Sage Truck Driving School: Your Road to a CDL License
Sage Truck Driving Schools (SAGE) are one of the industry’s most recognized schools and are responsible for helping thousands of new truck drivers earn their CDL license each year. Offering comprehensive courses, SAGE has training for all skill levels from basic to advanced and even specialists.
The company focuses on “hands-on the steering wheel” training.
Sage Truck Driving School History
SAGE has successfully trained 40,000 students from across the country over the last 25 years. The company’s mission is to:
- Provide every student with personal attention
- Provide students with hands-on-training
At SAGE, students are allowed to gain the first-hand experience under the guidance of an experienced instructor in an effort to ensure that the student is the most knowledgeable and safest he or her can be.
Training at SAGE Trucking
Students that train at SAGE fall under the school’s one student at a time focus. What does this mean? SAGE offers true one-on-one training – unlike the competition. When a student goes to train at SAGE, they’ll receive one-on-one, private training on the road.
Trucks will never have more than one student inside of the truck at one time.
You’ll also find that the observation time that other schools offer is kept to a minimum. And you’ll never find group observation time.
What is observation time?
Observation time is a waste of vital hours of your training. Many trucking schools will jam a group of students into a truck wherein they’ll watch the other students drive. Each member of the group has a chance to each drive the truck, but all of these hours spent watching goes towards your behind-the-wheel training.
For example, you may be required to spend 100 hours behind the wheel to satisfy the school’s demands, but if you’re watching other students drive for 80 hours and drive for only 20 hours, you’ll still pass through the school.
Observation time is merely a way to fill in behind-the-wheel time and isn’t the best use of a student’s time or money.
SAGE will never include observation time outside of watching the teacher explain different driving techniques and requirements. Since you’re attending on a one-on-one basis with an instructor, you’ll be the one driving and learning the ropes rather than watching other students drive while you gain little-to-no experience in the process.
Sage Truck Driving School Programs
Numerous programs are offered at SAGE to provide students with the education and training they need. The following programs are currently available at a SAGE driving school near you:
Comprehensive Tractor-Trailer Driver Basic
A comprehensive course geared towards tractor-trailer drivers. This provides you with the education and practical skills needed to drive a tractor-trailer. You’ll be required to:
- Complete 150 hours of instruction
- Complete 44 hours of one-on-one driving
- Complete the program over 4 – 5 weeks
This is the most popular program that the company offers and is geared towards a Class A CDL license.
Commercial Driver’s License Essentials
The essentials needed to be a supervised OTR (over-the-road) or in-town tractor-trailer driver. This class allows you to also drive:
- Dump trucks
- Heavy-duty trucks
- Delivery trucks
This is the ideal class for drivers with minimal or no experience behind the wheel. You’ll engage in:
- Behind-the-wheel driving
- Independent study
- Lab
Tractor-Trailer Driver Advanced
An advanced course consisting of 80 hours of instruction over a period of 2-3 weeks. In this course, you’ll be driving for 30 hours and will gain the advanced skills needed to become an entry-level driver.
Tractor-Trailer Driver Refresher
The refresher course is meant for drivers that have previously earned their CDL or that have knowledge in the field. Many drivers that leave the industry will come back and take this course because its just 40 hours long with 20 driving hours over a 2-week period.
Tractor-Trailer Driver Externship
The externship provides a 10 week course with:
- 150 hours of lab and driving experience (5 weeks)
- 150 hours of additional experience with a motor carrier approved by SAGE
Almost all driving is employer-paid. This is the ideal route to transition from training to employment.
Straight Truck Class B
A course designed for students that want to obtain their Class B CDL license. This license is meant for straight trucks, or:
- Concrete mixers
- Water trucks
- Dump trucks
- Delivery trucks
You’ll prepare for your CDL test and be in training for 40 hours in total.
Sage Truck Driving School Employment Assistance
SAGE provides employment assistance to all students, and the company will help each student:
- Write their resume
- Complete truck driver applications
- Work on their professional presentation
The company will also help you analyze the benefits and packages offered by potential employers. You’ll also benefit from a regional and national network of employers that SAGE works with.
While there is no guarantee of a job, the company will put forth their maximum effort in an attempt to help all students obtain a job following the completion of their training.
Sage Truck Driving School also maintains offices in several states, including:
- Colorado
- Idaho
- Indiana
- Florida
- Montana
- North Carolina
- New York
- Pennsylvania
- South Carolina
- Texas
- Utah
- Wyoming
If you’re interested in working for SAGE, the company does offer several tuition options for students. The company will work with veterans and will even help veterans find proper housing during their training.
Employers may also offer tuition reimbursement.
SAGE is an accredited truck driving school, and they’re one of the most highly praised schools in the country for potential truck drivers.
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