Have you ever thought that you could get a free CDL training? Yes, you can. However, the process of getting one might soak some time.

Before you jump into the waters of free CDL training, you need to start from the very beginning of your training program tasks.

Having said this, you will need a well-written plan in order to succeed in this. Looking on the negative side, it might take you some time period.

If you look on the positive side, it is more than achievable.

Here’s how to get your free CDL training:

1. Make a List of Trucking Companies That Offer Free CDL Training

First things first.

Let’s say that you already made a decision for a CDL training, however, you do not have the finances.

What do you do?

You get a free CDL training.

Due to the trends in the trucking industry, there are changes in the Trucking Companies as well.

On the subject of this, a living proof is the free CDL training.

In other words, the trucking companies in the United States are offering this particular training program.

Notably, these programs are also known as a company-sponsored CDL training.

Further, in order to find the right companies that offer free CDL training, you need to search particular places:

• Check the Reviews on Forums (The Truckers Report, The Truckers Forum, etc.)
• Visit Websites (Glassdoor, Career Builder, CDL Jobs, etc.)
• Search Through Boards (Indeed, Robert Half, Monster, etc.)

Trucking Companies Offering Free CDL Training

Generally speaking, there are trucking companies which offer free CDL training. Probably, you have heard about a few of them.

However, there is a huge difference between these trucking companies. Notably, the most reliable among them are the following:

• Knight Transportation
• Swift
• YRC Freight
• CRST
• XPO Logistics
• Maverick Transportation LLC
• TMC Trans
• Wil Trans
• Roehl Transport Incorporated
• Carter Express Incorporated

2. Talk With Some of Their Previous Free CDL Candidates

Sometimes, before involving into something it is best to ask someone with experience.

This is especially true if you inexperienced.

Regarding your truck driving job, you can ask the other experienced truck drivers to teach you a trick or two about the free CDL training.

Having said this, it is not always enough to learn the regulations of FMCSA, SAFER or OSHA and respect them.

To put it in a different way, everything needs a little push, a trick, or a strategy.

Therefore, it is always best to talk with someone to guide you through a particular process or teach you how to start.

For example, if you have a trucker friend on the road who has a previous experience, you can definitely learn a lot.

As an illustration, one of the best ways to get involved in something while inexperienced is to ask someone experienced.

Generally speaking, it is like starting your career already experienced.

Astonishing, isn’t it?

3. Look for a State-Licensed Program That Combines Classroom With Hands-On Experience

If you want to become a professional truck driver, then you need to take a look twice at the training program.

Having said this, it is important to have the most educational program possible if you want to learn how to operate a trailer with proficiency.

To put it in another way, you need to get the best out of the program.

In addition, the perfect free CDL training programs are those which are providing you with the maximum knowledge.

To put it differently, look for programs which actually have implemented a combination of classroom and hands-on experience.

Correspondingly, how are you going to learn how to drive if you do not have practical part included in your training program?

Combining the classroom knowledge and then continuing it with hands-on experience gives you the ultimate knowledge of truck driving.

Due to this matter, there are experienced free CDL training instructors which prepare all of their students proficiently.

For example, the instructors are teaching the students to properly and safely operate a truck. Furthermore, they are teaching them how to prepare for the CDL exam.

To continue with, there are courses which are designed to provide the students with the important skills, knowledge, and attitude.

More importantly, you need an ability to cope with the regulations of the US Government:

• The Department of Labor (DOL)
• National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
• Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
• Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA)
• The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
• US Department of Energy and Fuel Economy
• Better Business Bureau (BBB)

4. Be Careful with Hidden Expenses After You Finish the Training

To be honest, the CDL training is expensive. To be precise, an average cost of the program is $3500.

Regarding this, depending on the truck driving school, the training price could run up to $7000 or more.

Thanks to the trucking companies offering paid CDL training, you can get your training program without spending a dollar.

Or, are you?

However, not all contracts are qualified as completely freeing you from free CDL training expenses.

When it comes to signing a contract, you must carefully read what you are signing.

For example, most contracts are signed with companies which offer free CDL training but you need to work for them afterward.

On the subject of this, you are either repaying them back or they are that good to offer you free training and get you a job.

Trust me on this, nothing is for free.

If you did not know, there is a hidden cost to your “free CDL training”.

Notably, the difference among the sum you can make while being locked into a contract, and which sum amount you can make while being not.

Continually, you will be made to sign a contract of 15 or 18 cents per mile when you can get it for 32 to 45 cents per mile.

These guys at the trucking companies are offering you a hand to help you with it. This is why all of the trucking companies are making employment contracts after the training is done.

The fact is, you need to keep in mind that not all companies will really offer you the paid CDL training.

Therefore, choose wisely.

5. If You Sign a Contract Make Sure That it is With a Larger Company

Once you learn about the fact that you can get free CDL training, it really can seem like the perfect option.

This is most beneficial to do before starting a truck driving career.

Additionally, there are people who actually cannot afford the CDL training. In particular, this is their best chance to learn.

The contracts exist in order to “tie” you to the trucking company where you get your free CDL training.

In particular, the contracts vary from 1 to 5 years.

By signing the contract, you are signing to work for that particular trucking company.

Normally, this seems like a great idea.

First of all, you get CDL training.

Second, you get a job.

However, what happens if you end up hating the job?

Due to this matter, you need to know what to expect from that company.

Therefore, this is the main reason why it would be best if you sign a contract with a larger company.

This is due to the fact that it would be best for you to avoid being stuck at a smaller company which might possibly lead to unsafe training.

To emphasize, it is not that small trucking companies are bad but the larger ones seem to have more experienced driving trainers.

6. Investigate and Read Everything In Your Contract

The rule of signing a contract is to read everything well before writing your signature on the downside of the document.

On the subject of this, it is the same with the free CDL training.

Furthermore, you need to be informed well about the matter before you consider signing the document.

The point is to never sign anything before you read it.

This is especially important for the CDL training.

To put it differently, there are different contracts made by the trucking companies.

In other words, the owners are obligating the CDL candidates to respect the contracts and work for them for a specific number of years.

Therefore, it is important for you to understand everything written in the contract, including the pros and cons of singing it.

Further, the contract also includes terms for passing the CDL exam.

More importantly, you need to be familiar with the fact what will happen if you fail the test.

Failing the test could mean paying back some companies. On the other hand, others may require something else in their contracts etc.

7. Do You Like The Type of Freight They Haul?

As you may already know, every trucking company has different types of freight that haul.

Generally speaking, every candidate before becoming a truck driver chooses its profession.

In addition, it chooses what type of freight he or she, wants to haul.

Whether it will be dry van trucking, or hazmat transportation, OTR trucking, local or delivery driver job, everyone has the right to choose.

However, sometimes after you choose to get a free CDL training, you could get a little cramped.

To explain, you might not be allowed to haul the type of cargo that you hoped you eventually will.

At the end of the day, it does not matter what you haul but how you haul.

But if it matters to you that much, you could still choose a trucking company according to your needs.

Generally speaking, you could choose intermodal trucking companies or warehousing companies, etc.

8. Low Per-mile Rates Are Common After Free CDL Training

If you compare two types of trucking companies you will discover three types of them.

First, there are those that have a high ratio of instructors and notably, students.

Second, there are those which are careless of the fact how capable and proficient their trainers are.

The third type of trucking companies offering free CDL training are those which include low per-mile rate.

The point of being careful with which company you will sign a contract is due to the low per-mile rates.

Further, you need to save yourself from trucking companies which offer you free training and in the end, they get you stuck with low rates.

Remember, always provide a careful and detailed reading of the contract!

9. You May Face Commitment For a Predetermined Time Frame

After you are finished with your free CDL training, you get your class A CDL license.

Finally, your work has paid off but you are still in doubt whether you want to work for the company.

The thing is, after you sign a contract with a particular trucking company, you are ought to work for that company.

Looking on the positive side, it is not permanent and you have enough period of time to find a new job if unsatisfied.

This is made because the company where you applied for free CDL training is volunteering in order to pay for it.

To continue with, having you as a new truck driver is your payment to them.

Particularly, these things happen all the time in all of the trucking companies which offer training or upgrading of a candidate.

The thing is, you are kind of obliged to respect the contract you are signing.

This means that you need to work for them for a specific period of time. On the contrary, you will be penalized.

More importantly, if you decide to leave the company before the contract ends, you will need to refund them.

Therefore, you need to make sure you choose and stay with the right trucking company.

If you signed for respecting the DOT or DMV rules and transport flatbed loads, you are ought to stick to the contract.

Having said this, you have the chance to make a selection which company is the right choice to stick to.

10. The Truck Driving School May Not Be Down The Road

In the case of investing in ourselves, we do not always get the chance to stay close home and get the best education.

In addition to this, there are schools which are not located in our countries or close to our homes.

Furthermore, there are the best truck driving schools which offer the candidates free CDL training.

Correspondingly, you need to make an effort if you want to make a career in the trucking industry.

If there are not quality truck driving schools in the industry, then do not choose one just because it is the closest to your home.

On the subject of this, if you are serious about your career and want to become a successful truck driver then choose wisely.

Continually, the cheapest and the closest truck driving school is not always the most convenient option.

The idea of becoming a truck driver is in fact, in becoming flexible on the road.

Consequently, if you travel to a particular school then it would be like your first journey.

In other words, it would be a preview of your first adventure on the highways.

Therefore, prepare well for it.

Conclusion

Generally speaking, the free CDL training might be one of the best things to ever happen to truck drivers.

Continually, this free CDL training allows you to invest in yourself.

Having said this, it is the best investment you could ever do for your career and future.

To sum up, you can find different trucking school that will help you design your future.

Start today!