Find the best CDL training programs for professional truck and bus driving careers
I remember the first time I stood next to a semi-truck tire.
It was taller than me!
I was just a little kid, holding my dad’s hand at a gas station, and I stared up at this giant metal beast.
The driver climbed out, wearing a cool hat, and I thought he was an astronaut or something.
That moment stuck in my brain like gum in hair.
Years later, when I decided I wanted to drive big rigs, I realized it wasn’t just about sitting in a big seat.
You have to actually learn how to not crush things.
That is why finding the Best Truck and Bus Driving Schools is the most important thing you will ever do if you want this career.
I made some mistakes when I looked for a school, and I don’t want you to be silly like me.
Why Going to a Good School Matters So Much
You might think driving a truck is just like driving a big car.
It is not.
It is like trying to drive a house while balancing a glass of water on your head.
If you pick a bad school, you might get your license, but you won’t know how to be safe.
Safety is the Number One Thing
When you are on the highway, you are a missile.
A very heavy, fast missile.
The Best Truck and Bus Driving Schools teach you how to stop without sliding into a ditch.
I read this scary report from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration that talks about how many crashes happen because of bad training.
It made my stomach hurt.
A good teacher yells at you when you mess up, and that is actually love.
It Is Harder Than It Looks
My first day in a truck, I stalled the engine five times.
The instructor just looked at me and sighed.
I felt so small.
But a quality school gives you time to practice until you stop stalling.
If the school rushes you, run away fast.
You need hours and hours of sitting in that seat to feel normal.
How to Find the Right Place for You
So, how do you actually pick one?
There are so many commercials on TV promising you big money.
“Get rich driving trucks!” they scream.
Don’t believe everything the TV says.
Look at the Equipment They Use
When I visited one school, their trucks were older than my grandma.
Okay, maybe not that old, but they were rusty.
If you learn on a broken truck, you will be confused when you get a job in a new one.
You want to find Best Truck and Bus Driving Schools that have shiny, working gears.
Check if they have automatic and manual transmissions too.
Ask About Job Placement
This is a fancy way of saying, “Will you help me get a job?”
Some schools just take your money and say “Good luck, bye!”
The good ones have friends at big trucking companies.
They can help you get hired before you even finish the class.
I didn’t ask this, and I spent two months looking for a job while eating instant noodles.
Don’t eat instant noodles for two months; it is bad for you.
The Money Stuff: How Much Does It Cost?
Learning to drive a bus or truck isn’t free.
It actually costs a pretty penny.
I had to borrow money from my uncle, and he still reminds me about it at Thanksgiving.
Grants and Loans Can Help
Did you know the government might pay for you?
Sometimes there are special programs for people who want to learn a trade.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics says that we need more drivers, so there is money out there to help you start.
You just have to fill out a lot of boring paperwork.
It is worth it though.
Don’t Just Pick the Cheapest One
I bought cheap shoes once.
They fell apart in a week.
Cheap driving schools are the same.
If a school costs half as much as the others, ask why.
Maybe they don’t have gas for the trucks?
Maybe the teacher is a ghost?
You are investing in your life, so spend the money on quality.
What You actually Do in School
It isn’t all driving.
A lot of it is sitting in a classroom looking at a whiteboard.
I fell asleep once in class.
The teacher threw a marker at me.
He missed, but I woke up.
The Boring Book Stuff
You have to learn rules.
Lots of rules.
Like, how many hours can you drive?
What do you do if your brakes catch fire?
You need to memorize this stuff to pass the written test.
It feels like being back in high school, which is weird if you are thirty years old.
The Pre-Trip Inspection
This is the hardest part.
You have to walk around the truck and point at things.
“This is the hose, it is not leaking.”
“This is the tire, it has air.”
You have to say it out loud.
I felt silly talking to a tire, but you have to do it perfectly.
According to the safety experts at the Department of Transportation, the pre-trip inspection is what saves lives before the wheels even move.
Getting That License in Your Hand
The final test is terrifying.
I was sweating so much my hands were slippery on the wheel.
The examiner sat next to me with a clipboard, not smiling.
The Backing Up Test
Backing up a giant trailer is magic.
I still don’t know how I do it.
You have to put the truck into a tiny box without hitting the cones.
If you hit a cone, you fail.
I almost hit one, but I stopped just in time.
My heart was beating like a drum.
The Road Test
Then you go on the real road with real cars.
People in cars are crazy.
They cut you off and don’t care that you weigh 80,000 pounds.
The examiner watches to see if you get angry.
You have to stay cool like a cucumber.
If you yell at a grandma in a sedan, you probably won’t pass.
FAQ: Questions I Had
Here are some things I wondered about.
1. How long does school take?
It depends. Some are three weeks, some are six months. I did a four-week course and it felt rushed. I think six weeks is better so you don’t explode your brain.
2. Is it hard to drive a bus compared to a truck?
A bus is different because you have people inside. People scream and talk. Boxes in a truck don’t talk back. But the turning is kind of similar.
3. Do I need a special physical exam?
Yes! You have to see a doctor. They check your eyes and your heart. If you can’t see the colors of the traffic light, you can’t drive.
4. Can I listen to music while I learn?
No way. Turn that radio off. You need to listen to the engine and the instructor screaming “Turn Left!”
5. How much money will I make?
It starts okay, but it gets better. You won’t be a millionaire next Tuesday. But you can buy a nice truck for yourself one day.
Random Thoughts While Writing
My cat just jumped on my keyboard.
Sorry if there was a typo.
She likes to help.
Anyway, I was thinking about how much I love the smell of diesel fuel.
Is that weird?
It smells like freedom to me.
Also, truck stops have the best snacks.
I once ate a hot dog at 3 AM in Nebraska and it was the best meal of my life.
Maybe I was just really hungry.
My Final Honest Thoughts
Look, driving a truck or a bus isn’t for everyone.
It is lonely sometimes.
Your back will hurt.
You will miss birthdays and holidays.
But there is something beautiful about seeing the sunrise from a cab.
Finding the Best Truck and Bus Driving Schools is just the first step.
Don’t rush it.
Visit three or four schools.
Talk to the students who are there.
Ask them, “Is this place good or does it suck?”
They will tell you the truth.
If you commit to this, really commit.
Don’t do it halfway.
Be the safest driver on the road.
We have enough crazy drivers out there already.
So, go look up schools in your town.
Read the reviews on Google.
And hey, maybe one day I will see you at a truck stop.
I’ll be the guy eating the hot dog.
You can buy the next round.
Now, go get that license and drive safe!
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