It's been softly spoken like a rumor. You don't have to go to school to get your CDL's. So, naturally I get the reluctantly asked question, "Can you get your CDL's without going to truck driving school? I heard you can take a CDL home study course or get online training." It's not a rumor. Yes you can avoid the trucking schools to get your CDLs by taking a home study course or online Training but there are some issues with getting your CDLs that way.
Many people don't know that you don't have to go to a truck driving school to get your CDL license. There are CDL Home study courses and online training websites for getting your bookwork completed. In most cases the biggest challenge from getting your CDL Class A's in this way will be finding someone to let you use their tractor trailer to take the driving test.
There are some training schools and small trucking operations that will rent a tractor out to you but not a huge number so it might be hard to find.
After conquering that task, your next challenge will be finding a trucking company who will hire you without going to a trucking school for training, unless your trainer has some sort of credentials to show for the training program.
However there are some drivers who go this route and do just fine. Just be advised of the challenges.
Back in the day their wasn't trucking schools or online trucking tools. The Old timers learned truck driving on the job in many cases but most often from their loved ones or respectable company owners or friends of the family. There are a few people who offer services to train you.
Make sure you do your investigations on their services because as you should know their main interest is in getting paid,(well I guess there are a few with the passion to actually teach you how to drive, but I digress) not putting you to work or your future.
CDL Training and Knowledge Based Videos
Get familiar subject matter of CDL training with these knowledge based videos and resources that will orientate you to what you'll need to learn to pass your test to get your CDL for the big road.
You'll find CDL training courses on line and even simulated driving computer like the video below. Most states don't actually required drivers to go to physical truck driving schools to get the CDL training. I dare say that most people will probably do better attending a physical trucking training facility though. I know I would but as they say, "different strokes for different folks"
