If you need CDL training in Missouri, then there are a number of different options available to you that are scattered across the state. Going to a truck driving school in Missouri can help you to prepare to for the MO CDL application process, which is done through the Missouri Department of Revenue (DOR). Commercial drivers licenses (CDLs) are special types of driving credentials that allow drivers to legally operate commercial vehicles. These are often bigger and harder to handle than normal cars and trucks and come in the form of school buses, semi-trucks and more. While training is not required for all drivers in the state, you may need it depending on the type of commercial vehicle that you are being asked to drive.
Missouri CDL school is comprised of in-class and on-the-road education and training, which is much more in-depth and practical than learning all of your needed information online. Therefore, getting the right amount of training can help you to feel more prepared for your driving tests as well as get the commercial driving job that you need to help support your families. Commercial driving careers are more and more lucrative each year and so investing a little bit into quality training today can help to set you up for a successful driving future. This article will talk more about this specialized training and how you can use it to get your CDL.
What is CDL training in Missouri?
Finding out more regarding Class A CDL training in Missouri is a smart decision, as these licenses are the most commonly requested CDL among commercial driving employers today.
Class A CDLs allow the legal operation of vehicles weighing greater than 26,000 pounds, which can also tow loads that weigh greater than 10,000 pounds. Many different commercial vehicles in Missouri fall under this category, as semi-trucks with large amounts of merchandise are common among distributors and other trucking companies.
These vehicles require a bit more CDL training and information to use properly, as they can be harder to use while parking, merging into traffic and more.
Class B CDL training in Missouri is not too different from Class A CDL training, as it covers vehicles that are more than 26,000 pounds but only able to haul less than 10,000 pounds.
This means that these vehicles do not have as much bulky weight attached to them and are easier to drive. You can also get Class C commercial licenses in Missouri, which allows you to operate a commercial vehicle that can carry 16 or more passengers or hazardous materials.
There are a number of additional driving endorsements that you can add to all of these license types in Missouri, which each have their own training procedures.
Is CDL school required in Missouri?
You may need CDL classes in Missouri for a number of different reasons, but the MO DOR does not expressly require it for most commercial drivers in the state.
This means that if you so choose, then you may get your standard (Class D) driver's license and immediately apply for a CDL permit in Missouri without spending the time to prepare. However, this is not recommended, as you will more than likely fail your CDL general knowledge test without the proper training.
Before taking your MO CDL written test, you can always choose to do your own studying if you would not like to sign up for a training program.
The one exception to needing an official training program is if you have signed up for a school bus endorsement as a Missouri driver. As a school bus driver, you will not only need to have proof of a training program after receiving your CDL but you must also provide additional proof of training when renewing credentials at 70 years of age or older.
CDL courses in Missouri are unique to commercial driving in the state, but they are also similar in many ways to traditional driver's education courses. This is because CDL training is split up in two different ways, in the forms of classroom education and driving experience education.
You can benefit from both of these methods of CDL review as a Missouri driver and may be able to get your license faster than others who do not take advantage of this opportunity.
CDL training online in Missouri is possible through personal study, but going to a classroom in-person is a much more efficient way to get all of the right information tailored to you and organized effectively.
Your CDL test in Missouri is going to be much more challenging than your original driver's license test, and that is mostly due to how much bigger a commercial vehicle is than a sedan or SUV.
Therefore, the primary goal of these CDL training programs is to give you time to actually use a commercial vehicle under the supervision of an instructor so that you can be ready for your driving test.
Driving practice often involves learning how to park, turn, merge and hitch these commercial vehicles and you can often simulate your future driving tests using these basic maneuvers.
How long is CDL training in Missouri?
CDL prep in Missouri is a critical part of getting your CDL in the state, but it usually does not happen all at once. Like many other types of training programs, including traditional driver's education, these courses are designed to provide an in-depth look at all of the possible information that you will need as a driver in Missouri.
The average CDL school course will take roughly four to six weeks, but there are some courses that are much shorter or much longer depending on when they meet each week. You will need at least eight hours of school bus training for Missouri's minimum requirement, but the average course is often between 150 and 200 hours of instruction and testing.
If you need to know, "Where can I find a good truck driving school near me in Missouri?" then you can answer this question simply and comfortably by visiting some of the top-rated options in the state.
Ozark CDL, LLC – This CDL training service is made up of industry professionals and provides excellent classroom and driving instruction in Missouri. They also have services dealing in other licensing needs, as well as truck rental services.
Clement Truck Driving Academy – One of the best CDL schools in Missouri based on an aggregate of ratings, this organization specializes in providing fast and affordable training. They have three-week programs for standard CDLs as well as one- to two-week refresher courses for Missouri drivers who need them before renewing CDL credentials in the state.
CASE CDL Training and Truck Rental – This is a useful program for someone who wants a much shorter amount of instruction and CDL training in Missouri but at a much lower cost. For example, one of their many options is a simple Class A instruction course of nine-and-a-half hours, which costs only $725.
Getting CDL jobs in Missouri can seem like a difficult thing to do unless you use all of the available training advantages at your disposal.
To start, many commercial driving employers will look for and exclusively hire trained drivers in the state of Missouri, even despite there not being a legal requirement in the state. Therefore, enrolling in a CDL school and having a clean record of driving are often the only ways to obtain certain driving jobs.
Additionally, there are some MO CDL job placement opportunities available with some training programs, wherein a commercial driving employer or recruiter will make it their mission to hire graduates of a specific training program.
Choosing your favorite training provider can be a very lucrative decision to make, as it can sometimes lead directly into a driving job after you get your CDL.
Your CDL training cost in Missouri will depend on where you are getting your training and what kind of CDL you are planning on getting. Class A CDL training courses are generally more expensive than Class B licenses, but endorsements can be relatively inexpensive.
While tuition costs will vary from location to location, the average cost for a four-week Class A program is around $3,000 to $4,000. You can get special financing from certain providers as well as scholarships and payment plans where they apply. In some cases, employers may offer paid CDL training with the promise of working for them upon graduation.
Going through a CDL practice test in Missouri is likely an event that you will do quite frequently if you choose to sign up for a training program in the state.
These tests are like having a CDL study guide, as they can prepare you for what to expect during your real test. However, you can also find many of these practice knowledge tests and information resources online through the Missouri DOR and other providers.
By using the Missouri DOR's CDL handbook, otherwise known as a commercial driver manual, found online, interested Missouri drivers can study all of the information that they will need for their information tests in the state.
Used alongside or in place of a training program, this information is crucial in making sure that you are prepared to get your MO CDL as fast as possible.