How to Find the Best CDL Training Classes near Missouri City Texas
Congrats on your decision to become a truck driver and enroll in a trucking school near Missouri City TX. Maybe it has always been your goal to hit the open highway while operating a monster tractor trailer. Or perhaps you have conducted some research and have found that a career as a truck driver provides excellent wages and flexible work opportunities. No matter what your reason is, it’s imperative to receive the proper training by picking the right CDL school in your area. When assessing your options, there are several factors that you’ll need to consider before making your ultimate selection. Location will undoubtedly be important, especially if you have to commute from your Missouri City residence. The expense will also be of importance, but selecting a school based solely on price is not the optimal means to ensure you’ll get the proper education. Just remember, your objective is to master the skills and knowledge that will allow you to pass the CDL examinations and become a qualified truck driver. So keeping that objective in mind, just how do you select a truck driving school? The answer to that question is what we are going to cover in the balance of this article. But first, we are going to talk a little bit about which commercial driver’s license you will eventually need.
Which Commercial Drivers License Should You Get?
To operate commercial vehicles lawfully within the United States and Missouri City TX, an operator must attain a CDL (Commercial Driver’s License). The 3 license classes that a person can qualify for are Class A, Class B and Class C. Given that the subject of this article is how to pick a truck driver school, we will address Class A and B licenses. What differentiates each class of CDL is the kind of vehicle that the driver can operate as well as the GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating) or GCWR (Gross Combination Weight Rating). Below are brief explanations for the 2 classes.
Class A CDL. A Class A CDL is needed to operate any vehicle that has a GCWR of more than 26,000 lbs., including a towed vehicle of greater than 10,000 lbs. Some of the vehicles that drivers may be able to operate with Class A licenses are:
- Interstate or Intrastate Tractor Trailers
- Trucks with Double or Triple Trailers
- Tanker Trucks
- Livestock Carriers
- Class B and Class C Vehicles
Class B CDL. A Class B Commercial Drivers License is required to drive single vehicles having a GVWR of more than 26,000 lbs., or a GCWR of greater than 26,000 lbs. including a towed vehicle weighing up to 10,000 lbs. Some of the vehicles that operators may be qualified to drive with Class B licenses are:
- Tractor Trailers
- Dump Trucks
- Cement Mixers
- Large Buses
- Class C Vehicles
Both Class A and Class B CDLs might also require endorsements to drive specific kinds of vehicles, such as school or passenger buses. And a Class A licensee, with the proper required endorsements, may drive any vehicle that a Class B licensee is authorized to operate.
Click Here to Get Free Information on Truck Driving Schools Near You!
How to Evaluate a Truck Driver School
As soon as you have determined which CDL you wish to obtain, you can start the undertaking of assessing the Missouri City TX truck driving schools that you are considering. As previously mentioned, cost and location will undoubtedly be your primary considerations. But it can’t be emphasized enough that they should not be your sole concerns. Other factors, for instance the experience of the instructors or the reputations of the schools are equally or even more important. So below are some more points that you should research while performing your due diligence before selecting, and particularly paying for, your truck driving training.
Are the Schools Accredited or Certified ? Not many truck driving schools in the Missouri City TX area are accredited due to the stringent process and expense to the schools. However, certification is more prevalent and is offered by the Professional Truck Driver Institute (PTDI). A school is not obligated to become certified, but there are certain advantages. Interested students know that the training will be of the highest standard, and that they will receive lots of driving time. As an example, PTDI calls for 44 hours of real driving time, not ride-alongs or simulations. So if a school’s course is certified (the course, not the school is certified), students know that the training and curriculum will meet the very high standards set by PTDI.
How Long in Operation? One clue to help determine the quality of a trucking school is how long it has been in operation. A negatively ranked or a fly by night school typically will not be in business very long, so longevity is a plus. However, even the top Missouri City TX schools had to start from their first day of training, so consider it as one of multiple qualifiers. You can also ask what the school’s track record is pertaining to successful licensing and employment of its graduates. If a school won’t share those stats, look elsewhere. The schools should additionally maintain associations with regional and national trucking companies. Having a large number of contacts not only confirms a superior reputation within the profession, but also boosts their job assistance program for graduates. It also wouldn’t hurt to check with the Texas licensing authority to confirm that the CDL trucker schools you are reviewing are in good standing.
How Effective is the Training? As a minimum requirement, the schools should be licensed in Texas and hire instructors that are trained and experienced. We will cover more about the teachers in the following section. In addition, the student to instructor ratio should be no greater than 4 to 1. If it’s any greater, then students will not be obtaining the personalized attention they will need. This is especially true concerning the one-on-one instruction for behind the wheel training. And be critical of any school that insists it can teach you to drive trucks in a relatively short time period. Learning to be an operator and to drive a tractor trailer professionally takes time. The majority of Missouri City TX schools provide training programs that range from 3 weeks to as long as 2 months, based on the license class or type of vehicle.
How Good are the Trainers? As already mentioned, it’s important that the teachers are trained to teach driving methods and experienced as both instructors and drivers. Even though several states have minimum driving time prerequisites to be certified as a teacher, the more successful driving experience a teacher has the better. It’s also crucial that the teachers stay up to date with industry developments or any new regulations or changes in existing laws. Evaluating instructors may be a bit more subjective than other standards, and perhaps the ideal method is to pay a visit to the school and speak with the teachers face to face. You can also speak with some of the students going through the training and find out if they are satisfied with the quality of instruction and the teacher’s qualification to train them.
Enough Driving Time? Above all else, a great truck driving school will provide ample driving time to its students. After all, isn’t that what it’s all about? Driving time is the actual time spent behind the wheel operating a truck. Even though the use of simulators and ride-a-longs with other students are essential training methods, they are no alternative for real driving. The more instruction that a student gets behind the wheel, the better driver she or he will become. Although driving time varies between schools, a good standard is 32 hours at a minimum. If the school is PTDI certified, it will furnish no less than 44 hours of driving time. Get in touch with the Missouri City TX schools you are researching and ask how much driving time they provide.
Are they Independent or Captive ? You can obtain free or discounted training from certain trucking schools if you make a commitment to be a driver for a specified carrier for a defined period of time. This is referred to as contract training, and the schools that offer it are called captives. So instead of maintaining affiliations with a wide range of trucking lines that they can place their graduates with, captives only work with one company. The tradeoff is receiving less expensive or even free training by giving up the flexibility to initially be a driver wherever you have an opportunity. Naturally contract training has the potential to reduce your income prospects when beginning your new career. But for some it may be the only way to obtain affordable training. Just make sure to inquire if the Missouri City TX schools you are looking at are independent or captive so that you can make an informed decision.
Provide Onsite CDL Testing? There are several states that will allow third party CDL testing onsite of trucking schools for its students. If onsite testing is allowed in Texas, ask if the schools you are looking at are DMV certified to provide it. One benefit is that it is more accommodating than competing with graduates from competing schools for test times at Texas testing locations. It is moreover an indicator that the DMV considers the authorized schools to be of a higher quality.
Are the Classes Flexible? As earlier mentioned, CDL training is only about one to two months in length. With such a short term, it’s important that the Missouri City TX school you enroll in provides flexibility for both the curriculum and the scheduling of classes. For example, if you’re having a hard time learning a particular driving maneuver, then the instructor should be prepared to commit more time with you until you have it mastered. And if you’re still employed while going to training, then the class scheduling needs to be flexible enough to accommodate working hours or other responsibilities.
Is Job Placement Offered? Once you have obtained your commercial driver’s license after graduating from trucking school, you will be impatient to start your new career. Confirm that the schools you are looking at have job assistance programs. Ask what their job placement percentage is and what average salary their graduates start at. Also, find out which national and local trucking firms their graduates are placed with for employment. If a school has a poor job placement rate or not many Missouri City TX employers hiring their grads, it may be a sign to search elsewhere.
Is Financial Aid Given? Truck driving schools are similar to colleges and other Missouri City TX area technical or vocational schools when it comes to loans and other forms of financial assistance being offered. Find out if the schools you are evaluating have a financial aid department, or at a minimum someone who can help you get through the options and forms that need to be completed.
How To Get CDL Class A Missouri City Texas
Choosing the right truck driver school is a critical first step to beginning your new occupation as a long distance or local truck driver. The skills taught at school will be those that mold a new career behind the wheel. There are a number of options available and understanding them is critical to a new driver’s success. You originally came to our website because of your interest in How To Get CDL Class A and wanting information on the topic How To Get A CDL. However, you must receive the appropriate training in order to operate a big commercial vehicle in a safe and professional manner. If you are lacking cash or financing, you may want to consider a captive school. You will pay a reduced or even no tuition in exchange for driving for their contracted carrier. Or you can choose an independent truck driving school and have the the freedom to drive for the trucking firm of your choosing, or one of many associated with the school. It’s your choice. But regardless of how you obtain your training, you will in the near future be joining an industry that helps America move as a professional truck driver in Missouri City TX.
Truck On in These Other Texas Locations
Missouri City, Texas
Missouri City is a city in the U.S. state of Texas, within the Houston–The Woodlands–Sugar Land metropolitan area. The city is mostly in Fort Bend County, with a small portion in Harris County. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 67,358, up from 52,913 in 2000.[3] The population was estimated at 74,139 in 2015.[4]
The area in which Missouri City is now located holds a significant part in the history of Texas that dates back to its early days as part of the United States. In August 1853, the Buffalo Bayou, Brazos and Colorado Railway (BBB&C), began operating its first 20 miles (32 km) of rail line that stretched from Harrisburg (now Houston) to Stafford's Point (now Stafford). It was the first railroad to begin operating in Texas, and the first standard gauge railroad west of the Mississippi River.
The railway continued its extension westward until, in 1883, it linked with its eastward counterpart, completing the Sunset Route from Los Angeles to New Orleans. Today, the route of the BBB&C (now owned by the Union Pacific Railroad) is still an important and heavily operated railroad line.
Business Results 1 - 10 of 66
1 Reviews 
3 Reviews 
2 Reviews 
13 Reviews 
3 Reviews 1 Reviews 
5 Reviews 
7 Reviews 1 Reviews 1 Reviews 
Bing: Texas CDL Training Search results
-
Best CDL Training Schools in Texas - FreightWaves Ratings
Texas has an astounding 109 truck driving schools. You’ll have plenty of options when it comes to where you earn your CDL from, making it convenient and accessible to take CDL training courses in Texas. Plus, the schools are geographically spread out, meaning there is probably one near you.
-
CDL Training Schools in Texas - CDL Career Now
Texas Truck Driver Training. Connect with a CDL school in Texas with Class-A commercial truck driver training. There are full time, part-time, and evening and weekend classes available. Many of our partner schools have job placement for students who pass their TX CDL exam.
-
Texas CDL - Requirements, Costs, Training, & More
Learn more and apply here: Apply For Paid CDL Training. Learn the requirements for getting your Texas CDL, including the DOT physical, Texas fees for testing, CDL exemptions, CDL endorsements, license restrictions, and more.
-
Texas CDL Training Schools - TX CDL-A Truck Driver Training
Facts About Texas CDL Training. Use the search application to connect with a CDL training school in Texas and start training for your truck driving job. All CDL Training Schools in Texas. Del Mar College. Roadmaster Drivers School. Swift Driving Academy. Amarillo College Truck Driving. ATDS Truck Driving School. C1 Truck Driver Training.
-
Commercial Driver License | Department of Public Safety
A CDL is a professional license permitting the holder of the license to drive those large commercial vehicles and buses on public roadways in Texas and in the United States. This license demonstrates that you have been trained, tested, and are qualified to safely operate large commercial motor vehicles.
-
Trucker Certified | Texas CDL Training | CDL Training School ...
Becoming a professional truck driver requires the right training and qualifications, and finding the best CDL training school in Texas is the first step on your journey. At Trucker Certified, we offer comprehensive ELDT training, including class A CDL and class B CDL courses, as well as endorsements in specialized areas.
-
CDL Training in Texas | Requirements and Cost of Truck ...
CDL training in Texas ranges from free to $10,000 or more. Company-paid CDL training options are often free or come at a minimal cost to new drivers, but there is the expectation (and contractual obligation) to work for that company for a specific period after obtaining a CDL.
-
How do I apply for a Commercial Driver License? | Department ...
Applying for a Commercial Driver License. Once you have held your CLP for a minimum of 14 days and completed your Entry Level Driver Training requirements, you are eligible to complete the necessary driving tests to obtain your CDL. You will need to provide a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) for the driving test.
-
Commercial Driver License (CDL) Instructional Videos
All drivers of commercial motor vehicles (CMV) must have the knowledge and skills necessary to safely operate a CMV. As a commercial learner permit (CLP) holder applying for your CDL, you will be required to successfully complete the following three parts of the skills exam: Pre-trip Vehicle Inspection. Basic Vehicle Control.
-
Commercial Driver License (CDL) | TEEX.ORG
Once the TEEX training is completed and you have held your CLP for 14 days, you are eligible to complete the necessary driving test to obtain your CDL. Schedule your CDL driver’s test with TEEX.