individuals who aren’t serious about getting a commercial driver’s license and those who are.
7. Refund Policies
It’s also essential to find out about the refund policies of a commercial truck driving school. If you have to take classes for several days before dropping out, there should be no problem getting your money back.
However, if you drop the program mid-way through, some schools might require that you repay all or part of what you’ve paid. For instance, some schools require that you repay 10 percent of the amount if you drop out after one day.