Questions To Ask A Truck Driving School

From:  "Driver's ABC's - Surviving the First Year"

1. How long is your program? (Hours, days of week, etc)

2. How much time (in hours) is spent behind the wheel?

3. About how many miles will I have driven upon completion?

4. Where is driving done? (city, highway, interstate)

5. How many backing maneuvers will I learn?

6. How much time (in hours) is spent driving forward versus backing?

7. Do you hook and unhook the tractor/trailers every day?

8. How much time is spent in the classroom?

9. What subjects are covered in the classroom?

10. Do you offer a PTDI certified course?

11. Do I have a full class A CDL upon completion?

12. How many students per truck?

13. Do you have non-modified sleeper berths?

14. How much experience is required to be an instructor at this school?

15. What is the student to instructor ratio?

16. Is financing available? What type?

17. What are the requirements? What is the APR, details of repayment, etc?

18. What is the cost of this program?

19. What if I don't pass the CDL the first try?

20. What type of equipment? (cabover versus conventional, length and type of trailer(s))

21. Do recruiters come in to your school? Which ones?

22. How many power units do you have?

23. Are your trailers loaded? How much weight?

24. Which transmission(s)s will I learn?

25. Is there any Night Driving?

26. Do you teach Map Reading and Trip Planning and will I get the chance to use these skills?

Driver's ABC's has explanations as to why these questions matter.

(as in Questions to Ask of a Potential Carrier)