Truck driving school is an important consideration for many people who want to build an interesting career or to simply make a good living. There is some truth to the saying that you can make a lot of money with a truck driving school degree, but there are also many factors to consider before signing up for this type of education. Here are some considerations that will help you make the right choice in truck driving school.
The Drivers License You Hold
If you are a recent high school graduate and have not held a drivers license before; a truck driving school program is an excellent choice. However, if you have a previous experience with truck driving, then the options of where to go for your education expand dramatically. Some trucking companies will actually help pay the tuition and books for the student. Others will teach their own classes.
These options are great because the driver is able to work for the trucking company and get paid for their time on the job. However, any schooling after completing a truck driving school program is non-refundable.
This can be a double-edged sword because if you do not like driving a truck or if you cannot pass your licensing exams, then you will have wasted a lot of money. The other decision to make is whether to go in house with the trucking company’s training or enroll in an independent school.
Cost
The cost of a truck driving school is another major consideration. The reason for this is that independent schools charge as much as $10,000 for their tuition and books. The other option is to use your employer’s training facility. This route will be free for you if you are getting paid time and a half for working during the training. This would actually be one of the best situations because you will already be experienced when the trucking company sends you out on the road, thus saving your new employer money.
How Will You Pay for This?
One of the biggest considerations when it comes to truck driving school is how will you pay for it. This can be a problem because some schools require that the student pay all costs up front with no promise of reimbursement. In this case you would have to have a lot of cash on hand before even thinking about attending trucking school. However, one good thing about going in house with your employer is that they may actually help pay for the cost of schooling.
