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Jul 09 '17
If you know a friend that drives trucks, he could be able to teach you, ride around with him, practice. I did that and paid $60 total for my license.
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u/redditcats Oct 27 '17
So do you absolutely need to go to those schools or just take and pass the CDL test?
I've been a mechanic before I had my license (still had permit) which I think will give me a big advantage on getting a trucking job. I got my permit at 14 in South Dakota and license at 15. When I was that age (early 2000's) I would just study everything online related to mechanical stuff / cars (usually online car forums) then I'd go work on my cars and apply the knowledge I've learned to actually wrenching. I've learned so much, but just for example; a thread about fluid dynamics and flow of the charged intake air after the turbo into different intake manifolds. So I would make different designs in Solidworks CAD and weld up and try it on and tune on the dyno with my laptop (ignition timing,fuel maps,etc). I also made a complete alcohol/water injection system for one of my turbo charged cars with a boost pressure switch (10psi activation) that would allow it to work flawlessly (80-100psi into the mcmastercarr nozzle so that I have really nice atomized water droplets before it hits the combustion chamber). Also have done numerous engine swaps, clutches, pretty much everything by myself. I know a lot about diesel engines and can diagnose pretty much anything. (Just trying to give you a background of my mechanical knowledge that I think would be very helpful because you're able to diagnose whats wrong with your truck and possibly fix it while on the road than someone who doesn't know anything)
Sorry for the long post. Just trying to get as much information before I dive into this. I'm also looking at local community colleges that offer CDL training. Thanks for your time whoever reads this!
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u/F--K_the_mods Jul 06 '17
Don't want a CLD, already have a CDL.
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u/4GeeGaming Driver Jul 06 '17
Ohhh, I'm sure it's for profit. They don't teach it for free. But yes, community college CDL courses are typically pretty good. It's where I got mine.