How to Choose a CDL School

 The best CDL schools will be the ones that offer the most comprehensive training required in order to get your commercial driver's license, the license required by the government in order to operate vehicles that are 26,000 lbs or heavier for commercial purposes.

As a prospective truck driver, you'll want to receive the best training possible in order to give you an advantage over the competition when you try to land a job working for a company that is looking to hire drivers.

When seeking the best CDL schools, it's important to strike a balance between what the institution offers and what works out for your schedule, so keep in mind how much you are able and willing to commit to your schooling while you look. Many of the best CDL schools have scheduling set up so that classes are available on either a full time or part time basis, with new classes starting frequently for the convenience of their students.

How long the classes last is another part of the prospective cdl school near me that you'll want to consider. There are some schools that offer training in as little as two weeks, but these places should be avoided. It takes longer than two weeks to learn how to operate something as large as an eighteen wheeler safely and schools that tell you otherwise are more concerned with taking your tuition money than they are with instilling students with the proper training needed to make lucrative careers for themselves.

Likewise, there are some schools that have offers of cheap CDL training in order to entice students, but the fine print has to be noted in these cases. These are usually incentives offered by trucking companies to find new drivers. The difference between companies like this and the best CDL schools is that the students are often contractually obligated to spend a few years following the completion of the program working for the trucking company. Consider the fact that the student may also have pay docked to reimburse the company for the cheap training; keeping them tethered to the company, and it's easy to see why such places should be avoided.

Above all else, it's recommended that you look for a school that has experience. You may want to consider schools that have been around for a number of years, as that longevity can often indicate that the school is a good place to learn the skills required to get a CDL. Likewise, you'll want to attend a school that has experienced teachers, people who have spent several years of their lives working in jobs that require a commercial driver's license.

Accreditation is important as well. The best CDL schools will be approved by organizations that exist for oversight and licensing services, assuring that students are getting what they paid for. You may also want to find out if the prospective school you're interested in joining is a member of organizations such as the Career College Organization or the American Trucking Organization.