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There are many reasons to become a truck driver with a commercial driver’s license. These include salary levels and employee benefits, an independent working environment, options for flexible schedules, and possibilities for advancing your career. However, this career path starts with the right education and CDL training, so that you have the opportunity to ground yourself in solid skills and knowledge.

At Mike’s Driving School located in Clayton, New Jersey, you can choose between several CDL school courses. Here, we review the most important aspects of CDL training.

How to Become a Great Truck Driver

Approaching the driving of large trucks with the seriousness it deserves is one of the qualities of a great truck driver. Education and training are the first steps to gaining the necessary understanding of the responsibilities that lie on the open road. The size and power of large-scale transportation can be dangerous for the driver, as well as other vehicles on the road. There are several positive attributes practiced by great truck drivers:

• Awareness: A high degree of alertness is necessary for safe, efficient driving.
• Reliability: Drivers usually need to deliver their loads within a strict schedule.
• Mechanical knowledge: Understand the basic mechanics of vehicle operations.
• Communication skills: Speak clearly when leaving messages and reporting incidents.
• Self-management: Drivers are responsible for keeping themselves on track and productive.
• Patience: This is an attribute all drivers need, but especially large rig drivers.

Choose Your CDL Training Course at Mike’s Driving School

If you have the motivation to pursue your CDL, can work independently, and practice good customer service skills, truck driving may be a good career move for you. At Mike’s Driving School, students can choose between several courses:

• Class A CDL Course, 160 hours
• Class A CDL Refresher Course, 140 – 160 hours
• Class B CDL Course, 120 hours
• Class B Passenger Endorsement, 120 hours

These courses are available in Clayton, New Jersey. Students learn and practice skills with qualified instructors. Topics include:

• Defensive driving
• Air brakes
• Parallel parking
• Combination vehicles
• Shifting and turning
• Forklift operations
• Yard and road skills
• Driving with passengers

With classroom instruction, tractor-trailer training in the school training yard, and on-road practice, our students develop and practice CDL training skills. They also log hours on the road, gaining valuable experience under the supervision of professional instructors. Mike’s Driving School provides detailed lesson plans for all courses and prepares students according to the New Jersey CDL Manual.

Yard Skills for Tractor-Trailers at Mike’s Driving School

When you are serious about learning valuable skills and gaining practical experience with tractor-trailers, there’s no substitute for practice. At Mike’s Driving School, CDL training courses provide plenty of behind-the-wheel practice on yard skills. Here are some of the skills we encourage our students to develop:

• Offset backing, straight line backing, and 90-degree turn backing
• Inspecting the truck both pre- and post-trip, including in-cab
• Parallel parking to both the right and left, including blind spot awareness
• Testing and operating air brakes
• Successfully performing alley dock maneuvers

Students also have the opportunity to earn an OSHA-approved forklift operator certification. Practice in the yard at Mike’s Driving School includes inspection, operation, and safely stacking pallets. Combining a forklift operator certification with the CDL is a winning combination when searching for employment.

Do You Have the Pre-Qualifications for CDL Training?

Students at Mike’s Driving School in Clayton, New Jersey, are required to be at least 18 years of age and either a U.S. citizen or a permanent resident in the U.S. We also expect our students to already have a driver’s license for operating a motor vehicle. In addition, our drivers must be able to recognize red, green, and amber colors and their vision must be at least 20/40. There are also physical fitness requirements that can usually be handled with a self-certification process, but occasionally require documentation from a medical examiner.

Enroll for CDL Training at Mike’s Driving School

If you are interested in becoming a commercial truck driver, Mike’s Driving School in Clayton, New Jersey can provide the education and training you need. Contact us today.