Truck Driving School

Questions to Ask a Truck Driving School

Thursday, December 31st, 2009

This is a follow up to our article we ran a few days ago about questions to ask a trucking company.
For those looking for high-paying trucking jobs, your search should begin with a good, reputable truck driving school that provides the training needed to obtain those jobs. When looking for the right one, here are a few questions you should be asking the representatives of each school you are considering before you make a final decision. If you follow the steps outlined here you’ll be better off.

1. What is taught during the classroom instruction portion of training? Truck driving basics, driver safety, and commercial transportation rules and regulations are just a few of the important points that should be covered.

2. How much driving training does each student receive? Just as important as the classroom instruction is actual driving training – this does NOT include observation time when you ride with an experienced driver. You should get plenty of personal driving training where you can learn how to drive and handle a big rig.

3. What kind of equipment is used for practice? The trucks and other equipment should be similar to that you would use in an actual truck driving job. The Key here is to avoid things like automatic transmissions and rust buckets.

4. Do you offer students job placement assistance? If the truck driving school is operated by a truck driving company, find out if they guarantee a job as a company driver once you graduate or if they offer job placement assistance to help you find another truck driving job with a different carrier.

5. How much does training cost? Do you offer any financial aid programs? Truck driving school can be expensive, anywhere between $1,500 and $7,000 depending on the school you attend. That is a big swing so find out all the particulars. Find out if they offer any financial aid or tuition reimbursement programs to help you pay for school.

Here is a short list and you can always apply at NationalTruckDrivingSchools.com .
Truck driving school list
:

Road Master Truck Driving School
Sage Truck Driving School
CR England Truck School
Star Truck School
Area Truck Driving School

Cash For Truck Driving School

Thursday, November 12th, 2009

If your cash-strapped when it comes to truck driving school you may be happy to know that we have some information here to point you in the right direction. Well, you probably aren’t the only one.  While tuition at different trucking schools can vary, most creditable schools cost between $2000 & $5000, and if you’re like most of us, you don’t exactly have that kind of money just sitting around.  So here are just a few ways you can get access to the money needed to jumpstart your new driving career.

Federal Loans – The federal government provides loans for individuals continuing their education past high school; they are one of the lowest-cost ways to pay for your training since the loans are offered at a low, fixed rate. You must begin paying back the loan (with interest) once you’ve completed your education.  To find out if you’re eligible for any federal loans, you can submit a FAFSA form (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) online.

Federal Grants – The difference between a loan and a grant is a grant does not have to be paid back.  Grants are given to a wide variety of recipients based on certain criteria, such as individuals with low income, disabled individuals, or people who have served in the military.  Visit Grants.gov to search grant opportunities that you may be eligible for.

Federal GI Bill – If you are a veteran who served for at least 90 days after September 11, 2001, you may be eligible for the education benefits offered through the Federal GI Bill.  The program provides money to help you pay for tuition and fees and provides a housing allowance (some trucking schools require you to stay in approved housing throughout the duration of the training).  Find out more at the official Federal GI Bill Education Benefits website.

State Trucking Association Scholarships – Some state trucking associations offer scholarships trucking students, such as the Wyoming Trucking Association Trust Fund Scholarship or the Oregon Trucking Association Scholarship.  Contact your state’s trucking association to see if they offer any such scholarships or programs.

Tuition Reimbursement – Some trucking companies will foot the bill for your training if you agree to work for them after graduation or if you attend their own trucking school.  Make sure you understand how any tuition reimbursement program works before you sign up; some companies will actually take the cost of the training right out of your pay.

Financing – You’ll find that most reputable trucking schools typically offer financing through a third-party financial institution.  Again, make sure you know all the terms of the financing, including the interest rate, before you sign up. Ask to talk to a financial adviser who can clearly explain how the financing works.