Looking for the best school.
 

I live in NJ and want to be a OTR trucker. I want to know, what would be the absolute best school to go to? I don't care where I have to go or how much I have to spend to do it. Is there such a thing as a private trainer to hire?

Again, I just want the best possible schooling to get my CDL.

Central Tech, Oklahoma

Re: Looking for the best school.
 

Molson, you will invariably receive many recommendations about different schools. I suggest that you investigate each of them and then make your short list of possible top 5 or 3. Once you have, visit each of them and select one from that list.

BOL to you.

You shouldn't spend any more than $4-5000 for school. If you can find a school that is PTDI certified, that would be a plus and opens up some of the better companies to hire you.

http://www.ptdi.org/

Ok, I have to throw a little twist in here. :lol: I wouldn't worry as much about the school as I would the company ( trainer ) that I went with AFTER I had my CDL. Why you may ask? Well........ first off; they are NOT a truck driving school, they are a CDL school. They don't really teach you how to drive a truck, they teach you how to get your CDL. It is important to go to a quality school and learn all you can ( they are only going to teach you enough to pass the test ) I think it is MORE important how you are trained AFTER you get your CDL and hired on to a company. That is where you will learn to DRIVE A TRUCK.

Just my humble ( maybe ) opinion,


Ridge

Thanks for your opinions, much appreciated!

Are there some specific companies out there that you think produce good drivers in training? Just from reading, it seems there are some I should just stay the hell away from.

Okay. Now do you have a list of companies that offer great training after CDL school? Or, when we talk to prospective employers, what questions should we ask about their training?

While I can't give you a list of companies I will say this: ALL training should be done with the trainer in the jump seat while you drive.( Nothing wrong tho with him giving you a couple hrs. break now and then with him driving and you watching and learning ). In other words, the truck should be dispatched as a "solo" operation, NOT a team operation. This ( teaming ) in VERY common in the industry. You can't learn much from a trainer with him in the sleeper.



[quote]Are there some specific companies out there that you think produce good drivers in training? Just from reading, it seems there are some I should just stay the hell away from.[/quote]


This would be a very good question for the " What about this company" forum. :wink:

4 week course vs 20 week course - same school
 

Obviously a 20 week school should be better than a 4 week school but is it worth the difference (about $3500) in price and time to attend the 20 weeker? School has been in operation for more than 30 years so I assume they are doing something right.

The 20 week course gives 3 1/2 weeks of classroom work and then 16 weeks of driving according to the recruiter/counselor.

Who can afford to go through 5 months of schooling for a job that will pay little to nothing for the first six months to a year??

Someone whose retired, once, and has a pension? :)

By the way, a big thank you to your son for serving his country from this Marine of years gone by. I wish him the best!

Check out the PTDI web siteat ptdi.com
This agency sets the standard for trucking schools.
If a trucking school is certifed by them the school provides top notch training.
Also,if you utilized the standards which OTDI uses to evulate a training school, you will avoid being taken in by the training mills which only want your money.
Also, read the articles at www.the truth about trucking.