How to Pay for Truck Driving School with the GI Bill, Grants, Scholarships, or Payment Plans

By making the decision to attend truck driver training school and earn your CDL, you have just made an important and life-changing decision to expand your horizons, and your paycheck. If you're like many students who attend Southwest Truck Driver Training, or one of the numerous other CDL training schools around the nation, you're probably thinking that you just don't have the cash to pay for school outright. Don't use money as an excuse to put off getting your career going, anymore! There are so many options available to students looking to obtain training and improve their lives through education that perhaps you didn't even know about. Whether you're able to get the entire cost of your CDL schooling covered through scholarships, or you find a payment plan that works for you, attending truck driving school provides great returns on this small investment of your time and money. Below we will go over the most common means by which we assist our students in obtaining funds.

Meet the Team: Southwest Truck Driver Training, Tucson Campus

Do you have kids or friends that are heading back to school this August, and has it gotten you thinking about doing the same thing? Earning your CDL is an excellent option because the training does not take long, and the return on your investment in truck driver training is very high. Maybe you know all of this, but you're still not ready to dive in. For those of you who like to start by dipping your toes in the water, let us put you at ease by introducing you to our awesome Tucson team and campus. 

How to Earn Your CDL in Nevada in 6 Steps

Are you a resident of Nevada and entertaining the idea of studying for your CDL? Every year, thousands of men and women go through truck driver training programs across the United States, earning their commercial driver's license to start their careers as professional truck drivers. While the specifics of obtaining a CDL can vary slightly between states, just like a regular driver's license, it is good in every state. Great! So how exactly do you go about getting a CDL in Nevada? Keep reading to find out!

5 Steps to Earning Your CDL in Arizona

Every year, thousands of men and women go through truck driver training programs across the United States, earning their commercial driver's license to start their careers as professional truck drivers. While the specifics of obtaining a CDL can vary slightly between states, just like a regular driver's license, it is good in every state. Great! So how exactly do you go about getting a CDL in Arizona? Keep reading to find out!

7 Questions to Ask a Truck Driver Training School Before Enrolling

So, you're thinking about starting a career as a professional truck driver. You've probably searched the Internet to find out how to go about doing just that, and now you're at the point where you're deciding which truck driver training school is best for you. At first glance it may seem that, from the outside, they are all pretty much the same. However, if you're sure to pay close attention and ask the right questions, you'll quickly come to learn the differences. If you ask these 7 questions, you'll be able to separate the good from the bad.

Everything You Need to Know About the DOT Physical and CDL Medical Card

Any driver on the road takes their life, as well as the lives of drivers around them, into their hands. This is especially true for professional truck drivers who, at a minimum, can cause monetary losses for the company they're driving and delivering for, should a health-related delay or accident occur... And of course a worst-case scenario being a loss of life. For this reason, you are required by the Department of Transportation in most states to obtain a CDL Medical Card before you can receive your CDL learner's permit. This card is given after you "pass" a DOT Physical, given by an approved DOT Medical Examiner. The DOT medical exam has the following minimum requirements for medical clearance to hold a CDL in non-exempted situations:

• 20/40 correctable vision in each eye
• Diabetes, if controlled through diet, may be approved. Diabetics requiring needle-injected insulin is more likely to be a disqualification from being an interstate driver, but some states do have Insulin-Dependent Intrastate Waivers.
• Hearing: a) Must first perceive forced whispered voice > 5 ft., with or without hearing aid, or b) average hearing loss in better ear < 40 dB
• Blood Pressure:
• 140/90 or below, for a 24-month certificate
• 140-159/90-99, for a 12-month certificate
• 160-179/100-109, for a 3-month temporary certificate
• Anything higher than the above will disqualify you from receiving your DOT CDL medical card.
• Blood sugar must be under 200.
• Use of narcotics will not be approved
• Heart disease or other heart issues may require an additional doctor's note.

The following may affect the outcome of a DOT CDL physical:

• Sleep Apnea
• Recent back injury
• Recent major surgery
• Current hernia

For more detailed requirements, view the form: Medical Examination Report FOR COMMERCIAL DRIVER FITNESS DETERMINATION

Most medical certificates are valid for 2 years, unless you have a medical condition that requires more frequent monitoring. If you are working on your CDL with Southwest Truck Driver Training, the following links provide CDL medical card information specific to the states of Arizona and Nevada:

ADOT CDL Medical Certification
DMVNV Do I need a medical certificate?
DMVNV Requirements for Medical Certification

Keep in mind that although you may not be required by some states to have a DOT Medical Card prior to validating your CDL, many employers will still require you to have a medical exam before you can get behind the wheel. It is probably best to just get the medical exam out of the way, no matter what your state requires, so you can get to work right away.

More information:

FMCSA CDL Medical
State-by-State Instructions for Submitting Medical Certificates to the State Driver Licensing Agencies