TEXAS TEXAS TEXAS------LOOKING FOR GOOD TRAINING SCHOOL

[MRGREEN]

I LIVE IN ARLINGTON,TX AND AM LOOKING FOR A GOOD TRAINING SCHOOL CRE IS DOWN THE ROAD BUT I SEE SO MUCH NEGITIVE STUFF ON IT.....DOES ANY NO OF ANY OTHER SCHOOL IN TEXAS OR FOR THAT MATTER, A GOOD SCHOOL PERIOD........PLEASE HELP

[NevadaJim]

Start by calling your community colleges and Vo-Tech schools. They aren't influenced by the "bottom line" as are private trucking schools. In most cases you'll get twice the training for half the cost. Most private schools are overpriced sales gimmicks. The two biggest smoke and mirror displays are when a school tries to sell you on being PTDI certified or job placement. Neither of which is worth much, but they really try to sell it. Another waste are the ones that charge you for a weeks time of classroom so you can get your permit. CC's and Vo-Techs give the biggest bang for your buck.

[MRGREEN]

THANK YOU VERY MUCH....

[dle]

how far are you willing / able to travel?

[Roco]

Really! Look at CDL Class in .. Laredo Texas' if thats not a Problem'
Sweet Little City' Laredo Community College' Roco' 8)
You go' Laredo Texas Roco From Tacoma Wash

[Danthediablo83]

What about A.C.T in Alamo Tx?

[Fozzy]

How about talk to a few trucking companies to see if any of the training schools mentioned are even able to meet the standards for employment? How about seeing if a trucking company CAN hire you before getting ripped off?

[Hard2Handle]

Have you tried ATDS in Elm Mott, Tx? It's about 10 miles north of Waco, right off 35. I'm not saying it's the best but I liked the instructors and I thought they did a good job. I went through the school and I found a job driving local where I live south of Ft Worth.

Michelle

[Xcis2]

enter your state and what job you are investigating [truck driver cdl or heavy] and see what is available. It works for texas, oklahoma and tennessee but not every state. Hope this benefits someone.

[sodbuster]

I agree with the commiunity and junior collage, In the houston area there are 2 that offer this training and it sound like good training. I went to though a trucking school and was very disapointed on what was taught. They taught just enough to pass your driving test and that was it.

[Jackrabbit379]

Isnt there North American Truck School in Dallas? Or somewhere around there? Maybe not..? :|

[countryhorseman]

Privately run schools - Look for a Sage Driving School - I believe their is one in your area.

Company Run Schools - Stevens Transport in Mesquite. the only issue I had with them when I ran for them, was home time - they kept me busy and good pay for a beginner.

From everything I hear, stay away from Roadmaster and ATDS, you will have to relearn so much when you go to orientation at your first company.

Make sure the school you choose teachs with real world trucks, i.e. full standard shift 9, 10, or 13 speeds, real world trailers - 53' if van, 48' for flatbed.

[greg3564]

ATDS in Elm Mott is a joke. Stay away.

[terrylamar]

Personally, I don't think it matters much what you learn at a school. I am a fairly recent graduate. The only real thing you have to worry about is if the school is approved by the company you will work for. You will learn more in orrientation and one week out with a trainer than you will your entire CDL school. As long as it is approved by your potential company more important concers to you are your out of pocket expenses, how far from home it is, how long it is, financing among other things.

[Root]

Let me highly recommend to you:

http://www.hccs.edu/necollege/trucking/index.htm

I went with their 7 week PTDI course, around $2475.00 tuition/books/DOT Medical exam/CDL Test in their trucks.
PTDI? The big thing about that is the 44(?) hours o Behind The Wheel Time during your training - THAT's what companies are looking for.. I had 3 weeks classroom (125hrs), 4 weeks drive training (44hrs actual) ... NEWBS - behind the wheel on the mean streets o Houston TX... But wait, they have an excellent circle track/ docks/ etc setup - which they were expanding during my term - . You'll be ready for the streets or they won't take you out there.
Excellent instructors. I went in there to get everything they had to offer during the course. They gave me everything they had and More - they had Recruiters come in with their DognPony Shows.. THEN, they'd bring in actual drivers, O/O-company, and especially Prior Grads to contrast with what the recruiters just laid on you - versus Real Truckin'. VERY educational. They DO take felons.. call'em and talk. 16 guys in my class, 8 had felony priors.
If ya Want It, they will bend over backwards to work with you to get you successfully (and correctly) through the course, with a brand new ClassA CDL in your hand BEFORE you graduate... You want Endorsements? They want you to go ahead and get All of'em right now, while the 'iron is hot' and they can help.
They do offer job placement assistance - and you're always welcome back there for visit/referral/job help/ personal testimonials to classes-in-progress. Top notch.
4 hours from Arlington... I lived S o Fort Worth at the time (found a "clean dump" of a HajiHotel very close by that had a serious good Weekly Rate). Due to my personal circumstances, I found myself having to run back n forth to home on the weekends but I certainly didn't have to. At the time, some website had'em rated like in the Top 5 in the US..
Check'em out. Seriously.
The next school I had on my Pick List was up in Wisconsin or that area, and hey... Galveston beach is just South o Houston.
Matter o fact, the Driving Final Exam had us all down there parked on the Sea Wall. At Night...

If I had to Re School for any reason? I'd go right the hell back there without a moment's hesitation. Especially now with their expanded Driving Docking Range.

[greg3564]

They DO take felons.. call'em and talk. 16 guys in my class, 8 had felony priors.

Wonderful. Mark that on my list of schools NOT to recommend. Especially when half the class are felons. Sorry, but that's a pet peeve of mine.

[garyavp]

Let he who is without sin cast the first stone

[greg3564]

Let he who is without sin cast the first stone

While I'm not perfect, I've never been convicted of any crimes. You see I have some sense of morals and I know the difference between right and wrong. I also choose to not associate myself with the criminal element.