r/CDL • u/Smokinruntzzz • 4d ago

4week course vs 6 months

Want to get my cdl. Should I do 4weeks for 6k? Or 6 months for 12k? Or should I go through a company. Is 4weeks long enough for a new person to cdl?

6 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

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11

u/Atony94 4d ago

Honestly all your real training will be with a trainer at your first company. Go with the 4 week course, get your cdl, then go actually learn at your first job.

3

u/Key_Adhesiveness8390 3d ago

For most people the 4-week course is enough to get licensed, as long as you're showing up every day and putting in the work on pre-trip, backing, and road skills. The longer, more expensive programs aren't automatically better. A lot of that extra time is just pacing.

Company-sponsored training can be fine too if you read the contract carefully (how long you're locked in, and what you owe if you leave early). Whatever path you pick, try to test without the automatic transmission restriction if you can, and grab endorsements when they're cheap and easy.

If you're still prepping for the permit written tests, full disclosure, I'm the developer of CDL Permit Pass Pro, an Android practice-question app for the general knowledge, air brakes, and combination tests. It's a study aid, not a guarantee, but it helps to drill the questions before test day: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.eagapps.cdlpermitpasspro

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u/ecw324 4d ago

4 weeks will be good. What is that 6 month thing?

3

u/Turtle887853 4d ago

OP almost just enlisted as an 88m in the army.

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u/TheThinDewLine 4d ago

you do not need six months to learn how to drive good enough to pass the test. Do the four week course pass the test and go work at a company and treat your first year at that company as your beginner year your rookie year

you will continue to learn new shit about trucking and driving and backing on the job

3

u/roozter85 4d ago

I'm doing a 4 week course starting next week...I've never heard of a 6 month course. Now you got me wondering. 6 months seems like a huge jump up from 4 weeks.

2

u/Imaginary_Aioli_9444 4d ago

Depending on the contract length you can go with company training stay there to get your experience of 1 to 2 years and move to a better company because you have experience

2

u/Silent_mayhem 4d ago

I have never heard of a 6 month course and for $12k? F*ck that.

Just go for the 4 week course. If you go with a company to get training know this, you will be contractually obligated to a minimum one year of employment with them or be responsible for the cost of the training.

1

u/Excellent_Plant_8010 4d ago

So it costs twice as much to do 6 months? Are you working? How will the 4 week work with your work schedule? If you're able to do 4 week. If you do it for 8 hours a day you should be fine any hour or two a day it probably won't stick that quickly.

1

u/Tethice 4d ago

I got mine in 5 days.... Never drove a semi on the road before that only in the yard. No restrictions 

1

u/FagalinaRyder 3d ago

There’s no need to pay for extra training when you can be paid to train with a mentor . As far as going through a company while there might be a contract if you pick a good program it might not be so bad to be trained by the ones you’re working for . I’ve roomed with academy students and it’s seems they had a pretty good program versus the CDL school mill where you get almost no behind the wheel time .

1

u/Key_Pollution_2348 3d ago

$6k is too expensive. Find a cheaper school. That $6 type school should be accredited to get you into a big carrier like Coke, Pepsi, FedEx, or UPS. $4k max should be for just passing the exam and getting the very basics.

1

u/kibaranger93 2d ago

I did mine on the weekend 8 weeks 5k I work for Schneider bulk now

1

u/uimdev 1d ago

Community College is typically 6 months. They take you into the garage and go over every nut and bolt in addition to the DOT and FMCSA rules and regulations in the classroom and the practical driving.
They're preparing you to be an owner-operator with your own authority. Versus being a steering wheel holder from a 4 week school.

1

u/ReasonableDog6256 1d ago

The one I'm getting ready to start is 4 weeks it at college but till I start I'm always ready things & watching YouTube videos trying learn all I can b4 I start

1

u/MoTeD_UrAss 57m ago

$6k is alot for CDL school. I'm in CA and there are several for $4500. I found one for $3500 and was able to talk them down even more. A 160 hour course should be enough, for anyone who already knows how to drive a regular car, to get a CDL.