Wondering if you should get your Class A CDL? It’s not only an incredibly versatile license, but employees with a CDL are highly sought after!
The trucking industry in Montana isn’t all long haul or interstate driving – in fact, that makes up only a small percentage of our students’ career paths after they’ve completed our Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) training program!
There are many reasons for students to get their CDL, and to drive any vehicle or towing weight over 10,000 pounds, a Class A CDL is legally required. But with new regulations for how you can get your CDL, it can be confusing and overwhelming to get started.
If you’re in the market for your CDL, there are a few steps you’ll need to take before applying for our program:
- Pass a DOT Physical and receive a Medical Examiner’s Certificate (MEC)
- Earn your Commercial Learner’s Permit (CLP)
To obtain your Medical Examiner’s Certificate, you will need to pass a physical with a doctor, which you can do at many Urgent Cares, with your primary physician, or at DOT Bozeman. Doctors will be testing your hearing, eyesight, blood pressure, and will be looking into any current medications to ensure they won’t impair your driving.
Once you’ve received your MEC, you can take your permit test (you will not be able to take this test without your MEC, so make sure you bring it with you to your appointment!). The test is made up of 50 questions and will quiz you on Combination Vehicles, Airbrakes, and CDL General Knowledge. You can study for this by using the CDL Handbook and/or taking practice quizzes online. If you wanted to add any endorsements to your CDL, such as Hazmat, Hazardous Materials, Tanker, etc., you can do that at the time of your permit test as well!
An 80% is required to pass this exam, and as soon as you’ve done that, you can schedule training dates with us! You can learn more about our Behind the Wheel and Theory training programs and what we offer here.
Our experienced instructor, Mike, will walk you through everything you need to pass your CDL Driving Test with the DMV which will be taken on the Thursday of your training in our truck at the Bozeman Fairgrounds. Students are tested on Pre-trip, Backing, and Driving.
If you don’t pass, don’t fret – you can schedule a retest with us in a few weeks for $300. Not everyone passes on their first time, and that’s totally okay! If you do pass though, you will get a temporary license and can start driving right away.
What are you waiting for? Get started on your CDL today! If you have any questions, you can reach out to us at 406-388-6701, or [email protected].
