What Is CDL School Like? A Student’s Review

Not every student walks into CDL school knowing how to shift gears.

Dennis didn’t.

When he enrolled at New Sound CDL School, he had never driven a manual car or truck. He started from scratch, like many of our students do. And after earning his Class A CDL with us, he left a detailed review that gives future drivers a real sense of what training here looks like.

We think his experience says a lot about what kind of school we run.

Here’s what Dennis had to say, and what you can expect if you choose to follow the same path.

You Don’t Need Experience to Start CDL School

“I’d never driven a manual transmission before,” Dennis wrote. “Not even a car.”

That’s not uncommon. While some students come in with experience driving stick shifts, others like Dennis learn from the ground up. And that’s completely fine.

At New Sound, we start you where you are. Whether you’ve grown up around trucks or never touched a gear shifter, our instructors know how to break things down step by step.

Dennis went on to pass his Washington DOL exam on his first try.

That’s because we don’t just aim for a pass. We aim for full understanding.

Learn Real-World CDL Skills

Dennis had this to say about our team:

“The school has amazing instructors who genuinely want their students to succeed. I not only learned the skills and behaviors to pass the exam, but the instructors taught me so much more to help me succeed in my career going forward. They don't just teach you to pass the exam.”

That’s one of the most consistent things we hear from students.

Yes, we help you pass the skills test. But we also train you for life on the road. That means helping you build habits that protect your license, your paycheck, and your safety long after graduation.

We teach:

• Shifting and clutch control
  
  
• Real-world turning and backing
  
  
• Trip planning and defensive driving
  
  
• Mindset, responsibility, and situational awareness
  
  

That’s what we believe a good CDL program should deliver.

You Have to Earn Your CDL With Effort

Some students want the path to trucking to be easy. The fact is, it’s not. Here’s what Dennis had to say about the effort it takes:

“This is not easy. As much as the instructors can help you, you're the one putting in the work and hours, and it's up to you. You've got to stay motivated and commit to learning, studying, and growing.”

That’s true. We don’t hand out CDLs here. We help you earn one.

Our instructors will guide you, correct you, and coach you. But the effort has to come from you. Dennis understood that early on, and that mindset is part of what made him successful.

Trained Educators with CDL Driving Experience

We’re proud of every trainer on our team. But two of them stood out to Dennis while he was a student here:

“All the instructors were great, but I'd really like to give a shoutout to Gary and Ivan since I spent the majority of my time with them. They provided me with so much help and great advice, and they really love teaching and helping people grow.”

Gary and Ivan are a great example of what we look for in instructors.

Not only are they former drivers, they’re also trained educators. They know how to adapt their approach, explain concepts clearly, and get students through tough moments with encouragement and clarity.

Don’t Be Afraid of Failing or Messing Up

Dennis summed up a really important truth about CDL training when he said:

“It can be stressful at times, but that's why you're at school. If you were already good at something, you wouldn't need to be there to learn. Expect to make mistakes, but also expect to learn from them and improve.”

We expect every student to mess up. We also expect every student to grow.

The training yard is where you should make mistakes. That’s how you build muscle memory. That’s how you develop the patience and focus needed to drive a semi safely.

And every time you stall, miss a gear, or forget a step, you’re learning. These are your training grounds where you’ll stretch and grow until you’ve mastered the CDL skills.

Part-Time and Evening CDL Courses Are Available

Dennis trained part-time, like many of our students who work or care for family. He had to juggle his training time wisely, so here’s what it looked like for him:

“Expect to also be studying and putting in the hours outside of school hours as well. For example, spending the time to practice learning the pre-trip when you're at home or if you're new to shifting. Practicing shifting at home to get familiar with the positions.”

Mastering CDL skills is not just about showing up to class.

Students who succeed spend time reviewing their pre-trip inspection at home, visualizing shifting patterns, and studying their CDL handbooks. That commitment shows when test day arrives and follows them long into their careers.

You can get your CDL too, whether full-time, part-time, or in the evenings. All you need is commitment.

Supportive Classmate Environment for CDL Success

One thing we love to hear is how much our students support one another. This comes from a healthy school environment that starts at the top:

“Not only were the instructors great, but I had a great time with my classmates. We'd help each other learn, grow, test each other on our pre-trips and give each other tips and advice on how to improve. I've met some great people!”

We’ve seen strangers become friends, and those friends help each other through the entire CDL program.

When you’re learning to back up a 53-foot trailer or recite a 100-point inspection, having other students in your corner makes a big difference. It’s not a competition. It’s a team effort.

What Future CDL Students Should Know

Here’s what Dennis’ story teaches anyone thinking about enrolling:

• You don’t need to have experience with manual transmission.
  
  
• The instructors will teach you the “why,” not just the “how.”
  
  
• You’ll need to practice outside of class to really master the skills.
  
  
• Your classmates can be one of your best resources.
  
  
• Mistakes are part of the process.
  
  
• Motivation matters more than your history.
  
  

Why Our Students Recommend New Sound CDL School

We’ll let Dennis quickly close this out in his own words:

“I would recommend this school to anyone looking to get their CDL license.”

We’re honored to be the school Dennis trusted. And we’re proud to have helped him launch his trucking career with confidence, skill, and a manual Class A CDL.

Interested in Getting Your CDL?

Here’s what to do next:

1. Call us, message us, or complete a form: We’ll get back to you quickly and answer your questions honestly.
   
   
2. Pick your schedule: Full-time, part-time, or evening, we have flexible start dates for all courses!
   
   
3. Decide which Class (and transmission) of CDL you want: We recommend a manual Class A CDL in order to avoid any license or career restrictions.
   
   
4. Enroll and get started: We’ll walk you through our payment plans, grants, or other finance options.

We don’t sell false hope. We teach real skills that lead to real jobs. If you’re serious about earning your CDL in Washington state, and you want the kind of support Dennis found here, we’d love to help.