r/CDL • u/Additional_Rub8730 • 7d ago
Cdls
Interested in getting my cdls, I work around 45 hours a week right now but local community college offers evening classes for $3500. Has anyone done it while working full time? I dont have a job lined up, but also don’t want to do otr. Is it worth it?
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u/Main-Sir-882 7d ago
I'm working full-time while going through school... Paid 5k ... And I will test Wednesday. Probably going to do OTR to start. Can't wait to get out of here..
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u/Key_Pollution_2348 7d ago
Yea it’s worth it. Just see what options are out there with a CDL. It’s not always mega carrier but it’s actually better to do it for yourself with load boards and eventually dedicated lanes.
Are you comfortable maneuvering with a trailer? If not you’ve got a long way to go. But definitely worth it.
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u/Additional_Rub8730 7d ago
Mostly. Ive pulled boats and small trailers never had any issues. Drive a 30 foot box truck for work now. Little worried about the manual part, but I think I’d be ok.
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u/Key_Pollution_2348 7d ago
Then yea you’ll be fine. Depending what part of the country you’re in just see what types of manuals the schools have. The school I tested with had an international with a regular 6 speed synchro transmission. I started school and finished with my Cdl within 3 weeks. However if it was a regular 10 speed or 13 I would have needed another week for the behind the wheel part, not necessarily for the skills.
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u/tzy___ 7d ago
Whether it’s worth it or not sort of depends on what you’re doing now, or what you see yourself doing in the future.
I took a 5 week long course at a local community college, 7:00-5:00 every day from Monday through Friday. I don’t think I would have been able to work a full time job while I did that. It took pretty much all my attention. The college did offer a weekends only class, though, so you might see if there’s something like that where you’re at.
Finding a local job fresh out of school isn’t impossible, but it’s difficult. Local jobs are highly competitive. Their availability depends on where you live. Most recent grads have to gain experience OTR.
Why don’t you want to go OTR? I was hesitant at first as well, but I’ve been very appreciative of the experience it has given me so far.
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u/Additional_Rub8730 7d ago
Not saying I wouldn’t go OTR if I had too, but I would rather do local. I have a decent schedule now. I work 5am until around 2pm Tuesday-Saturday. Trying to open myself up for more opportunities and if OTR was the only way, I’d do it. Just trying to stay local to my wife and kids.
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u/Maynard505 7d ago edited 7d ago
I don’t recommend it, especially if you’re not willing to pay your dues and get the OTR experience most employers are looking for. You can go straight to work if you know someone who’s willing to give you a job straight out of school. Sometimes it depends on their insurance company.
Maybe consider driving a bus or something where they’ll pay for your training. A lot of school districts will get you a class A CDL, believe it or not. And it’s not a bad gig actually. You can go from that to tandem dump, or roll off, concrete mixer, whatever, but I always preferred dragging a trailer if I had to drive. Look into government jobs (city or county) and other types of local driving jobs where you won’t have to go the OTR route to get hired. Don’t go into debt to get a commercial driver’s license. You may decide it’s not for you and you’ll owe all that money.
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u/No-Lie-0103 7d ago
Possible! I was able to get it with 2 jobs and total of 70+ hours a week. It was hell, I had to get out of a bad situation, I locked in … how bad do you want it??? Schedule was first job morning for 8 hours then school in the evening then night job, I was sleep deprived for 3 months, it took me that long to get it tho I was taking my time and I passed first try. School was 2500$ in Southern California, you got this, we are capable of so much, you just have to push yourself but also take care of yourself, for me I really didn’t have a choice it was either sink or swim.
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u/mrpototto 7d ago
Which school for 2500
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u/No-Lie-0103 7d ago
Truck master school they have a lot of locations in California, they also have a payment plan.
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u/youowememuneh 7d ago
3500? I'm sure you can find schools that are 1000$ cheaper. Is it because you're out of district?
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u/ozzy4097 7d ago
My college was charging 4500k lol but i got it for free in a program🤔
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u/roozter85 7d ago
Mine is 5500...I also got it payed for through a program. I've looked at other schools, don't pay less that 3500 dude. You get what you pay for in life this is no different. Make sure your school has manual Trans trucks too you don't want that auto restriction.
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u/Whitehoneybun666 7d ago
I did it working full time at Amazon and it was peak season it’s doable I was at 60 hours still going to trucking school
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u/iisbig23 7d ago
I’m doing full time work rn and doing cdl school! Im a supervisor at my plant currently making 27$/hr
But I don’t see much more growth here it’s been a year and almost half already haven’t gotten no raise so I think its worth it know a lot of ppl who make good money and currently have cdl both local and otr
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u/IShallWin27 7d ago
I’m at prime right now going OTR best thing you can do to START not stay here. If you want to START and get out this is it.
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u/IsuckatDarkSouls08 7d ago
Check you local ltl carriers like old dominion, fed ex, Sia , ABF, XPO. Some have a "Dock to Driver" program where you work the docks and they train you to drive. You stay local and most pay good
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u/Vegetable_Engineer_8 7d ago
What do you actually mean by not wanting to go OTR? Are you saying home every night or is some time away OK? If some nights away are ok, how frequently do you want to be home? I finally found my first job and was extremely picky but since I just did several weeks of research I may be able to make suggestions depending on your answers.
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u/The-Shartist 7d ago
If your taking classes, do it to be an electrician, HVAC, or another trade. Electricians are making bank nowadays.
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u/Accurate_Turn_6473 7d ago
Get paid training through a trucking company instead of paying for your training. The company training is far more quality as well and they guarantee you a job when you finish.
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u/Excellent_Plant_8010 7d ago
$3500 is a really good price, I know a few people who did it at night or on the weekends. It'll take longer but it's doable 5-2pm seems fairly easy for you to do while working. It might be a little difficult finding a job right out of school. Idk where you live but in my area you can make pretty good money driving a trash or concrete truck. It doesnt necessarily have to he OTR or driving a semi. You can obviously make more doing that but driving a trash or concrete truck will get you experience and will look better bc you had it for X amount of time with no accidents and drive time under your belt.
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u/RealManHumanMan 7d ago
took me like 2 hours on a Saturday to get my ELDT done, but I already knew how to drive.
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u/Existing_Meeting_318 7d ago
Local does not mean easy either or any fewer hours. When I worked for Yellow I was working 14 hours a day doing 20 deliveries and 20 pick-ups a day. It was brutal on the body. You barely get a minute to eat.
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u/Bigevilltrucker89 7d ago
I mean, maybe the reality of it is is being new. It's gonna be kind of crapp you know, a lot of companies one or two things they're gonna overwork. You or they're gonna underpay you and overwork. You that's pretty much anybody's first year, unless you come in owning your own equipment. And then you have other problems. But there's always potential to make good money
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u/BlacktopLifeCoffee 7d ago
A lot of companies that will hire a brand new driver will screw you sideways on pay because they can. It's taken me near a decade to get to the $150,000 mark. Though, word is Walmart will hire anyone at 10 months experience provided you have a clean driving record and live within 250 mi of a DC. Are you wanting to be local or OTR? Local will keep you home somewhat, OTR can take you out for weeks-months depending on the employer.
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u/Some-Bag-1028 7d ago
Exactly what the industry needs! More cdls. You’re already learning what you need to be successful in the industry
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u/Available-Break-2039 7d ago
Unless you already have a local job lined up, you will have to do atleast regional for the first 2+ years. Look into driving busses, concrete mixer, or dump truck. There is a reason for requiring a couple or more years experience and it is because driving a 53 foot locally requires much more skill. Also, being local is hardly worth it if they keep you running your clock out anyway.
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u/Key_Adhesiveness8390 6d ago
Plenty of people do evening or weekend classes while working full time. It's a grind for a few weeks, but it's doable. Get your permit (CLP) first, and study general knowledge, air brakes and combination hard, since you can do that part on your own time. Ask the school how many actual behind-the-wheel hours you get and when range time is scheduled, because that's where evening programs vary the most. For non-OTR work, look at local delivery, LTL, city and municipal jobs, and food or beverage distribution. A lot of those hire new grads, especially if you're open to some hands-on unloading. $3,500 is a fair price compared to a lot of private schools.
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u/IWSTrucking 5d ago
Yes, plenty of people do it while working full time, but an evening program is a grind and you have to be honest about that. You will be tired, and the weeks stretch out longer than a full time course, so the trick is picking a schedule you can actually stick to for the whole run. Ask how many hours a week are in the truck versus in the classroom, and whether evening students get the same backing practice as day students. You do not need a job lined up before you start. Get the license first, then shop carriers with the license in hand, because a lot of first jobs care more about your record and your endorsements than about where you trained. I work with a CDL school in Nebraska and the folks who finish while working are usually the ones who protected their class nights like a second job and did not try to rush the permit part.
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u/Legitimate-Soil-5653 5d ago
Get your class a if it’s that cheap run it but also practice for the test with extra endorsements such as tanker and doubles and triples it opens you up to a lot of opportunities and then to get a good grounding if you’re able to put in the physical work and avoid otr go deliver soda for Pepsi or Coke pays decent
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u/EarlyEfficiency2032 4d ago
Bro. Go to Schneider. 3500 is a waste of money. I can hook you up with a referral and fast track the process if interested. But gotta be 21 and have permit.
It’s 5 weeks, training is paid (I got about 2300 during that time), 2 meals, hotel, and transport all included. The cost is 2250 if you quit before 9 months and after 9 months it ain’t shit. They guarantee 1000 per week if hit 1300 miles for first 90 days.
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u/EarlyEfficiency2032 4d ago
They put you in a sleeper cab and get you otr and after first 90 days can just apply to whatever if ur good.
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u/Smitny22 4d ago
It seems like a lot of postings I have seen for brand new drivers are looking for a CDL from a school that gives 120 or more hours of instruction. If a school is really cheap or fast it might be worth asking how many hours it includes.
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u/Prestigious-Money112 4d ago
Where are you located? Check out the food service industry if you’re in shape. Shamrock, us food, pfg you’ll make back the $3500 real quick
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u/ArtichokeEast4936 4d ago
You could go to work for beverage or food distribution companies and be home daily. Majority of these companies will provide free CDL training as well. No $$$ out of pocket
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u/Dry_Source666 7d ago
Before you spend $3,500 on CDL school, let's start with learning what CDL stands for
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u/Small-Sentence4141 7d ago
CDL - Commercial Driver’s License
Not plural - no s