Commercial driver's license training
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Commercial driver's license training (or CDL training) is a specialized instructional program or course designed to prepare a student to obtain a commercial driver’s license (CDL). A CDL is required for a career as a truck driver. During training, students are taught the necessary knowledge and skills to successfully pass a series of tests to obtain their CDL. CDL training normally begins with classroom instruction geared towards passing the written exams for a CDL permit. The CDL permit is a learner's permit that allows a student truck driver to practice driving skills on public roads with a CDL licensed driver or instructor. A student graduates CDL training once he or she receives a CDL and proves that he or she can comfortably and safely drive and maneuver a truck. Most CDL training schools train drivers for a class A CDL, which allows the holder to drive a tractor trailer that weighs over 26,000 pounds.
The length of a CDL training program varies from school to school. Programs offered through community colleges can typically take up to 6 months to complete because they are offered primarily on evenings and weekends. Company-sponsored training programs, in which a trucking company pays the student’s upfront training costs, typically last between 3-4 weeks and allow the student to begin driving much sooner than most other programs.[1] Company-sponsored training prevents students from having to apply for loans, get their credit checked, or find a cosigner to help put them through school.
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[edit] Types of CDL Training Courses
CDL training programs can fall into three categories: licensed, certified, or accredited. Licensed schools have been reviewed by a state agency and have met the state’s minimum CDL training requirements, while certified schools have been inspected by a third party and its graduates meet the minimum skills and knowledge standards for both the Department of Transportation and the trucking industry. [2] There are only a handful of accredited CDL training programs in the United States. Many trucking companies will only accept "accredited" CDL trained drivers.[1]
[edit] Skills Learned During CDL Training
- Map reading
- Trip planning
- Managing log books
- Backing (with trailer)
- Turning (with trailer)
- Coupling and uncoupling trailer
- Shifting
- Road driving
- Performing pre-trip inspections
[edit] CDL Training Program Providers
- Driver Solutions [3]
- C1 Truck Driver Training
- PAM Transport (company-sponsored)
- USA Truck (company-sponsored)
- WitteBros Exchange, Inc. (company-sponsored)[4]
