Hi,

sorry if this is the wrong section for this question --- but I guess you guys know: How do you get a CDL?

I'm thinking that learning for the written test shouldn't be a problem, provided I can get the right information, but I can't take a driving test in hope to pass it without any experience whatsoever in driving those trucks. Do you have to go to a driving school and pay a lot of money, or how do you do it?

I'm doing a driving school here in Massachusetts its a bit over 5000$. Its the way to go imo.

Uh, that's a lot of money. Is it that difficult?

$5000 ! thats alot of dough! I got mine and didn't spend anywhere near 5 grand. Go to your DMV and get all the paper work. You have to get a physical also. Dmv has that paper work also. Take and pass the test. This gets you a permit to drive with a CDL holder. I would think you should be able to bribe a truck driver into helping you. They are slow right now. I went for a couple short day trips, and passed with flying colors.If you study, the test isn't that bad. You also need to get any endorsements you want at the same time. It will save you money down the road. I have endorsements for air brakes, tanker, hazmat,and doubles/triples. Oh, and don't take the drive test in an automatic. Or you will be restricted to an auto.

Question of the day=Why do you want a CDL so bad?:confuzeld
Just curious.:beerchug::saluteusa:

I'd find a trucker that is willing to let you abuse his truck learning how to miss shifts before you buy the permit. I had some problems finding someone crazy enough to teach me how to run one.:D There is usually a time limit on the permit. But don't screw around either. Study up on the books and be ready so when you do find someone you can take the test ASAP before he changes his mind. I had the other problem. I had the truck and trailer but noone to ride shotgun with me. And don't use the jake when taking the driving test and don't forget to check the wipers on the pretrip! Good Luck!!

In Kansas City there is a company called cdl ready. If you have the permit which is just a matter of study and test takeing, you call him set the appointment it cost $300. He takes you by the hand and walks you through the pretrip which I thought was the hardest. You then get in the truck which is a automatic with a 30ft. flatbed,and a window in the back if you cant use your mirrors. Here in K.C. that does not restrict you to a auto or anything else. So now you drive for about 30 min. then he walks you in the dept. of trans. he calls them all by there first names and says your ready. After that its cake, they already know that if he says your ready your ready. Now pretrip the truck, Back up for them a couple of times, and drive test, then your golden. Remember to Read all weight limits on bridges and height limits under bridges. I drive a 52,000 lb. Freightliner with a Altec crane on the back which i operate. I only need a class "B" but if you do it you should get the "A" like I did. Good luck be carefull.

wow i have never heard of taking an auto truck and only resticting you to those because I did and theres nothing about it on mine and yeah just pass the local written test and go too a same day cdl school there all over IA, WI, IL, MN hope something on here helps

I got paid for mine. i learned on the job. working in the warehouse for a year learning the basics then becoming more advanced in the yard then took my permit then trained on the road for 2 weeks then took my final test.

paid zero dollars... that's the way to do it. :-D

i drive a beer delivery truck (coors/corona) truck is in my sig.

That sounds a lot better than spending a load of money :) I'll go to the DMV and find out what's needed ...

Are you saying you need a permit to be trained yourself? As far as I understood the person training you needs a permit? And they have trucks with automatics? That's crazy ... and something I'll have to find out, if there's a restriction to auto if you don't take the test on a manual.

The reason I want a CDL is that I need a job, and it's something I could do. But I was told you can drive dump trucks without one, another thing to find out ...

It all depends on your state and the GVW of the vehicle you'll be driving.

There are a few (very few) companies that will hire you then train you to get a cdl, our transit and paratransit companies here on Oahu do it, but I can only recall maybe once seeing an ad here from a trucking company that was willing to hire and train for a cdl. Also, be aware, I don't know how it is on the mainland, but there is a complication so to say here regarding our cdl licenses, our company was told by the licensing dept. that a CDL class C had 2 different weight ratings within it, if you had a "T" restiction on your class C, that means you are restricted to 16 passengers or more but under 15000 gvw, yet the class Cs are suppossed to be up to 26000 lbs??? Also I had a class C with P endorsement, then took a test on a class B truck, guess what, the P does not carry over to the B category I was told, so I had to take a test on a class B bus in order to make my class B good for trucks and buses. Crazy! It cost me 3 grand in the end.

Hm, I'm hoping it's not all too complicated. With the drivers license I have, I'm allowed to drive up to 26k GVWR with or without a trailer up to 10k GVWR. I guess that should be sufficient for a small dump truck --- and I'd rather start small to gather some experience first.

The commercial licenses all seem to have to do with GVWRs starting at 26001 GVWR; there doesn't seem to be any other criteria than that, like driving a "commercial vehicle".

All that, letting passenger transport aside. I'll just have to go from one trucking company to the next and see if there's one that would hire me. If I don't need a CDL to begin with, it'll all be easier, and I might still get one later.


PS: You were right about the permit: It seems you can pass the knowledge test to get a learning permit; then you can have someone with the appropriate license to drive with you to learn/teach you before you take the driving test. So it's you who needs the permit, not the one who teaches you. That's another thing I could try. I suck at driving tests, though ... they're a nightmare for me.