The next 5 days you are drilled about company policies, DOT policies, securing your loads, doing the paper work for your company and the DOT. Plus you must within these days also get a physical and DOT JD Truck Training Centre drug screen.
How many hours driving are required in the course? Make sure this does not include sitting in the passenger seat! You need plenty of experience driving and handling a big rig.
Second option is to join a Truck driving school run by any trucking company. These schools offer you free truck driving courses but they usually make you sign one year contract that you will work for the company. At this duration they will pay a little lower wage as they try and compensate what they spent for your truck driver graduation. The disadvantage of this option is that you get stuck for one year with one trucking company and in case you intend to leave they will charge you what they have spent on your course. The advantage is you have the job security as soon as you complete your lessons and you do not have to pay any upfront fees from your side.
Many schools will also offer financial aid. The money you are required to put up front is sometimes a big limiting factor on what type of school you can attend. Offering financial aid can open up your opportunities. Find out how long it will be before you are required to begin making payments after graduation. Most schools will allow you 3-6 months before you start making payments.
Motor Carrier Training is your third choice. Watch out for these sort of operations. There schools are only being operated for one reason. The HR Truck Licence company that is providing the training want truck drivers as soon as possible and offer very little training before you are on the road. This is more of job training then a school. You should be very careful and also read all of the fine print. In most cases, they agree to train you, only if you agree to stay a truck driver for their company for a certain Lr licence amount of years.
Remember, ask anything and everything BEFORE you sign the paper work. Also, take the contract home and read every word, very carefully. If something is unclear, ask someone outside of the school. Be certain that you understand everything within the contract before signing. Once signed, you will be held responsible.
Go to an accredited truck training center or driving school! Learn the whole bases of pro trucking! And make sure you choose a school or training center which is officially certified by the Professional Truck Driver Institute (PTDI).