| Attending a truck driving school is the pre-requisite for | | | | of minimum requirements, many of these are required |
| those wishing to gain entry into the transport industry in | | | | by law. 6. Does your school offer job placement? 7. |
| the United States. This industry is one of the largest in | | | | How many actual hands-on hours are spent in the |
| the country and it is little wonder when you realise that | | | | truck on a one-on-one basis? 8. What type of trucks |
| nearly all freight that is moved throughout the country | | | | do they train in and are the modern and well |
| will at some stage spend time on the back of a truck. | | | | maintained? |
| The US Dept of Labor estimates that in any one year | | | | If these eight main issues are answered satisfactorily |
| 400,000 new drivers are required to fill the vacancies | | | | then chances are that this truck driving school is going |
| left by drivers either leaving the industry or retiring. This | | | | to prove to be well worth attending. You can always |
| is an enormous number of people that more than likely | | | | go one better and find a past or present student to |
| will have to attend a truck driving school in order to | | | | talk to who will be able to advise you on how happy |
| obtain their CDL, and at present just over 300,000 are | | | | they were during the course. Were they given all the |
| being provided as new recruits. | | | | attention they needed? Were the teachers |
| The decision on which truck driving school to attend | | | | knowledgeable and patient? Was the classroom |
| can be one that is complicated by many issues. The | | | | learning experience computer assisted and easy to |
| cost of tuition is always going to be of major concern | | | | follow. These are all the things that can mean the |
| and attending a truck driving school does not come | | | | difference between sailing through the course with |
| cheaply, even at the lower end of the scale. Then | | | | flying colors or struggling because of poor |
| there is the issue of the course structure itself, as | | | | communication, bad equipment etc. |
| these also vary from each schools. We feel that | | | | Choosing to become a truck driver is to be |
| these are some of the more important factors that | | | | commended. It is a hard life, but very rewarding as you |
| should be considered: | | | | pass each milestone in your apprenticeship. It should |
| 1. Is your truck driving school accredited? PTDI | | | | never be taken lightly because driving these huge rigs |
| accredited schools are the most recognized in the US | | | | is a big responsibility as any trucker will tell you. Safety |
| and you can't go wrong if you attend one of these. 2. | | | | is an issue that will not be neglected in the PTDI |
| Is the course going to provide you the necessary | | | | accredited truck driving schools. They impress very |
| entrance level qualifications? 3. Do you have finance | | | | strongly on young novice drivers safety issues and |
| options, and if so what are they and are the terms | | | | during your examination this is one of the first issues |
| satisfactory? 4. Course duration - are the hours being | | | | you will be required to pass. Safety of yourself and |
| plumped by unnecessary and time wasting subjects, | | | | your fellow road travellers is an essential ingredient |
| and what are the classroom facilities like? 5. Admission | | | | that is required in making a professional truck driver. |
| requirements - each truck driving school will have a set | | | | |