Many of the major trucking companies in the United States offer training as a part of the job package. To start with, a prospective truck driver would have to pass a physical examination before being invited to take part in the training course. The training can last from three to six weeks and culminates in an exam which the driver is required to pass.
The first few days of most training courses do not involve any driving. Theory and safety aspects of the trucks are taught in a classroom setting, along with the business side of trucking such as keeping accurate records and working with dispatchers. Driving lessons commence later on in the course. The length of time that a course takes depends on the employer. For example, if you are working for Prime Inc., you can expect the training program to last four to six months.
If you get your truck driver certification through a company, it means that you do not have to pay for the training course yourself. The benefit to the company is that you learn all of their requirements from scratch. Most companies will write into the employment contract that you have to stay with them for a certain amount of time to ensure that the expensive training program is paid for. This benefits the company because it means you will stay with the company for at least that length of time.
