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CDL A Training for Trucking

CDL A Training comes in a lot of different forms, everything from free company-sponsored programs to expensive truck driving schools like the one I went to. Somewhere in the middle on cost is community college, which for a lot of folks ends up being a great option.

Question: What's the best way to get your CDL?

Answer: There's no single best way to get your CDL. The right path depends on your specific situation and what you need. Below, I'll walk you through what to consider and the different CDL training options you can choose from.

Types of Training to Get Your CDL A

CDL Training I Chose and Why

I was anxious and ready to start trucking, and I knew going in that my choice wasn't the cheapest route. But I saw a commercial on TV, called them up, and the class had just started. With a little talking (okay, a lot of talking), I worked my way in the next day.

I chose this option because I could start right away. Community college wasn't starting for months, and the free company-sponsored programs weren't much faster either. So once they let me in, I didn't care about the cost. What I didn't know at the time were all the details I'm about to share with you about the differences between these options.

My advice? Read through the differences below and choose the best training option based on your situation and the trucking job you want. You'll see some of the advantages and disadvantages of each route.

Terms associated with CDL Training

Let's go over some terms and options for getting your CDL first. Afterward, we'll dive into more detail on each training option.

Community colleges that offer truck driver training should be accredited. There's a database of accredited training institutions, and you can look up the school you're considering here: List of accredited schools with CDL Training.

PTDI - Professional Truck Driving Institute. This isn't a trucking school. It's an organization that evaluates truck driving school training programs for quality and safety. If a school's CDL training program passes their standards, PTDI certifies that school.

Community colleges can also be PTDI certified in addition to being accredited. For more information, visit PTDI to learn about certification.

Certified Trucking Schools - This means the truck driving school has met the criteria to be certified by PTDI. These are often your stand-alone (a.k.a. private, a.k.a. 3rd party) truck driving schools. You can check whether the school you're interested in is a certified CDL training facility here.

Some common options for CDL Training

Community College CDL Training - A lot of neighborhood community colleges now offer truck driver training so you can get your CDL. Look for an accredited school to make sure you get the best training. See the advantages and disadvantages at the link above.

Free CDL Training - This means the company trains you without you having to seek financial aid or pay out of pocket. It's free, but with conditions and terms that apply, so it's not always free and it's not for everyone. See more details at the link above on Company Sponsored CDL Training, which is just another name for free CDL A training.

Company Sponsored CDL Training - Company Sponsored Training is the same thing as Free CDL Training. The names are used interchangeably.

Private Truck Driving Schools for CDL Training - This means it's not a state school or community college. Some are affiliated with a number of trucking companies you can choose from. Usually they specialize only in truck driver training and let you go to any trucking company of your choice. Some may also train heavy equipment operators or haulers.

Private truck driving school is often the most expensive CDL training route, but in most cases it's also the quickest way to a Class A.

Check out the school you're thinking of attending for specific details, and read their reviews.

Note: These days, some private truck driving schools also provide training for specific companies. You might be able to choose from several companies to work for upon completion.

Learn more about the advantages and disadvantages at the title link for Truck Driving Schools.

Alternative Methods for Getting Your CDL

Online CDL Course - There are online CDL courses designed to help you pass the CDL exam. You can get your permit, but you'll still need to find a truck to use for the driving portion. This might be cheaper out of pocket, but it's not for everyone. It takes discipline, and you'll need someone with a truck for driving practice, just like studying the book from the DMV to get your permit. The link takes you to a video that walks you through it.

Home Study Course - There are internet home CDL study courses available to help you prepare for your commercial driver's license. You can just as easily get the CDL handbook from your local DMV and study it yourself, but some people prefer an official program, I suppose.

Also, with some of these programs, one benefit is documentation showing you've passed a test on the material. This may be useful to show a prospective company when applying, though I'm not 100% sure. You could always call and ask.

Do It Yourself - This is you getting the CDL book straight from the DMV.

For both of these alternative methods, you'll need a tractor trailer to practice driving with. If you know someone with a truck and trailer, good for you. If not, that could be a challenge for the do-it-yourselfers.

Other options for getting a truck to use might be hiring someone to take you out on a tractor trailer so you can test with it. The next hurdle will be finding a company to hire you after you get your CDL this way.

Many companies will say their insurance requires drivers to have gone to truck driving school. Call around to the companies you're interested in and see if they'll hire you if you're considering getting your CDL at home.

You may have to get experience somewhere else first and then move to that company. That's fine for some people, but for others it's a lot to take in without a structured learning environment and experienced instructors.

However, back in the day, there were no truck driving schools. Of course, this isn't back in the day.

Choices, choices, choices.

One of the best choices for getting your CDL, in my opinion? Community college to get your CDL. But that's your decision, based on your situation.

A closer look at the pro's, con's and comparisons of truck driver schools

CDL Training