How long do it take to get cdl

Wondering how long it takes to get a CDL? – You can get your CDL in as little as 4 weeks when you attend the right school. Coastal Truck Driving School offers options for full-time students to get their CDL in 4 weeks and for part-time students to get their CDL in 8 weeks. To help accommodate students with busy schedules, we offer day, night, and weekend classes, as well as free student housing.

Coastal Truck Driving School is a state-approved third-party tester for CDL licensing. We’re authorized to test and train for Class A, B, and C commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs). If you’re ready to get licensed and get on the road, contact Coastal today!

What Does CDL Training Entail

Most CDL schools have an extensive CDL training program that covers the valuable skills you’ll need as a commercial truck driver. Some schools can be months long, while others are just 4 weeks long to get a CDL. It’s important to find the right school for you when asking how long it takes to get a CDL to get the education and training required to start a career as a commercial truck driver soon.

Coastal Truck Driving School is staffed with supportive and experienced instructors who make sure you are road-ready in as little as 4 weeks. Our extensive training program covers the following:

• Dashboard configuration
• Inspections
• Basic control
• Night operation
• Truck maintenance
• Post-crash procedures
• Backing – A majority of accidents involving trucks happen when the driver is reversing. We make sure our students are comfortable and have mastered backing up trucks before sending them out on their own.
• Shifting – While many companies use automatic transmission trucks, we believe that you can never have too many tools at your disposal. Learning to drive both manual and automatic ensures that you are comfortable in any truck, and you have no legal restrictions on which trucks you can drive – making you more hirable!
• Plus, much more to increase your confidence and your chances to get a job

[Related: Can I Get A CDL Without Going to School]

How Long Is A CDL Training Program?

It does not take long to get a CDL when you attend Coastal Truck Driving School. Our CDL training course requires a total of 160 hours and can be completed in 4 weeks. We also offer options for night and weekend classes that can be completed in 8 weeks.

First, you’ll need to complete 40 hours of classroom time, where we cover the basics you need to know before getting behind the wheel of a truck. While in the classroom, you’ll learn about operating under extreme driving conditions, trip planning, and space management. The basics covered in the classroom are the foundation for a promising career in commercial truck driving.

After your classroom time is completed, you’ll spend 120 hours driving under the supervision of our instructors, who not only teach you but make sure you’re confident in the driver’s seat. We’ll spend 42 hours of our driving time on our back pad, where you’ll learn basic control and get acquainted with operating a big truck. Following the back pad drive time, you’ll begin road training. You’ll spend 72 hours driving and getting a feel for your new career.

Testing Schedule – Does Testing Make it Take Longer to Get a CDL?

Not all schools are certified to test for commercial driver’s licenses. Because of this, some CDL schools don’t have testing built into their programs. When you attend a school that is not certified for CDL testing, it may take longer to get a CDL. You will have to schedule a time to test with a third party after completing your training.

Coastal Truck Driving School is certified by Louisiana for third-party CDL testing, so we’ve included the testing time in our program. This means that once you graduate from our 4-week CDL training program, it won’t take you any longer to get a CDL, and you’ll be ready to start working in your new career.

Are you looking to start your career in trucking? Contact Coastal Truck Driving School today and get CDL certified in as little as 4 weeks!

Depending on how you decide to go about it, it takes about 3-7 weeks on average to get a CDL or commercial driver’s license. There are a number of variables that affect how long it will take in your state, which you should consider as you plan your approach. Here are a few of them.

Table of Contents

• What Type of CDL License Are You Getting?
  • Are You Planning to Earn Any Endorsements?
  • How Much Practice Driving Do You Need?
  • What Kind of Training Are You Taking?
  • What Kind of Testing Availability Is There Right Now?
  • What Kind of Truck Transmission Do You Plan to Drive?
• The CDL Process

What Type of CDL License Are You Getting?

A Class A CDL is required if you want to drive a flatbed, tractor-trailer, tank vehicle, or livestock carrier. Class B is required to drive a straight truck, box truck, dump truck with a small trailer, and large passenger or segmented bus. Class C is for small HazMat vehicles or vehicles transporting 16+ occupants. Of the three CDL classes, Class A lets you drive a bigger variety of vehicles and tow bigger loads, so it tends to take longer to obtain.

Are You Planning to Earn Any Endorsements?

Endorsements are required to drive certain trucks and are achieved in addition to the CDL. For each endorsement, you need to pass certain tests. For example, in most states, driving a refuse truck will require an air brakes endorsement. Passenger or school buses might also require specific endorsements. For a Hazmat endorsement, you also need to be fingerprinted and pass a TSA (Transportation Security Administration) security threat assessment. Earning endorsements can open up great opportunities in your trucking career, but may add time to getting your CDL.

How Much Practice Driving Do You Need?

As part of the CDL process in some states, you are required to drive a certain number of practice hours with a licensed CDL driver. If your driving ability needs some work or mastering truck driving seems harder than you originally expected, you should definitely log in more practice hours, even if it means ultimately taking longer to get the CDL.

What Kind of Training Are You Taking?

Truck driving training programs are offered by community colleges and private driving schools — and some trucking companies even operate their own driving schools. Program lengths of course vary, and the number of classroom hours required may be different from state to state. Depending on the class of CDL sought and whether you take the training on a full-time or part-time basis, you could even take up to six months to complete the program.

What Kind of Testing Availability Is There Right Now?

Some jurisdictions only schedule tests on certain days, or have periods that are busier at different times of the year. Talking to your DMV can give you more information about CDL scheduling matters. Some states have a legislated time period you must wait between getting your CDL permit and the CDL road test or between CDL road test attempts.

What Kind of Truck Transmission Do You Plan to Drive?

Whether you are going to drive a truck with an automatic or manual transmission may impact how long you need to master your truck driving skills.

The CDL Process

You should already have your regular driver’s license before you apply for your CDL. You will need to provide proof of your identity and proof of residency, as well as pass a background check, vision test/medical exam, and knowledge exam. Then you may have a minimum holding period after receiving your commercial learner’s permit.

Prior to taking your CDL road test, you could enrol in a CDL training course (online or in-person), and practice driving with someone who has a CDL. Typically, it takes between 14 days (a typical holding period between your permit and tests) and up to 6-7 months to become a truck driver with a CDL when you take into account all the variables we have discussed. In that sense, how long it takes to get a CDL will depend on how you go about learning how to drive the commercial vehicles you are considering. Based on your existing skills and driving instincts, you should really take the time to master your truck driving skills, given the types of vehicles you will be taking on public roads. How well you drive commercial vehicles will affect not only your professional reputation and your demand as a truck driver, but will also have an impact on your insurance rates.

Have any other questions about how to get a CDL or become a truck driver? We at Logity Dispatch are happy to help truck drivers/owner-operators at all stages of their careers. That’s why we offer specialized dispatch services, document management, and assistance with compliance and other operational matters. Contact us and find out how we can help you find success in the trucking business.

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