C.R. England is extremely proud to operate CDL schools in five different states. We believe our training is among the best in the business, preparing drivers to be productive members of the trucking industry for decades. We invite you to contact us for more information about our new driver training if you have ever considered a career in trucking.
Having said all that, you might be worried that you do not have what it takes to get through CDL school. The only way to know is to try. But know this: our trainers are committed to the success of their students. We operate CDL schools because we want new drivers to succeed. We will do everything we can to make sure that happens for you.
While you are in CDL school, you will get a basic introduction to truck driving alongside the training necessary to get your commercial driver’s license. Once you graduate from CDL training, you’ll be paired with a C.R. England driver trainer to finish up with on-the-job training. Then you will be ready to drive solo.
Here are what we call the ‘Big Three’ of CDL school; these are the things you’ll learn during your weeks of training:
1. Fundamentals of Driving
We start out new drivers with an introduction to the fundamentals of driving big rigs. Given that you’ll come to us with a passenger vehicle license in hand, you will not need to relearn how to actually move a vehicle down the road in compliance with traffic laws. You do need to learn the difference between driving a passenger car and a big rig.
This portion of classroom training covers a lot of things. Drivers learn about air brakes vs. the hydraulic brakes on their cars; they learn about how the size and weight of tractor-trailers influences handling; they learn the fundamental physics of accelerating, braking, turning, and backing.
2. Federal Regulations Governing Trucking
Another big part of the classroom training are the federal regulations that govern the trucking industry. This may be the least enjoyable part of CDL training. Yet it is what it is. We have to give drivers an introduction to these regulations so that they can maintain compliance.
This portion of the training covers everything from hours of service rules to pre-trip inspections. If there is a federal rule governing something specific, we cover it. We don’t expect drivers to memorize the minutia of all those rules, but they do need to have a working knowledge of them.
3. Hands-On Driving Experience
The third of the Big Three is a lot easier than most new drivers believe. It is the time spent behind the wheel of a truck, practicing what’s been learned in the classroom. This is where you will learn how to turn that big rig around tight corners. You will learn how to safely accelerate and brake. And yes, you’ll even learn how to back up to a loading dock.
Everything we do in CDL school is to prepare the driver to pass the test necessary to get his or her license. But as with any other career, what you learn in school is only a fraction of what you’ll need to know in the real world. That’s why we pair newly licensed drivers with driver trainers. Our new drivers need to learn real-world driving under the tutelage of someone who has been at it for years.
If you’ve been considering a trucking career, we hope you’ll consider C.R. England for both CDL school and your career. Know that we are committed to the success of our new drivers.
