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Free Truck Driving Schools Have Their Disadvantages!

One thing is for certain about free truck driving schools and that is they are as free as they say per generally as any truck driver wants. Nothing comes for free, and free truck driving schools are not so free after all. And this must be a warning for truck drivers everywhere.

By Nic Cummingham

One thing is for certain about free truck driving schools and that is they are as free as they say per generally as any truck driver wants. Nothing comes for free, and free truck driving schools are not so free after all. And this must be a warning for truck drivers everywhere.

More and more people are stepping up to the plate, however, as the demand for competent and duly licensed truck drivers continue to climb. To date, there are about 8 million licensed truck drivers in the US, and yet companies are still scrambling to maintain an adequate driver pool. The main problem in attaining the proper credentials is usually financial, which would be solved by free truck driving schools. However, some caveats must be observed.

In spite of that there are many people that think and are up to doing this job, as there is an increase in demand of truck drivers. The statistics say that there are around 8 million drivers in the US, and still the companies are still in search of them in order to maintain a solid driver pool. One of the problems that these wan bees confront every day is the financial credentials, a problem that can only be solved by free truck driving schools. Anyway there are some warnings.

The salary rate for a driver with only 6 months experience is $35000 per year but a tractor trailer driver can earn more than that. This is one of the reasons why there is a lot f free truck driving schools that have emerged with a simple purpose and that is to train people into getting their CDL license. This allows them to operate on tractors, buses or trucks. A good truck school is that one that can provide student with special skills needed for operating these machines: good knowledge of rules and regulations in trucking, manoeuvring, safety procedures, etc necessary in the world of truckers.

Since, the reputed driving schools have high fees not affordable by many. Therefore, the options available are to take a loan either from the school itself (interest rates high) or from outside (like banks with lower interest rates) and repay the loan while earning. Yet another option is to join a free truck driving school, like the Roehl Honor Program, that provides free training programs without any conditions for honourably discharged military personnel.

Some companies offer free truck driver training in exchange for a commitment to pay it off later by agreeing to work for the company. This may seem a no-brainer, but often the rates for truck drivers (usually based on cents-per-mile) who availed of free truck driving schools of companies are given starting rates lower than the going rate for new drivers. You may be better off taking on the trucking school tuition (about $3,500) now rather than be stuck with income loss in the future.

There are some companies that offer free trainings in exchange that the driver will hire after this period only inside the company. Even though this might seem a little hazardous studies have revealed that there is a high rate of drivers that pass the tests and they are given lower rates in comparison to the going rates for new employed. It’s better to take school tuition when you are a trainee than see in the future that the cause for your smaller wage is the free truck driving school you attended.

The reality is free truck driving schools are not the free ride that most potential truck drivers hope they are. Everything comes for a price, and this cost-less education may just carry a higher price tag than anticipated. Future students beware!

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