It does not help that there are many schools, recruiters and job placement companies eager to encourage trainees to hurry through training. In regard to community college programs, one irresponsible website advises, "There are many cheaper community college/vocational programs. However they are sometimes longer than necessary (6 weeks +)...Time is money."  

Whether a course is "too long" is very much dependent on the individual.  If you have some trucking background, a shorter course might be preferable.  If you are as green as grass, it is very doubtful that 6 weeks will be "too long". 

Update:  The above bothered me so much that I decided to email the website owner.  Read our email exchange here.

A few more words of brilliance from these people advise:

"Many folks just look at tuition amount when thinking of training...don't pay any more than necessary, but the lowest price may not be the best if the program is too long! Companies hire from schools with 3 or 4 week programs...why train longer than necessary?"   This statement implies that because carriers hire from such programs that they are the way to go.  There is no emphasis or mention of becoming a safe driver -- only becoming a driver quickly. 

And finally, they say:  "The quicker you get trained, the more money you make."   What about a banner that proclaims, "The better you're trained, the more success you'll enjoy?"  Or maybe, "The quicker you're trained, the quicker you can wreck the truck and kill a family." 

If you click on the banner that proclaims, "Let a company pay for your training," you are taken to a page that assures you that, "In less than 2 weeks of training, you can be on the road to success in a great paying career as a professional truck driver."  The sponsoring company claims, "We are the recruiting network for some of the country’s most well known and profitable trucking companies."  This program consists of an entire six days spent behind the wheel.