If you want to become a truck driver, going to a truck driving school or training program at a nearby college are typical paths to enter the field. Before you head down that journey however consider if you are capable of passing the DOT (Department of Transportation) physical exam to make sure you will be able to be a truck driver.
Do you have any major health concerns or are you missing some fingers or toes? Getting a medical waiver for some health issues is possible but not for everything. You want to think about this first so if you know you have major issues then you may want to learn more about the DOT requirements before spending money on training.
As all schools are different you will need to research each one you are considering attending as each truck driver training program will vary from school to school. For example, some may only be 3 weeks long while others could be 5 weeks or longer. Do your home work to make sure you understand exactly what you will be getting for your money.
In addition to learning book information and theory make sure the school you choose will give you enough time behind the wheel. You will need to know the rules but without learning the actual skills to be behind the wheel in a safe manner you may not be ready for the open road.
Going to work for a trucking company and having an experienced driver assigned to help you improve your skills is great, but make sure to find a trucking school that also focuses on behind the wheel time. This will help develop a base line of important skills needed on the road.
Getting a lot of real world practice driving, doing vehicle inspections, hook and trailer drops, etc is important. The books help, but getting your hands dirty learning the needed skills is important.
If the instructors at a school never worked very long for a real trucking company you may want to watch out. There is only so much you can learn from books and some of the most important skills will come from experienced trainers.
Learning the proper driving habits early on is important for your safety and those around you. Therefore finding a school that really focuses on safety instead of just rushing you out the door and collecting money is something you want to be careful of.