A perfect storm is brewing within the trucking industry right now. With the economy continuing to be sluggish, the unemployment rate still high, and the trucking industry claiming there will be a truck driver shortage, you can expect thousands to be investigating trucking as either a new career or an option for career change.
There are basically 2 parts to CDL training:
- Truck driving schools
- New Driver Company Training
Throughout the U. S. are thousands of programs which are offered in each state.Florida alone, including the Tampa area, has many truck driving schools, including programs in community colleges and vo-tech schools. I personally recommend community colleges and vo-tech schools because of the more involved and better training which is offered.
A big problem within the industry has been the 3 week CDL training programs, commonly referred to as CDL Mills. These are usually company or private training schools which give limited information and hands on experience to the student driver. If you remember, it wasn't too long ago that Dan Rather Reports did a 3 part investigation regarding the problems with the inadequate training of some CDL training facilities. The most popular of all was the first segment, "Queen of the Road," where Desiree Wood described in detail what she experienced during her 3 weeks at a school in Miami, Florida.
The next part of CDL training, what I call "the real training," happens after the student obtains his/her CDL license and moves on to a Trucking Company CDL Training Program. There are many companies which offer CDL training to new graduates, but beware, the way each trucking company program is designed and set up could make all the difference in the world when it comes to how successful the driver trainee will be as a professional truck driver. You must investigate and ask questions
Companies offering Student Graduate Training Programs ( not a complete list)
- CRST Van Expedited
- FFE Transportation Services
- Maverick Transportation LLC
- May Trucking Company
- Millis Transfer
- Prime inc
- Star Transportation
- Covenant Transport
- Roehl Trucking
- PAM Transport
- C.R.England
- Swift
- Werner Enterprises
The trucking industry is notorious for having one of the highest turnover rates of all industries. One of the reasons that the high turnover rate exists is the continued re-cycling of new drivers through the CDL company training system. Many never succeed through the program the way it is presently designed.
I plan on discussing the many reasons and problems existing today within the industry which contribute to this high turnover rate, as well as solutions which can be employed to help alleviate the problems. By doing so, it would also increase the success rate among new drivers.
Comments
Good article. Experienced drivers should also keep in mind that if you get out of trucking for an extended time, you may have to go back to CDL driving school to get a refresher course.
I went to C1 Driver Solutions here in Indianapolis and that school is a total fraud and they lie to you more than anything. I am completely ruined because of them and as bad as today's economy is I don't have 6k to pay them back. They should be an honest company and close down. Trucking is dead for new drivers you are nothing but a number to these bottom feeders.
VDA
Any new trucking student should look up all 3 Dan Rather Reports on iTunes before they sign on for a loan.
These Trucking Schools are selling loans first and the companies use you for cheap labor.
Also, do not believe any recruiter that says you need only 6 months of experience to go to a better company, that is a lie.
Women need to take extras precautions, if a Owner-Operator encourages you to quit your training company or some other person who says they will take you under their wing, it's probably to badger you for sex, or worse.
For insurance reasons, a new driver will not be covered by most companies so an O/O who says this is not being honest with intentions, you won't have the qualified experience to count.
Look up schools & companies on the ripoff report before you commit to a loan
I was able to get a grant through my old hometown's unemployment office, so I was actually paid to go to driving school. It wasn't much, but it helped to keep food in my belly while I was in orientation after I graduated. I believe the minimum length of time to qualify for the grant was one month unemployed. Other states or counties may be different.
Allen, thank you for this article. It is crucial. I am either in the "CDL Training Mill" described, or on my way to an exciting "Carrier as a Driver". I left a dying profession in the construction industry which, after spending years to establish a practice, I was forced out as there is no work to be found. The nature of every industry is to capitalize on demand of course.
The difference is this demand could easily victimize those who are literally at the end of their financial rope, as the school debt crisis expands to encompass even the poor. Your information to be wary is vital, now, what specifically should we be wary of?
NOTE: The Dan Rather report is no longer available online! Too bad. If anyone here has a link then please, send it on so we can all benefit!
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