How Long Does It Take to Get a CDL?
Those interested in training for a Commercial Driving License (CDL) might wonder how long it can take. A CDL program generally requires a combination of classroom instruction and hands-on driving instruction, both in the yard and on the road.
New England Tractor Trailer Training School (NETTTS) offers CDL training at campuses in Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts. The CDL programs at NETTTS are designed to prepare students to pass their state CDL skills test. In the classroom students will be trained on concepts like:
- Rules and regulations of the road
- Components of the truck, like air brakes and different types of transmissions
- Pre-drive safety inspections
- How to avoid hazards
- Driving in adverse conditions
- Maintaining a logbook
- Road safety
Once a student has completed the classroom portion, then it’s time to move on to the yard and the road and learn how to operate the trucks in a hands-on environment. The program at NETTTS combines yard and on-road training with instructors who have at least three years of professional driving experience. Students will learn topics like:
- Pre-trip inspection
- Coupling and uncoupling
- Air brake tests
- Shifting drills (at times using our driving simulator)
The yard portion of the program is where students will learn backing maneuvers like:
- Straight back
- Blind side parallel park
- Sight side parallel park
- Alley dock
- Offset backing
Types of CDLs
Students at New England Tractor Trailer Training School train to test for two types of CDL licenses:
Our programs offer classroom training, as well as hands-on driving training.
CDL-A
The CDL-A program teaches students how to drive tractor-trailers. No prior experience with trucks is necessary to begin this program and new students are not required to have a CDL Permit when they begin training. The training starts with permit preparation, and covers the safety and driving skills so that by the program’s end, students will be prepared to take their state road test. CDL-A driving typically consists of:
- Short-haul or local trucking, which involves less driving distances and typically allows drivers to be home nightly.
- Over-the-road trucking, which generally requires longer road trips where drivers to haul on multiple-day runs that often take them all over the country.
CDL-B
The NETTTS CDL-B program teaches students how to drive single vehicles with non-detachable trailers. This class is also known as the Class B Commercial Heavy Straight Truck Training program. Types of vehicles that require a Class B CDL include:
- Dump trucks
- Buses
- Cement mixers
- Box trucks for deliveries
Financial Aid for CDL Training
If you aren’t sure if you can afford to attend a truck driving school, NETTTS has options to make CDL training available to as many people as possible. Each branch of NETTTS has financial aid advisors who are available to help explain tuition options. Financial aid is available for those who qualify and can include:
- Federal Pell grants
- Federal direct loans for parents
- Federal direct loans for students
- GI Bill® education benefits
- In-school and extended payment plans
- Agency and state workforce funding options
At NETTTS, we work with our students to find ways to make CDL training accessible. Students can complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to understand what their options might be.
Ready for the road ahead?
Once our students have earned their CDL, NETTTS is there to help with career placement services that include:
- Help with resume writing
- Job interview preparation
- Help finding and evaluating possible future employers
- Post-interview follow-up
We understand that enrolling is the first step toward your goal of earning a CDL. Although we can’t guarantee job placement, NETTTS wants to help you on the next step in your journey with Career Services support.
Why Choose NETTTS
Looking for a change or a path to something new? NETTTS could be the change you’re searching for. Our program includes:
- Financial aid available to those who qualify
- CDL Permit preparation
- Career Services support
- Instructors with professional driving experience
- A company-wide fleet of over 150 trucks and trailers for student training
- Practice on CDL driving simulator
- National Safety Council Defensive Driving Certification
- FMCSA Approved ELDT training provider
If you’re ready to take the next step and find out more about the programs that NETTTS offers, we have four locations in New England:
- Bridgeport, Connecticut
- Somers, Connecticut
- North Andover/Haverhill, Massachusetts
- Pawtucket, Rhode Island
Does NETTTS sound like the CDL program for you? Contact us today or request more information today!