Before becoming a truck driver, you must complete truck driving school training. Your training will include truck handling and maintenance and the additional preparation required to pass the CDL exam.
If you’re considering going to a truck driving school, keep reading to learn all the information about the ATDS truck driving school, which is one of Texas’s best truck driving schools.
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What to Expect From ATDS Truck Driving School
ATDS Truck Driving School is a truck driving school in Killeen, Texas. ATDS offers a comprehensive and all-encompassing tractor-trailer driver training program on safety and professionalism.
Students will get trained on equipment commonly seen on the road. Even if you’ve never driven a stick shift, the ATDS truck driving school professional staff have the skills and proven methods to help you learn.
ATDS even has automatic trucks for those who prefer them. They have trained thousands of truck drivers efficiently and safely and take pride in their trainers, facilities, equipment, and instruction.
ATDS truck driving school offers a four-week training course, job placement services, and financial assistance to those who qualify.
This school provides training in eight qualifications, the most popular of which are Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) Class A, Manual, Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) Class A, and Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) Class A. (CDL).
Depending on the qualification, the time required to complete this education training ranges from 2 weeks to 3 months, with a median time of 5 weeks.
ATDS truck driving school offers:
- 140 hours of “hands-on” training
- 70 hours of classroom instruction
- Professional placement program completion.
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Admission Requirements For ATDS Truck Driving School
- Have a high school diploma or a GED: You must have a high school diploma or a GED equivalent. You must pass an approved Ability-to-Benefit test to get admitted if you do not have either of these.
- You must have a valid driver’s license.
- There have been no major traffic violations in the last three years.
- It would be best if you were at least 18 years old when you finish your CDL training. To receive an interstate license, you must be 21 or older by the end of your training.
ATDS would like students to know the qualifications required to be an OTR truck driver in addition to admission requirements. These are some examples:
- Drivers must be at least 21 years old to operate trucks across state lines and must be at least 18 years old to drive within state borders.
- Truck drivers must have a state-issued Commercial Driver’s License (CDL). A commercial driver can only have one state’s license.
- According to the United States Department of Transportation, a driver must have a complete physical examination every two years.
- Driver must have 20/40 vision in each eye, with or without corrective lenses, and a field of vision of 70 degrees in each eye. Drivers may or may not be colorblind.
- With or without a hearing aid, a driver must be able to detect a forced whisper in the better ear at a distance of not less than five feet.
- A driver must read and speak English fluently enough to understand traffic signs, prepare required reports, and communicate with law enforcement and the general public. (Please remember that some companies may have additional educational requirements.)
- The United States Department of Transportation establishes safety rules for interstate truck drivers (vehicle inspection, hours of service, and so on), and drivers must learn and follow these rules. For intrastate drivers, most states have adopted similar laws.
- Law strictly prohibited the use of alcohol or drugs before or while operating a commercial vehicle. Drivers are subject to pre-employment, post-accident, reasonable suspicion, and random drug and alcohol testing by their employers and law enforcement officials in four different circumstances. A driver must not have a current clinical diagnosis of alcoholism or use illegal drugs.
- A driver must not get convicted of a felony involving the use of a motor vehicle; a drug-related crime; driving while impaired by drugs or alcohol, or hit-and-run driving, resulting in injury or death.
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What Are The Pros And Cons of Enrolling in ATDS Truck Driving School?
Here are some pros of enrolling in ATDS truck driving school;
- Good teachers.
- Helpful career services.
- Positive environment.
- Good career preparation.
- Hands-on training.
- Flexible class hours.
- Affordable Tuition.
- Proficient instructors.
- Good instructors-students ratio.
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Here are some cons of enrolling in ATDS truck driving school
- Low-funded program.
- Time Consuming
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What Does ATDS Truck Driving School Cost?
The tuition at ATDS Truck Driving School ranges from $3,500 to $6,995 per semester, with a median cost of $5,000.
The student’s level of qualification determines this fee. Students who meet the requirements can apply for financing.
Their behind-the-wheel training involves both private training ranges and public highways. After training at ATDS truck driving school, you will have no problem finding a job after.
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There are various ways to get funding for your truck driving school. They include;
- Company-sponsored CDL training: Attending a company-sponsored CDL training school is the best way to get your CDL without going into debt or depleting your savings.
However, after receiving your CDL, you must fulfill a contractual obligation (usually one year of employment or 100,000 miles of safe driving). Many company-sponsored CDL schools pay you while you are training, and most have few out-of-pocket costs.
- Pell grants for CDL training: Pell Grants, unlike traditional loans, do not require repayment. Instead, they offer federally subsidized financial aid to students with limited financial means who don’t have a bachelor’s degree or are attending training at a participating institution.
- Military grants and financial assistance: Many trucking companies, schools, and financial institutions provide grants and services to veterans. Finding suitable programs, establishing eligibility, and navigating the application process is not easy, but the rewards can be well worth it for those who do.
- Workforce innovation and opportunity Act: Both the federal and state governments provide a variety of workforce retraining programs for those who have lost their jobs due to layoffs, business bankruptcies, or natural disasters such as hurricanes. You can pay for your truck driving school with the workforce innovation and opportunity act.
- Adult and Dislocated Worker program: The Adult and Dislocated Worker Program, part of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998, provides employment and job training assistance to eligible workers and assists employers in finding skilled employees such as truck drivers.
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Frequently Asked Questions
The cost of truck driving school and CDL fees will vary depending on the school you choose and where you live, but the total cost is typically between $3,000 and $10,000.
In Texas, CDL training tuition ranges from $3,000 to $10,000. The majority of people pay an average tuition of $6,917. However, some trucking companies provide training programs for free if you work for them for several years after receiving your CDL.
You can obtain a CDL in as little as three to six months. However, attending a full-time driver training program takes approximately seven weeks to obtain a CDL.
The short answer is that you can study and test for your CDL without attending school or a company-sponsored training program.
All CDL applicants (Class A, B, and C) must read the following sections: Safe driving, safe cargo transportation, Vehicle Inspection Test, Basic Control Skills Test, and Road Test (if you intend to operate vehicles equipped with air brakes).
In Dallas, TX, the average truck driver earns $50,513 annually. A truck driver’s hourly wage is $24.29/hr on average.
Conclusion
CDL training will teach you more than just how to drive a tractor-trailer. CDL training also allows you to move other types of vehicles.
Furthermore, when you receive training at ATDS truck driving school, you will be working with instructors with decades of industry experience and peers who share your interests.
References
- truckingschool.com – ATDS truck driving school.
- indeed.com – ATDS truck driving school in Killeen, TX.
- truckingtruth.com – ATDS truck driving school review.
- driving-schools.com – ATDS truck driving school.
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