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Jawila
Joined: 20 Nov 2006
Posts: 23
Location: Utah
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| Posted: Sun Dec 17, 2006 7:19 pm Post subject: |
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Three schools here in Salt Lake City:
Salt Lake Community College Skills Center - 280 hour course for ~$2000.
Sage Technical Services - 160 hour course for ~$4000.
Roadmaster Driving School - 160 hour course for ~$6000.
IMHO, SLCC is the best here in Utah.
I'm at Roadmaster, and I hope nobody from there is reading this, but it's a bit of a rip off. Like I said in a previous post, WIA is paying my way (and WIA is actually only being charged $3100 which includes my doubles/triples and hazmat endorsements.). This place is designed to get me my CDL, and get me into a job quickly.
This is what I wanted, so I'm okay with it, but I would hands down recommend SLCC. :roll: |
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dyland
Joined: 08 Jan 2007
Posts: 1
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| Posted: Mon Jan 08, 2007 5:05 pm Post subject: |
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rcso wrote: Went to SNI, Dallas TX for their bulk school. There is no cost outright, but there is a contract (12 mo's for van 18 for bulk)
Went from not driving a stick ever to graduating, done with otr training, CDL testing, company testing, and now waiting for my own truck (while getting paid) OCT 14 to Dec 14.
I'd recommend it, but first anyone thinking of applying should contact me and I could get you set up with a small bonus.
hey i may take you up on that..looking for a company paid school. have alot of questions i'm sure your probably sick of answering..
is schneider the way to go?
do you have to drive as a team after graduation?
i have bad credit..will this affect my chance of financing?or employment?does schneider run credit check?
do they accept drivers with no experience?real newbies?
thanks for th info. |
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danj_otr
Joined: 12 Aug 2006
Posts: 265
Location: Somewhere in the Western 11
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| Posted: Tue Jan 09, 2007 11:56 am Post subject: |
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Swift Driving Academy. At the time the tuition was $3075. (Our class was the reason why the rates went up... We think)
I had my dad go through the same academy and the price went up to $3475. |
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emerlin
Joined: 23 Oct 2006
Posts: 182
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| Posted: Tue Jan 09, 2007 5:54 pm Post subject: |
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I went to STI in Sioux Falls. I couldn't get WIA so I put it on teh Visa.
Good class, too. Glen knows his stuff. |
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mmiikkee
Joined: 19 Dec 2006
Posts: 40
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| Posted: Tue Jan 09, 2007 10:26 pm Post subject: |
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Mostly likely I am going to start Mexico Truck Driving school in FEB. I checked out katlaw today, but even with the hot recruiter lady, mexico has a better student to teacher ration, and they also have one-on-one instruction.
Price: $2500 |
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Eagle Eye
Joined: 22 Nov 2006
Posts: 44
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| Posted: Fri Jan 12, 2007 7:05 am Post subject: |
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| Started school on the 8th and I am attending Crowder College Truck Driving School in Neosho, Mo. and CFI is paying for a large portion of the school. The best part is I DID NOT have to sign a contract. The feel like if you don't like CFI after pulling one load then they don't want you working somewhere you don't want to be. Go to my website for more information. www.bigriglife.com |
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dw64
Joined: 18 Jan 2007
Posts: 26
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| Posted: Thu Jan 18, 2007 7:50 pm Post subject: |
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This is where I went courtesy of Willis Shaw Express. Being an Okie worked out well for me. Topnotch trainers and facility. I highly recommend it.
http://www.tdt-ok.com/tuition.html |
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sbruner305
Joined: 22 Jan 2007
Posts: 26
Location: Lexington, NC
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| Posted: Tue Feb 13, 2007 11:27 am Post subject: |
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| I attended Davidson County Community College in Lexington NC $575.00 the class is 8 weeks long and you don't get a CDL you EARN IT!! The course is based on the NTDA truck rodeo course and it is one hard SOB. But it is paying off. Once you pass the cone courses and the two seperate qualifying routes in dowtown with two seperate instructors they will test you for your CDL's, if not see you next class. |
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Amanda
Joined: 31 Jan 2007
Posts: 2
Location: Minnesota
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| Posted: Tue Feb 13, 2007 9:32 pm Post subject: |
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I'm going to Dakota County Technical College. It's a bit over $4,000. Student loans are covering it since I wasn't approved for financial aid. But I got some state grants that are helping me, which is really nice. The instructor told me they're second best in the nation, and had the information to back that up, just makes me wonder who is first ;) I guess they follow the PTDIA criteria, whatever that means (good...)
Also learn a whole bunch of "extras" like doubles, triples, ... and go through the anti-jackknife training, emergency steering/braking maneuvers.
I was really concerned about the quick "in and out" that company provided schooling usually offers, and I believe this 8-week program will make me feel at ease. I can't wait to start... :D |
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Piece Of Work
Joined: 28 Nov 2006
Posts: 271
Location: Columbus, OH
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| Posted: Sat Feb 17, 2007 1:36 pm Post subject: |
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Hello New Drivers,
You need to go to a "recognized" truck driver training class like Roadmaster.
If so, you'll be able to hire on anywhere. If you are one of those
who gets thier CDL Class A without going to school because they already know
how to drive, you'll find yourself rejected by better companies because of
the lack of training in a school with classroom training. Since you have not
been to a school, I recommend Schnieder Trucking because they have the best
training in America and after 1 year you won't owe them anything. Then after
1 year, you can hire on anywhere if you've kept your record clean. CFI is
the company you want to go to once you have a year under your belt. We have
student training, but Scneider is the better deal to get started.
Don't be fooled by other companies saying that we have "Tuition Reimbursement". Those companies reimburse you at $125.00 a month but the catch is that if your loan for school is at $7,000, it will take close to 4 years and 6 months to pay it off, NOT including the interest which can be outrageous. No one stays with the same company for that long unless you have experience with worse companies and you become smart enough to know when you got it good. Only 13% of new drivers stay with the same company for the first year. At the second company you are no longer a student, you are a driver with 3 months of experience and will start at the bottom of the pay scale and your reasons for leaving that company will be the same. Love it or hate it, stay with the first company the entire first year.
Companies that accept students have geared thier company operation to train students and do not try to keep new drivers. There's some kind of a tax incentive to do that. Then once you stay there up to 1 year, your regular miles go down and you can't pay your bills. You ask about the miles and your dispatcher tells you that you could become a trainer and get longer trips. Never do that at 1 year experience.
These are my lessons learned after paying $7,000 for Roadmaster School at a loan of 26% and spending the first year with Werner. |
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fishnwiz
Joined: 01 Sep 2006
Posts: 70
Location: Tahlequah
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| Posted: Sun Feb 18, 2007 1:35 pm Post subject: |
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| I start Central vo tech in Drumright Oklahoma on March 14 in the class for CFI prehires. I live in Oklahoma so the tution is only 1650 and CFI is paying part of that. I am paying the rest myself. No loans or anything. I think there are programs in Oklahoma to help pay it but I don't need it and prefer to leave it for someone who might. |
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Mackman
Joined: 14 Sep 2005
Posts: 2439
Location: Concordville PA
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| Posted: Sun Feb 18, 2007 1:42 pm Post subject: Re: Where ya going or did go? how you pay for it |
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woundwort wrote: Wondering where people got their CDL and how much did they pay?
I got it on my own used my dads truck to test in. Cost me around 300 bucks. But it does have it down side very very hard to try to get OTR job with out school or exp. But i have found a couple smaller OTR company's with like 35 trucks that where willing to hire me. But i all ways driven local. |
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NevadaJim
Joined: 20 Jul 2006
Posts: 251
Location: Las Vegas
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| Posted: Mon Feb 19, 2007 8:26 pm Post subject: |
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Piece Of Work wrote: Hello New Drivers,
You need to go to a "recognized" truck driver training class like Roadmaster.
If so, you'll be able to hire on anywhere. If you are one of those
who gets thier CDL Class A without going to school because they already know
how to drive, you'll find yourself rejected by better companies because of
the lack of training in a school with classroom training. Since you have not
been to a school, I recommend Schnieder Trucking because they have the best
training in America and after 1 year you won't owe them anything. Then after
1 year, you can hire on anywhere if you've kept your record clean. CFI is
the company you want to go to once you have a year under your belt. We have
student training, but Scneider is the better deal to get started.
Don't be fooled by other companies saying that we have "Tuition Reimbursement". Those companies reimburse you at $125.00 a month but the catch is that if your loan for school is at $7,000, it will take close to 4 years and 6 months to pay it off, NOT including the interest which can be outrageous. No one stays with the same company for that long unless you have experience with worse companies and you become smart enough to know when you got it good. Only 13% of new drivers stay with the same company for the first year. At the second company you are no longer a student, you are a driver with 3 months of experience and will start at the bottom of the pay scale and your reasons for leaving that company will be the same. Love it or hate it, stay with the first company the entire first year.
Companies that accept students have geared thier company operation to train students and do not try to keep new drivers. There's some kind of a tax incentive to do that. Then once you stay there up to 1 year, your regular miles go down and you can't pay your bills. You ask about the miles and your dispatcher tells you that you could become a trainer and get longer trips. Never do that at 1 year experience.
These are my lessons learned after paying $7,000 for Roadmaster School at a loan of 26% and spending the first year with Werner.
What would prompt anyone to pay $7000 @ 26% for a CDL. That's just insane. What was your reasoning behind this? |
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stamptildawn
Joined: 31 Jul 2006
Posts: 8
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| Posted: Wed Mar 14, 2007 12:36 pm Post subject: |
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| Hubby went to ROP (Regional Occupation Program) in San Diego. The class was free except for a $50 fuel fee and then he paid his fees to the DMV and to get his hazmat, etc. |
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