Wisconsin Trucking Schools?

[ColdGin]

Hello everyone,
My query is in regards to school located within Wisconsin -southeast area perticulary. I am wondering if any one has any feedback regarding the pro's and con's of schools in this area and any first hand knowledge of the training programs as well as any other issues they may of had with a company or program.

I am located in the southeastern corner of Wisconsin, as far as funding goes.. I have two options.. workin where I am and saving what I need for schooling or signin up for a training program that you pay back after you complete it by 1. cash payments 2. time served as well as cash payments. (contract stating you will work so long for them ).
Any other comments are welcomed .. the more I know the better of a choice I can make .. and hopefully it will be not only the better choice but the right one as well .

Thank you for your imput.

[WOLF RIVER]

Hey I been looking too - more central WI for me and it seems like Slim Pickings

I will be going to Fox Valley Tech. dies MATC offer anything WATC ???

[dennis in se pa]

Checkout their site. And there is a refund policy that is prorated if you can't finish the school.

www.goroehl.com

I am strongly considering going there soon. I got accepted today! :)

[Rev.Vassago]

While it's kind of out of your area, I'd like to recommend you avoid Diesel Driving School in Sun Prairie, WI. It is nothing more than a CDL mill.

[Trucker_Matt]

While it's kind of out of your area, I'd like to recommend you avoid Diesel Driving School in Sun Prairie, WI. It is nothing more than a CDL mill.

+1 on avoiding sun prairie school..... I would suggest Fox valley tech in appleton.wi that is where i graduated from...

[MommaKay]

Checkout their site. And there is a refund policy that is prorated if you can't finish the school.

www.goroehl.com

I am strongly considering going there soon. I got accepted today! :)

FWIW, I just finished week 2 at RDTC and expect to graduate this coming week, Insh'Allah. So far the training has been very good, with plenty of on-the-road driving and lots of range-time for polishing skills. Our instructors have been great, with a good sense of humor. I would definitely recommend RDTC Marshfield WI to anyone looking for a school.

[dennis in se pa]

Good luck to you momma. Let me know what truck you are in. You can't PM yet, but my email address is in my profile.

respects,
Dennis in se pa

[ColdGin]

Best of luck and I hope everything continues to go well for you !

:D

[MommaKay]

I did it! CDL was issued this morning, ink still fresh on the plastic. Our entire class passed, 9 out of 9, but I was sweating it the last couple of days after failing the pre-test three different ways.

Out with my Evo 1 trainer next Wednesday. :D

[dennis in se pa]

Good for you momma! Maybe I will see you around the place after 11/26.

[mawius]

Can you tell me please how bad is Diesel Driving School in Sun Prairie, WI? And what’s so bad there?
Appleton sounds really good, but its 10 weeks. I can afford tuitions, but I don’t think I can afford not to work for 10 weeks and pay rent for 10 weeks.
I live in Madison and I wouldn’t have to pay rent if I’ll go to Sun Prairies, plus their classes only 2 or 4 weeks. I was considering doing 2 weeks classes. I plan to get permit on my own and then just do 2 weeks of classes. I have experience driving only small cars, but I have 5 years of experience driving manual transmission cars.
What do you think? What should I do?

[WOLF RIVER]

I am in the Appleton school right now. It is worth its weight in gold. I think ist also alot cheaper than Sun Praire too. My class is 2400. and its alot of driving time compared to the 20 hours you will get from the other. Dont waste your time - I looked there too. Fox Valley Tech is PDTI certified, they have skid pad training (huge plus), and a huge variety of equipment with about every transmission you can think of. They also have a very nice in house training range, not a gravel parking lot. Stop by the school and take a first hand look before you decide.

[Rev.Vassago]

Can you tell me please how bad is Diesel Driving School in Sun Prairie, WI? And what’s so bad there?

Sun Prairie will teach you how to pass your CDL test - that's about it. They expect that you will go to a "finishing company" who will actually teach you how to drive a truck. They actually spend about 2 days going over the written CDL exam - actually giving you the answers right off the actual exam.

Appleton sounds really good, but its 10 weeks. I can afford tuitions, but I don’t think I can afford not to work for 10 weeks and pay rent for 10 weeks.

You'll leave Appleton knowing how to drive a truck.

I live in Madison and I wouldn’t have to pay rent if I’ll go to Sun Prairies, plus their classes only 2 or 4 weeks. I was considering doing 2 weeks classes. I plan to get permit on my own and then just do 2 weeks of classes.

If that's the case, you'll get absolutely nothing out of Sun Prairie. They are a CDL Mill.

[Rev.Vassago]

and its alot of driving time compared to the 20 hours you will get from the other.

I left Sun Prairie with a CDL and about an hour of driving time on actual streets behind the wheel of a semi truck. The rest of my "driving time" was spent in their parking lot. :roll:

[mawius]

Thanks guys! Now I don’t know what to do :(… Will see…
Any reviews about Millis Training Institude Richfield WI?
Probably will look also at Roehl… looks like they have only 3 weeks classes.

[WOLF RIVER]

More is better than less. Roehl is a very short course to teach only the basics and get your cdl. I have never drove a semi before this class. I wouldnt hesitate to jump in one and run to AZ right now. FVTC will teach you way more than you thought possible.

Appartments are cheap in the Neenah / Menasha area, hotel it for a few nights a week. There are students in my class driving 1.5 hrs each way everyday.

Call the school and talk to Rob Behnke (lead instructor) he might have some thoughts on housing ideas. De Boer trains all their students there too. See if they will sponsor you. We just had a few drivers from Deboer and they were actually from Georgia. The De Boer class is shorter in length. Its only 4 weeks but they work their tails off. Alot of driving every day. I see it first hand.

If you pay for school on your own and have a clean record alot of doors will be open for you right after graduation. You will be able to some what pick and choose who you work for.If you go into a company sposored school they own you for a year (min) and most time pay you crap ola.
If you leave that company you will owe them for your school too. Pay me now or pay me later type thing.


Im telling ya - the 10 week thing seemed super long to me too. Like what am I going to learn that takes that long. Im wishing is was actually a little longer. We missed alot of days due to the snow. School actually closed for a couple of days. And a few days we couldnt drive on the roads.

The coolest thing about FVTC is its a self paced class - you get out of it what you put into it. They will teach you anything you need or want to know - just ask. I wanted to paralle (sp) park a tractor and trailer - now I can. Stupid stuff like that, you may never use it but guess what I can if I have too. The other schools you mentioned wont take that kind of time to teach you those things.

Enough of the SOAP BOX - good luck

[mawius]

Thanks WOLF RIVER!!!
I will decide something… I’m not in a big hurry right now… I’m only considering and researching…
Thanks again!

[brown7477]

Thanks WOLF RIVER!!!
I will decide something… I’m not in a big hurry right now… I’m only considering and researching…
Thanks again!

Wolf River is giving you great information.
I am currently a student at Fox Valley Technical College Truck Driving Program. http://fvtc.edu/truckdriving.

I just finished my 4th week and have learned alot.
I do NOT understand how these CDL mills can do what they do. how can anyone get enough training in 4 weeks to consider themselves a qualified driver. I will be getting my CDL this week and still have 6 weeks of training to go. FVTC hits on about anything and everything you will encounter and they stress the importance on safety. Which is necessary in this industry.

I actually look forward to going to school everyday and will miss the place when i graduate.

You owe it to your self to check into FVTC. you are selling yourself short by going to a 4 week program at anywhere that is not hiring you. Sun Prairie will just give enough training to make you dangerous to yourself and others.

At FVTC you will leave with the confidence and experience you need to start your driving career.

[Yankee]

I am going to the Fox Valley Technical College Truck Driving Program in Appleton. The Wisconsin Job service has a program in witch all your tuition is paid in full by the state for state residents. This is not a loan so no debt!. All I have to pay for is my lodging and food. I visited the college as well as sun Prairie and compared to fox valley the sun prairie school looks like a ghetto! LOL. There are income restrictions as well as other hoops you have to jump through to get the money but they weren't bad. I am looking forward to starting school there! I wil let ya all know how I make out!

[Kranky]

FVTC is an excellent school.

It's not a "CDL mill".

Good luck with your education, and since I'm in Appleton, maybe I'll see you on the road "practicing".

.

[BigWheels]

Good for you Yankee!

I've heard good things about Fox Valley Technical School's Truck driving program.

In the early 80's I attended Sun Prairie Diesel Driving School. My experience was similiar to the Rev's.

I left the transportation industry in the mid-80's and got back into it 20-years later.

In order to get my feet back into big-rigging, I attended RDTC in 2004. Good school--much better than my experience with Sun Prairie. (For what it's worth, Roehl is a good OTR company to start out with...and perhaps stay with if it works for you.)

Best to you as you begin your OTR journeys!