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
