If you are like alot of americans. you are out of work!!!! and now with a bad economy. you are looking to be a truck driver as a last resort plan... you have talked to a few driving school recruiters. and they are saying that now has never been a better time to become a truck driver. that's an out rite lie... they are merly sales people. they will tell you anything to get your money... and just like any other school in the country.. there are good driving schools and bad driving schools... they are some what hard to tell apart....
but that is not what this post is about... I am setting up this post to help people understand what they should know before going to school...
Right now, is a very bad time in the trucking industry. with factories closing or moving out of the u.s. freight is slowing down.. about every trucking company either has a hiring freeze. or they are laying off... unlike a couple of years ago. where there were more freight then trucks or drivers. now there are more drivers and trucks. then there is freight.
here is what you need to do before signing up for school.
the no hires are
bad work history
bad driving record
criminal record
drink driving convictions
drug possession convictions
felonies
location of your home
age. 21 is the youngest you can aply for an class a cdl for interstate work. most companies will not hire under 23 years of age.. it's an insurance thing..
medical/health related problems
experience in trucking.
it's a short list. but that is what will most likely get you turned down on the spot. they won't ever tell you that. but that's what happens..
I suggest you use this site or any other trucking job based website. to call around and talk to the trucking companies first.. find out if you have a chance at driving a truck.. I have read where too many driving schools are ripping people off. the school can not promise you a job. they are no different then any other school in the country. you could spend alot of money on the school. and never beable to get a job driving a truck.. so know before you go to school... if no one will hire before you go to school. then your not going to get hired after school.. if you have anything in the no hires above... then you need to be honest with the trucking company recruiter about it... and they will tell most of the time if they can hire you or not. if they act kind of ify over the phone to you. then it is no they can't hire you... make a list as you talk to trucking compaines that will and won't hire you. and weight the list and everything about how they responded to your questions. and go based on that. and then if you still decide to go to driving school... keep the list of will and won't hires with you. so as you do the applications. you will know up front which applications to fill out. it will save you alot of wasted effort..