Class 1 or 3?

I would advise, for what it's worth, take the training for class 3, especially if you have a job that goes with it. With the economy as it is right now, most companies won't hire inexperienced drivers if they are hiring at all. You can always upgrade your license with a 10 hour course after you get some experience.

Unfortunately your class 3 experience will count NOT at all when it comes to a class 1 license...totally separate type of truck.

 

Well if your going to school why not go for your Class 1 right off the bat? Go for your Class 1 even though you just need a Class 3. Does this company have Tractor-Trailers units? The Class 1 will open more doors for you in the long run than a Class 3, save you from having to go back to school to upgrade to a 1 too.

Is there much of a price difference for a Class 1 and 3 course?

 

When I was teaching a Class 1 license training was 3 to 4 times as expensive as Class 3. Class 3 can be taught in 10 hours for a guy with ZERO experience in a truck. We did it all the time at the school I worked at cause we had multitudes of firefighters come through & that's what they had to have.

And since his company is paying for the course I seriously doubt they'll pay for the Class 1 when they don't require it.

 

If your young and your paying for the course out of your pocket (and have the money) and going to be needing a Class 1 later on down the road, don't fool around with just getting a Class 3, save the time and hassle with just taking your Class 1. But unless the Company is paying for it, then take the Class 3.

 

I got my class 3 license paid for by the oilfield. When it came time to getting my class 1 license a couple years later I paid for 4.5 hours time with an instructor pulling a trailer around and then I took my 1.5 hour driving test and the rest is history. The upgrade cost me 600 bucks. Mind you I had countless hours riding shotgun with my dad over the years to see how everything was done so it was more of a matter of making my own hands do the work I had seen so many times.

If work will pay for your class 3 license I would go that route if money is tight for you. After all, free is FREE!!!

My class 3 oilfield experience helped land my job driving class 1. I didn't even have my class 1 license when I got this job but I mentioned the experience I had with class 3 and I did well enough in an interview with the boss that he took a chance on me and told me I have a job as long as I pass my written and driving tests on the first shot.

 

I would suggest going for the class 1 now too, if that's what you hope to drive in the future. Also, you never know when you'll get a lucky break. You might get a class 1 and, with only class 3 experience, one day find yourself driving a tandem dump truck. But if that company has end dumps or belly dumps too - class 1 trucks - and one day a class 1 driver doesn't show up or is sick, then you might just be in with a chance. Good luck!

 

Good luck with your class 1 gdup. Experience takes time and patience but it will come. You just have to be willing to put up with some #### on your way up and trust me it will be worth it. If you want to be respected you must show respect back. Just show them you are seriously willing to learn but if someone critiques your driving take that as a compliment to improve your skills not as an insult or even ask what it is what your are doing wrong and what should you be doing instead.