You want to look into all of your options when deciding how to obtain a commercial driver’s license.
For those people who love solitude, traveling, and flexible hours, a truck driving career is a great option. Truck driving is a lot different and more complex than driving a regular passenger vehicle, so a commercial driver’s license is required before you kick off your career. Here are your options for obtaining your commercial driver’s license.
On Your Own
The first option is to get your commercial driver’s license on your own. The difficulty that comes with doing it on your own is finding a truck to use to take the driving test. You can’t rent a truck without a commercial driver’s license and you can’t get your license without a truck. This option is good for those who know someone in the truck driving industry that can loan them their truck. There are limits on when and how often you can take the license test, so make sure you plan in advance so that the truck will be available to you. This method is the cheapest of all of the other options, potentially saving you thousands of dollars.
Company Sponsored Training
If there is a company already interested in hiring you, they may offer company sponsored training. With this option, the company pays for your schooling in exchange for you working for them for a given period of time. If you choose this option, be sure to thoroughly read through and understand every part of the contract so that there are no surprises. Often times, company sponsored schools will accept a large number of students and then narrow it down as time goes on. They may withdraw students for not passing certain tests or not being able to keep up with the training.
Private/Public Schooling
The last option for obtaining your commercial driver’s license is to enroll in a school. Though this is the most expensive option, these schools typically provide the best training. Private schools are more guaranteed to provide top quality training because if they fall short, people won’t enroll. Public schools are cheaper than private schools and tend to be more academic than vocational since they are run by college boards. It is not common to get student aid for a truck driving course.
Baltimore Freightliner-Western for all Your Trucking Needs
Whether you are looking to upgrade your fleet to tow trucks or simply interested in the latest trucking technology, you can rely on Baltimore Freightliner-Western Star. We have provided top-notch service for the trucking industry for 30 years and would love to assist you in buying a new top-of-the-line truck, finding the specialty parts you need, or repairing your truck. Give us a call toll-free at 800-832-7278 or locally at 410-685-4474, or contact us online. To find out more about what we are up to, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Google+.
Tags: commercial driver's license, truck driving, trucking lifestyle