CAREER TRAINING RESOURCES

In Part 3 of our series on becoming a truck driver, you’ll learn about beginning CDL School. At this point, you've solidified your commitment to becoming a safe and successful truck driver. You've found the right CDL school, got all of your enrollment options figured out, and are anxiously awaiting your start date. This means it's time to get serious about your career training education. During grade school years as a kid, and into high school, many people develop a negative attitude about school. But after graduating, or receiving a GED, many people realize that going back to school means learning specific skills to use in a new career. This is exactly what you are doing by enrolling in a CDL training program.

The CDL Training Mindset

When you are first starting out, don’t underestimate the importance of your truck driving training. Don't overestimate your own skills either. Even if you feel like the material is easy, continue the program. Students who successfully complete their course of study will be awarded an appropriate diploma or certificate, and leave our institution with a quality education. To get to that point, you'll have to work hard to make sure you master the concepts and complete the course. To successfully complete a program students must complete 100% of the program requirements, measured in scheduled hours. Truck driving courses at ACI vary in length, depending on the program course. Refreshers courses are shorter, from 1-3 weeks in length, while other Class A training programs vary between 4-20 weeks.

What to Expect

Each transportation course consists of classroom, lab, range and on the road experience to ensure the best possible training. The driving portion is quite simply where you learn to drive the truck, under an instructor’s supervision. Even for seasoned drivers of commuter vehicles, driving a big truck can be a daunting and difficult experience. After all, maneuvering a big rig is quite a bit different than a normal car. The “written” portion of your truck driver training is the classroom work. In the classroom, students learn the rules and regulations associated with driving a truck. While this may not be as much “fun” as driving the truck, it is equally important.

The Benefits

Once the course is complete, students will have the basic knowledge and practical skills necessary to become a proficient entry-level truck driver. They will be prepared to obtain a Commercial Driver License by taking the CDL exam. But before we get into that, we want to give you the opportunity to take a deep breath before we consider another aspect of CDL training, which can have a big effect on your hire-ability: endorsements (which we talk about in Part 4 of this series!) If you're ready to take the next step towards a career in the truck driving industry, the right training makes all the difference. Learn how ACI can help you reach your career goals! Fill out the form you see on this page, or give us a call at 1-877-649-9614. If you'd like more information on the Truck Driver CDL Training Programs available at Advanced Career Institute, please contact us or visit www.advanced.edu/programs Other Articles in This Series: Your Guide to Becoming a Commercial Truck Driver Part 1: Is Truck Driving Right For Me? Part 2. Finding the Right School Part 4: CDL Endorsements

There are many truck drivers out there — more than 2 million at last count. So how do you tell the good ones from the not so good ones? It’s not too difficult, as it turns out. While all truck drivers have certain strengths and weaknesses, the best drivers all share certain traits. Once you learn these qualities, work on mastering them, and they will serve you as a trucker like nothing else. Here are the 4 traits we believe make a good truck driver:

Patience

Whether you’re sitting in traffic or waiting for your truck to be unloaded, staying cool under pressure is important. Losing your head in rush-hour traffic, or an otherwise inopportune time, can spell disaster for you - and possibly for others.

Time-Management Skills

Knowing how to spend your time out on the road is a necessity. Pre-planning your route and staying on schedule will get you to your destination and back on time. Be sure to plan out when you are going to make stops before beginning your trip. If you have good time management, employers will be stepping on themselves to hire you.

Discipline

Sticking to your schedule and being disciplined is key. Be professional about when you do (or don’t) make stops. Try to multitask on those stops. Additionally, being able to successfully maneuver around traffic accidents will keep you chugging toward your destination. This also works for staying in position when the truck is leaving.

Concentration

Being on the road means spending a lot of time driving. This isn’t always the most exciting activity in the world. If you want to thrive as a trucker, it’s important to maintain that control as you are driving, and keep your mind from wandering too much. Did we miss anything you think is an important trait to have a truck driver? What trait or quality sets you apart from others? Share your comments with us (and other drivers!) on our Facebook page! Ready to take the next step towards a career in the truck driving industry? The right training makes all the difference. Learn how our ACI training programs can help you reach your career goals!

You've put a lot of thought into it, and you’ve made your decision - you’re ready to begin trucking school. That's great! Now, your first step is choosing a CDL school. The number of schools to pick from depends on where you live. When you're looking at your options, there are different criteria to consider. The bottom line is you want attend a quality school that helps produce safe and successful truck drivers. Become the best driver you can be by taking your time and choosing the school that is best for you.

Setting Up an Appointment

One good way is meeting with a few schools in your area to learn more about them. At ACI, you'll first set up an appointment with one of our school Admissions Representatives who will answer any questions you have about enrollment and tuition assistance. You'll also receive a tour of any of our three campuses. Another way is to join in on the conversations on Facebook, and talk with students and graduates to learn about their ACI experience. Once you’ve chosen a school, you can begin the real work. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) requires drivers to meet certain health and wellness standards in order to drive a truck. Most importantly, before you can pursue a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL), you must pass a medical exam. The Admissions Representatives at ACI can help you find the appropriate medical facility so you can get the required Driver’s DOT Medical Examination Card. They'll also go over the entire enrollment process, including finding and applying for appropriate student loans, or help you identify appropriate grants you can use.

Beginning the Enrollment Process

Keep in mind there are certain factors* that play a huge role in qualifying for CDL training. Students are required to complete a drug test with a negative result upon enrollment. They are also subject to random drug and alcohol testing in accordance with DOT regulations. Additionally, students are asked the following specific questions prior to enrollment in any of our CDL training programs:

• Do you have any moving violations or vehicular accident(s) in the last 3 years?
• Do you have any tickets pending?
• Have you ever had your drivers license suspended/revoked, or are there any restrictions on your license?
• Have you ever been convicted of a DWI, DUI, or careless driving?
• Do you have any Alcohol or Drug violations?

Truck driving is a job that requires trust. Employers cannot fully trust drivers who have a record of traffic infractions. Your reputation will precede you, so make sure you have a good one. So, take your time and look at your options to determine the school that's right for you. Doing a bit of research will go a long way in your career training.

Learn More About ACI

If you're ready to take the next step towards a career in the truck driving industry, the right training makes all the difference. Learn how ACI can help you reach your career goals! Fill out the form you see on this page, or give us a call at 1-877-649-9614. If you'd like more information on the Truck Driver CDL Training Programs available at Advanced Career Institute, please contact us or visit www.advanced.edu/programs *Advanced Career Institute is an Equal Opportunity Educational institution and does not discriminate in the recruitment and admission of students with respect to race, color, creed, sex, age, handicap, disability, national origin, or any other legally protected characteristic. Applicants should be aware, however, that there are U.S. Department of Transportation physical requirements that must be met for admission into any of our Transportation programs. More information can be obtained from the Admission’s department or by reviewing our School Catalog and Handbook here. Other Articles in This Series: Your Guide to Becoming a Commercial Truck Driver Part 1: Is Truck Driving Right For Me? Part 3. CDL Training Part 4: CDL Endorsements

Our Fresno welding students just completed a fabrication project for our campus in Fresno. A lot of hard work went into making these benches! We are always proud when our students accomplish great things. We are especially excited to be able to show these off to those that visit or attend our school!

EDITORS NOTE: Advanced Career Institute has discontinued our School Bus Driving Program. We still offer our Commercial Bus Driver Program at select campuses. When you’re looking to jump into the trucking industry, there are many decisions you need to make. The main decision is figuring out which class of CDL you need. Each CDL license enables you to drive different trucks - so how do you know which CDL is right for you? How do you know you want to pursue Class B CDL training instead of Class A?

Well, let's discuss the two.

In short, a Class A CDL covers the operation of vehicles with a gross vehicle rating of more than 26,000 lbs and towing a trailer of 10,000 lbs. or more. A Class B CDL allows the driver to operate a vehicle towing a trailer of less than 10,000 lbs. Drivers with a Class A CDL do have a larger range of vehicles to drive, and with your Class A CDL, you are qualified to drive Class A, B, and C vehicles. Drivers holding a Class B CDL may only operate Class B and Class C rated vehicles.

So, which license is for you?

Jobs for those with a Class B CDL typically include driving “straight trucks,” which is a term for trucks in which the axles are attached to a single frame. By contrast, a semi-truck or tractor-trailer combination has axles attached to multiple frames. and requires a Class A CDL. Other Class B driving jobs include delivery driving and jobs like driving dump trucks for landscaping and construction companies. With the assistance of endorsements, you can pursue other opportunities, like bus driving. With a Class B CDL, there are any number of jobs you can pursue. Driving smaller commercial vehicles and haulers can afford you many jobs, and just as with a Class A license, you can obtain endorsements that can give you additional opportunities in areas such as hazardous materials. At Advanced Career Institute, we offer one Class B Training Program to accommodate your scheduling needs and career goals. Our Class B program introduces students to the procedures and skills found in the driving industry while preparing students to obtain a Class B CDL with a commercial bus certification and endorsements. Still not sure if getting your Class B is the way to go? Call and talk to one of our Admissions Representatives, who can answer any questions you have and help you determine the training program that is right for you. Give us a call at 1-877-649-9614, or simply fill out the request form you see at the top of this webpage. We are excited to help you figure out your enrollment options so you can get started on the road to your new driving career!

A main struggle for truck drivers is finding things to do during your down time while on the road. Everything is fine and dandy for most truck drivers when you're actually driving. However, it is when you aren't driving that things start to get a little boring. Limits to driving hours are necessary, but the extra time it gives you isn’t necessarily your friend. Boredom can set in really quickly, and you need to do more than simply sleep to pass the time. During your travels, you won't always be familiar with your surroundings. And even if you are, you can't exactly take off and drive to the movie theater in your truck. So, what’s a lonely driver to do? Hunker down in your sleeper? Luckily for you there are a lot of options.

Sleep

How about simple sleep? It’s important to have hobbies, but don’t let it dominate your rack time. Getting plenty of rest is vital.

Entertainment

Of course, you have the old standbys: reading and writing or some sort of hobby. These are all tremendous ways to pass the time, and can be educational for you as well. Many truck drivers bring DVD and blu ray discs or stream movies from services like Netflix or Amazon. The Internet gives you almost unlimited access to video and television on demand, depending on your programming provider.

Exercise

Have you considered getting out of the truck and getting a little exercise? While you should take caution where you run depending on the availability of safe areas, you can get some fresh air and exercise outside of the truck. You can invest in a mat to keep in the truck if you want to do calisthenics right outside of the truck, or you can go for a jog.

Online Games

Some drivers are gamers, and this can be a fun way to pass the time (and stay social via Internet connections), but you have to be careful to resist the urge to stay up all night playing. Also, you may run into bandwidth issues even if you can find a solid WiFi connection, as some free WiFi connections limit how much you can use (and gaming takes a ton, comparatively speaking).

Become a Tourist

If you want to plan your trip out a bit more, you can always try stopping around destinations and do a little exploring. This can certainly be more difficult to plot out, but can be fun and rewarding if you do it right. Whatever you do, keeping yourself entertained while on the road is vital to your success as a truck driver. The old expression goes “all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy,” and so too can it make truck driving a dull profession if you don’t take care. Keep things fun!