When someone is looking at starting a new career, the first thing they often want to know is, how long will it take to be ready for this job?

Truck driving is no different. Most new drivers understand they need some sort of professional training. The question is, how long will that training take before you’re on the road and earning a paycheck.

The short answer is that the time frame varies. At Diesel Driving Academy, we aim to provide the safest entry-level drivers to the transportation industry. We train students of all skill levels – from very beginner to the advanced driver that wants a refresher – and offer a variety of courses designed to suit the needs of our students. All programs prepare students for a Class A CDL, however, some programs include additional hands-on training for those with minimal experience.

Let’s take a look at each program, see what it covers, and what might work best for you.

Advanced Truck Driver Training Program

This is our most time-intensive of courses. The advanced program requires 600 clock hours—twenty weeks for daytime students and thirty weeks for night classes. It is the most thorough of our programs and includes classroom training plus extensive driving practice on our closed driving range and public roadways – all with a qualified instructor.

The program teaches students:

• An introduction to the trucking industry
• Truck driving safety topics
• Advanced safe operation practices
• Accident reporting and safety responsibility laws
• Backing & vehicle maneuvering
• Pre-trip inspection
• CDL testing

At the end of the advanced program, students will be prepared for entry-level employment in the transportation industry. Though this is the longest program, students will have insight into numerous career opportunities, including Truck Driver, Line Haul Driver, Owner Operator, Semi-Truck Driver, or Over the Road (OTR) Driver.

Basic Truck Driver Training Program

This course runs for 160 clock hours (four weeks for day classes, eight weeks at night). The basic program is a pared-down version of the advanced program. Students will graduate knowing how to perform the duties of an entry-level truck driver. Although less comprehensive, this will put students on the road sooner, and is appropriate for those who are fortunate to have a job waiting once their training is complete.

Prep Course

This is the shortest course, at 136 clock hours (three weeks, day only). Students will learn everything in the classroom and on the road that will be required to pass the Class A CDL test, leaving them prepared to work as an entry-level truck driver.

A longer training course can be hard, but sometimes it’s what you need to succeed in the long term. If you’re looking for a truck school in Louisiana and Arkansas, talk to Diesel Driving Academy! Call 1-800-551-8900 and see what level of training is right for you!

Being a long distance truck driver has its challenges. One of them is being away from your home and family for extended periods of time.

Here are some tips for staying connected and fighting homesickness:

1. Keep in Touch.
Regularly calling and talking to family and friends is the best way to stay connected. Video calls, like Skype and Facetime, are great if you have pets or young children who are not yet talking. More and more truck stops are offering free wifi, and wifi finder apps can help you find available connections.

2. Picture Time!
Sending pictures of yourself from the road will help keep your family and friends connected with your travels. And, of course, keeping a picture of your loved ones in the cab can always be helpful.

3. Home Away From Home.
Having familiar things around can help reduce homesickness. Keeping your favorite blanket or stuffed animal with you is comforting, and a good reminder of home. Using an air freshener in the cab that you commonly use at home can make it very much feel as if you are back with them.

4. Family Rider Policy.
Sometimes you might be able to bring a friend or family member along on a trip. And if you are really lonely in the cab, your company might allow you to have a pet with you, so that you never have to be completely alone.

5. Eat Right, Stay Healthy.
Staying healthy isn’t just good for your waistline, its good for your mind too. Too much junk food is tempting on the road, but unhealthy eating can be draining, and make a lonely experience worse. Making time to do some simple stretches, or even doing a short workout during a break, can help clear your head and alleviate any issues that come from sitting too long.

6. Books, Podcasts or Audiobooks.
Having another voice in the cab can be a distraction from your loneliness – and keep you awake on those long trips. Immersing yourself in a book or listening to your favorite podcast can help pass the time away from home.

Being a truck driver is hard work, but it’s rewarding in its own right. Take a moment to enjoy the time you have while out over the road. If you find homesickness kicking in on a long haul route, just remember that every route leads back home. Using the above tips and tricks can help keep you happier and healthier when you’re away from home.

Are you ready to take on the challenges – and rewards – of being a truck driver? Get started in your new career by calling Diesel Driving Academy at 1-800-551-8900 today!

Sources:
https://ezfreightfactoring.com/blog/tips-for-homesick-truck-drivers
https://www.wikihow.com/Deal-With-Homesickness

Life as a Trucker – the Road Ahead

Congratulations on choosing your new job! Hard working truck drivers like you ensure that our shelves are stocked with groceries, goods are available for purchase, and building materials get to the job site. But being a truck driver does not come without challenges. Without realistic expectations of any new job, you might be off to a bumpy start.

We put together a few tips and tricks to be sure you have a smooth ride in your new trucking career.

Being Away from Home

It is tough to be away from your home and loved ones. Luckily with today’s use of technology, it’s easier to stay in touch. Using an app like Skype to call or video chat regularly when you are away is one way to keep connected. Bringing some comforts of home with you – such as photographs, homemade snacks, or your favorite blanket – are things you can do to make home feel like it’s not so far away.

Consider home time carefully when choosing a carrier – there will be many options that will dictate how far away you’ll drive and how often you’ll be home. Talking with our Job Placement staff will help make sure you find employment with a company that fits your lifestyle.

Budgets and Trucker Pay

How you are paid will vary by carrier and type of trucking you choose. Most drivers are paid by the mile or an hourly rate. If you spend several weeks out driving in order to spend a week at home, you might have a small or missing paycheck. Prepare a monthly budget so you are ready to enjoy your time at home.

Luckily, there are many apps that are designed to help truck drivers save time and money.

• Cost per Mile is an app that is used to figure costs of operations per mile.
• Mint & PocketGuard can help you create – and stick to – a budget.
• GasBuddy & FuelBook help make sure you never overpay for your diesel fuel.

De-stress from the Stresses of Driving

Traffic, construction, and hurried motorists are likely to up your stress levels. Using apps like Waze, TruckerPath, or CoPilot can help you plan your trip to avoid things like congested areas, construction zones, or rush-hour traffic.

When you’re not moving, get moving! Get your blood pumping and endorphins flowing by doing a 20 minute workout before your pre-trip inspection. Bring resistance bands and tennis shoes for a quick workout before hitting the road

Routines & Regulations

As a truck driver, you will be required to follow rules that govern your drive time and work time. This means you’ll need to keep accurate logs. You will also be eating and sleeping on the road. Keeping as much of a routine as you can will help you stay within the HOS rules, and avoid disruptions to your sleep cycle and healthy eating habits.

• Each time you take a break, review your remaining drive hours and estimate where you’ll need to stop for the day. Don’t be caught out of hours without a truck-stop. Using an ELD complaint app like BigRoad will help keep you within the HOS rules.
• Make sure you have water and healthy snacks on hand. Starting your day well-rested and with a healthy breakfast will keep you on the road safer and longer.
• Don’t forget about lunch and dinner! Pack a large cooler with healthy meals and snacks – consider an outdoor mini-grill

A career in trucking can be an awesome and rewarding experience. If you’re up for the challege and don’t yet have a commercial drivers license, Diesel Driving Academy can help! Call 1-800-551-8900 today and we’ll get you on the road to your new career!

If you’re interested in driving trucks for a living you may wonder what the difference is between attending a CDL training school versus company training. There are pros and cons to both options. Many drivers consider going to CDL driving school which can offer many benefits to the future driver.

We’ve put together the benefits of each and what you can expect during your training.

The Benefits of CDL Training School

Financial Assistance

Many schools – including Diesel Driving Academy – offer a variety of financial assistance programs to help lessen the financial burden of training on the future truck driver. Payment schedules may allow people to pay back their tuition over longer periods of time if they qualify. We have dedicated financial advisors who can help students find the best ways to reduce the costs of tuition.

Military Veterans Assistance Programs

Many trucking schools can provide more tuition assistance plans for veterans or to those who are actively serving in any active branch of the military. At DDA, this offer is also often extended to spouses of military veterans through active duty and veterans programs.

Job Placement

Rather than being tied to a specific company whose school you graduated from, Diesel Driving Academy provides job placement assistance that allows you to go work for any trucking company, national or local. You may even have several pre-hires offers of employment before your training ends!

Program Variety

At Diesel Driving Academy, we offer several different CDL training programs to meet individual needs. These classes range include full-time classes, night classes, or even weekend classes. Whether you have little (or no!) experience, or if you are looking to restart your career, we’ve got programs that fit your needs. We have staff dedicated to finding the program that will help you reach your career goals as quickly as possible.

The Pros of Company Training

– Convenient training using the same trucks and equipment you’ll use on the job. You’ll also be familiar with the terms and standards used by that company.

– Can be cheaper than going to a private facility for CDL training. Some trucking companies offer free training or interest-free loans that you’ll pay back to then with payroll deductions. Keep in mind, you may be required to work for the company for up to 3 years in order to have the full costs of tuition reimbursed to you.

– Qualified graduates who pass the program will have a job waiting for them at the end of training.

The freedom of enrolling at a CDL school like Diesel Driving Academy gives you access to the training program that fits your needs the best. You’ll be able to utilize financial assistance programs to cover some (or all) of your tuition. And, you’ll be able to choose a company to work for after you are done with school. Plus, you’ll have lifetime job placement assistance when you’re looking for a change of scenery or want to restart your career.

These are just a few of the benefits of attending a CDL training school vs. company training program. For more information on starting at Diesel Driving Academy call us today at 1-800-551-8900!

Congratulations! You worked hard, graduated from truck driving school, and eagerly started your new trucking career. You’ve established yourself with your first trucking company but maybe now you aren’t so sure that you made the right choice. Let’s explore your options.

Getting Started is the Hardest Part

Now that you’ve put in some time with your current company, you’ll likely have more options with others. In your first year of driving, you’ll spend a lot of time learning as much as possible, which is beneficial to getting that dream job (and pay) you are looking for. If the first company you work for is not a perfect fit, rest assured there are other companies that are looking for drivers with a bit of experience.

You’ve Got Options

One of the benefits of attending Diesel Driving Academy is getting help with job placement. Even after you graduate, you can let us know that the company you are with is not a good fit and our staff can help you find something that is a better match. The change may be as simple as driving a different type of truck or driving a different route.

It’s important to keep your options open and stay in contact with the school. At Diesel Driving Academy, our campuses regularly host recruiter visits with different trucking carriers. Talking to people from different companies and getting an inside feel for how the company works can open your eyes to other possibilities. These recruiters want to put you in a great job but they also want you to be a good fit for the company as much as you want the company to be a good fit for you.

If you are having trouble or just want to discuss your options, let’s talk! Our staff is here to offer you assistance. There are many different trucking companies, and one of those is a perfect fit for you. Together, we can find that company!

To learn more about the Job Placement Services offered at Diesel Driving Academy, contact us today at 1-800-551-8900 or swing by the Diesel Driving Academy campus near you!

Commercial truck driving can be a solid and rewarding career choice for those who enjoy working independently and having a secure job. Completing a CDL training program may be your best path to long-term career success. But, if you’re wondering whether or not trucking school is worth your time and money, consider these 4 factors:

Better Training = Better Pay

By attending an accredited trucking school, you can learn the necessary tools to become a quality truck driver. At Diesel Driving Academy, we provide three options for Class A CDL training. Students have the option of taking our Advanced CDL Driver Training course, a Basic CDL Driver Training program, or the CDL Prep course. Each one prepares students to enter the trucking industry with a wide range of trucking job opportunities.

Job Placement Assistance

Another bonus of attending a trucking school is job placement assistance. As a DDA student, you’ll benefit from our job placement services, such as trucking company recruitment events, on-site hiring events, and lifetime job placement assistance. Our full-time job placement staff helps graduates find a new job, change trucking companies, or get back into the field.

Tuition Assistance and Reimbursement

According to AllTrucking.com, truck driving school can cost $3,000 to $7,000 out of pocket. Diesel Driving Academy’s financial aid team will help you determine if you qualify for financial aid or a tuition reimbursement program to help reduce or even fully cover those costs. For our active duty and military veterans, there are a number of tuition assistance programs available. Many veterans use the Post 9/11 GI Bill® or Military Spouse Career Advancement Accounts (MyCAA).

When deciding on a driving school, consider the quality of the instructors, past job placements, the cost of training, and the type of training offered.

Diesel Driving Academy provides quality training so that you have the foundations for a solid trucking career. What are you waiting for? Contact us today to get your trucking career started!

GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government website at http://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill

When you think of the term “trucker” most people envision a man in that driver’s seat. However, more and more women are entering the trucking industry! Many trucking companies are even making changes to become more female friendly. Some of these changes include more ergonomically designed trucks, hiring more female truck driving trainers, or implementing better safety measures.

Safety First

Safety is a concern in any job, not just the trucking industry. Many companies are implementing new training procedures or other systems to make the workforce safer for both men and women. Still, some women may choose to take a self-defense class or find other ways to be more proactive about your safety – like finding well-lit truck stops or stopping for breaks in more populated rest areas.

Big Truck, Small Stature

More and more, companies are seeing the value in hiring (and keeping) women truck drivers. This is one reason they’re adding more trucks to their fleets that are designed better. Newer trucks feature safety measures like seat belt adjusters or are designed with better hight and sight lines that fit persons with a smaller stature.

If driving a truck or bus is what you want to do, don’t let anything hold you back from pursuing your ideal career! Get out there and show the world what you have to offer! At Diesel Driving Academy, we can provide the training you need to get out on the road! Learn more about our CDL training programs, and see just how quickly we can get you rolling in your new career!

Contact DDA today for more information on starting your truck driving career. Call us at 1-800-551-8900, or stop by the DDA campus near you!

March is Women’s History Month, and that makes this a good time to look at one of trucking’s pioneers: Lillie Elizabeth McGee Drennan. As the first woman to receive a commercial truck driver’s license, she helped pave a way for many women to follow.

Early Life and Career

As a child, Lillie Elizabeth McGee came down with scarlet fever and would eventually lose much of her hearing. She would have to wear hearing aids for most of her adult life. After marrying Willard Ernest Drennan in 1917, the couple started their own trucking company. In order to help grow the business, she began driving her own truck. With success and a good deal of hard work, the family truck business Drennan Truck Lines continued to grow, adding more trucks and drivers and becoming a thriving business. Then, in 1929, Lillie became a divorcee – and the sole owner of the trucking company.

Sole Owner of Drennan Truck Line

As the sole owner of Drennan Truck Line, Lillie Drennan had to struggle to prove her own worth in a male-dominated field. Despite being denied her driver’s license (allegedly because of her hearing), she refused to give up. Eventually, she prevailed by showing officials that she was an experienced commercial driver with a clean driving record. They had no choice but to give her a license. For almost 24 accident-free, successful years, Lillie worked to continue building her trucking empire, freighting goods throughout East Texas.

Public Figure

Over time, Lillie Drennan made a national name for herself through several notable achievements, including being a woman leader in a male-dominated field and the first licensed woman truck driver. She wowed audiences with her driving at the Dallas fairgrounds by participating in the “Roadeo” obstacle course. In World War II, the army praised her for helping recruit women drivers to the war effort. Eventually, even those who gave her a hard time would recognize her skills, rewarding efforts and her flawless safety record. The LA Times called her, “a dry land tugboat Annie.” A hero to women and to those suffering from disabilities, Lillie continues to inspire many who follow in her footsteps.

For more information about how to follow in Lillie Drennan’s footsteps, and getting started on the road to your own commercial driver’s license, contact us today! If she can do it, so can you!

Sources:

“Disability History Month: Drennan, Lillie Elizabeth McGee: Truck Driver (1897-1974)” Office of the Governor Greg Abbott, https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/TXGOV/bulletins/d1dcc8

“Drennan, Lillie Elizabeth McGee,” Texas State Historical Society, https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/fdr15

No matter what field of work you choose, going to school to learn a new trade is a big decision. Going to school to get your CDL and become a truck driver is no different. So, what is trucking school really like? Today we want to answer some of the frequently asked questions we get about what trucking school is like at Diesel Driving Academy.

How long is the CDL program?

The Advanced CDL training program at Diesel Driving Academy will take 20 weeks if completed during the day, and 30 weeks if you choose to take classes at night. We also offer a shorter CDL program and a CDL Prep course, which means in just a few weeks you can be on the road in your new carer!

What do I need to enroll in CDL training? 

All students must be at least 21 (by graduation) to enroll in CDL training. Students must hold a valid driver’s license, however, no previous truck driving experience is necessary. Your personal admissions representative will cover other details, including the DOT physical and minimum truck driver qualifications.

What will we study?

The CDL programs at Diesel Driving Academy are based on industry standards and include both hands-on training and regular, classroom-style coursework. Outside of the classroom, you will receive a combination of instructions, demonstrations, and hands-on driving experience. Even if you’ve never been in a truck before, we will have you shifting and backing in no time!

What CDL courses will I have to complete?

in each class, you will receive an introduction to the truck driving industry and will learn about a variety of driving-related topics. We will cover safety procedures, accident reporting, responsible driving practices, pre-trip inspections, and how to pass the CDL exam. Some of the required courses include:

• Map Reading and Trip Planning
• Vehicle Control Skills
• Safe Operation Practices
• Preparation For CDL Testing

How much will the CDL program cost?

At Diesel Driving Academy, we work hard to provide affordable CDL training to those interested in joining the truck driving industry. At your appointment, our financial aid team will help you through the process of finding and applying for grants, scholarships or loans that will help cover the costs of your CDL training.

We are proud to say that our drivers have been hired by a variety of top-quality companies including Schneider, Werner Enterprises, Covenant Transport, Maverick, and Steven’s Transport.

For more information on getting your CDL license through Diesel Driving Academy, call us today at 1-800-551-8900

You’ve made the big decision: you want to get your CDL and pursue a career as a truck driver. That’s great! But, now you might be asking yourself, should I go to trucking school? Many people think obtaining a CDL is as easy as jumping in a truck a few times, learning the basics and you’re off to get your license. If only it were that simple.

Learning how to drive and learning how to drive safely and successfully is a big difference. At Diesel Driving Academy, we pride ourselves on having a vast knowledge of what it takes to train drivers to become successful in their trucking careers. So, you can keep asking yourself that same question, should I go to trucking school? Or, you can read on to see why you should go to trucking school at DDA.

DDA Instructors

Our instructors have a genuine care and compassion for the students that they are training. They want you to succeed and they want to see the pride on your face when you do so. Each CDL course we offer is designed for your success. We will ensure that you walk away with the knowledge, skills, experience, and confidence needed to pass your CDL exam. From your pre-trip inspection to your driving test to maneuvers, you’ll learn everything from instructors with real-world experience.

Job Placement

At Diesel Driving Academy, we also assist in job placement once you have passed the CDL exam. We have ongoing employment partnerships with many different trucking companies, so you are not on your own once you have passed your test. We want to make sure you are able to put your skills to use and make a long and rewarding career out of all of your hard work.

Financial Aid

At this point you may be thinking, this all sounds grand, but how will I ever be able to afford the instruction you are offering? That is where our financial aid and tuition payback programs come in to play. We want to make sure that everyone has a chance to make a career in this growing industry. We try to ensure that everyone is able to get the training they need with little to no out of pocket costs to them.

So what’s holding you back from making the call today? The possibilities are endless! Call us right now! 1-800-551-8900