Diesel Driving Academy any good?
- Thread starter tdog89
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patriciajnsn
Steering Wheel Holder
I never hear of them but I thought u was going to get traiined by Swifts.
Okay the tuition is 9,900 this includes everything from CDL permit, etc. DOT physical, drug screen, etc. 20 week of training i do believe he said. Late model, and basicly everything i need plus including basic mechanical on road repair stuff, etc. along list lol. It is higher than other truck driving schools but with this one i get college credit hours and certificate. Also they offer job replacement and according to the counselor they have a 98% hire rate and 99% completion rate of the course and achieving my CDL Class A and any and all endoresoment I would like to have.
patriciajnsn
Steering Wheel Holder
Did u say 20 weeks of training? I would say go for it.The tuition isn't bad.The longer the course the better.So many schools out there have many students no one on one time and it's like a 3 week course.You come out not knowing anything because it's a crash course.Those schools teach u just enough to get your CDL then the trainers really have their job cut out for them.But what about housing?Do u plan on going home every day after class or staying there.Better find out how much that's going to be.
They also have night and daytime class's. I currently work at a factory "deadend job" but i can keep my job go to school at night and be okay. The school night classes are from 6PM to 10PM monday through friday or day school 8am to 2PM monday through friday. Something like that. They start new classes twice a month. they have around 100 students on campus.
Cerberus
In God We Trust
Holy shit thats alot of money. Comes out to be 495$ a week. Thats expensive. Is this the norm now for training schools ? Seems like they have just shot tuiton prices way up in the past few years. Some things you need to find out before you go handing them almost 10 G. First off, get everything in writing before signing anything. Contact some companies and see if they will hire you if you had a cdl. If you got any kind of criminal record, your wasting your money. You said your prior military? Get them to pay for it. They will and you don't have to pay it back.
Seriously, i would kick my own ass if i spent 10G for training, just for a job paying less than minimum wages. Might be financially smarter to get some company to train you, at least that way you'll be making some money. Look at it this way, in that 5 months of training, spending money and not getting any real wheel time , you could be making money that 5 months ,driving and getting exp, which is what you need, not sitting in some school for 5 months.
patriciajnsn
Steering Wheel Holder
It does'nt matter where ya go you're not going to find any cheap school.You pay 10 k for 20 weeks of training or 3500 for 5 weeks,your choice.If you have a trucking company help you get your CDL as u know u sign a yr contract in other words they OWN YOU for a year.It's a tough decision but I would take that 20 week course but ask some questions first.Like how much drive and backing time does each student receive.How much time will u be spending in the class and out on the range.See if they can give u a previous students number and then u can ask him what it was like.I attended a college which was a 10 week course room included which was $4200.00 they were an excellent school.
$10K for training? Uh, no! No way in hell do I do that unless I am guaranteed, in writing, a job paying me.
First off, this driving school has nothing to do with the endorsements you can get. Endorsements is simply a matter of taking a "written" test for each endorsement. Study guides are free, and you can get these endorsements at any time. Any driving school boasting this as a feature of their training is full of crap.
My advice is to go to a company that is offering paid training. Given the cost of this school, even if you made 10K less in your first year than a company they find you a job with, you still break even, and no money comes out of your pocket.
Being in Little Rock, I know that there are colleges that offer driver training courses. I am just a couple hours south of there in El Dorado, and the junior college down here offers training.
First off, this driving school has nothing to do with the endorsements you can get. Endorsements is simply a matter of taking a "written" test for each endorsement. Study guides are free, and you can get these endorsements at any time. Any driving school boasting this as a feature of their training is full of crap.
My advice is to go to a company that is offering paid training. Given the cost of this school, even if you made 10K less in your first year than a company they find you a job with, you still break even, and no money comes out of your pocket.
Being in Little Rock, I know that there are colleges that offer driver training courses. I am just a couple hours south of there in El Dorado, and the junior college down here offers training.
Cerberus
In God We Trust
The idea is get out there and get some real exp. Every company out there sends new drivers with trainers anyways and thats when you learn the real deal about driving. You only learn basic operation in a school. They are there for one reason. Teach you how to pass the cdl test from the state and thats it. They don't teach real exp, it is all taught in a controlled situation. No real learning there. If your going to turn the wheels, you might as well make money doing it.
Cerberus
In God We Trust
My point exactly. Well written Moose. Just seems insane to pay 10G for a minimum wage job the first year.
Funny thing is, for some reason , i had a brain stutter reading the third paragraph, first sentence.
Cerberus
In God We Trust
LOL, I fixed my stutter typing problem
At first it looked like you were making a three "TO" word point. I was like, " Were is he going with this? "
Ha Ha.
patriciajnsn
Steering Wheel Holder
True about the making money part.But i'm simply telling tdog he has to sign a yr contract if he chooses a company.Besides u don't know for sure if this school isn't going to teach the students anything.I would think a 20 week course they're going to come out knowing something.Like I said call the school up and ask some questions before going there.I personally think now is'nt a good time to get into trucking in the first place untill recession is over.So whether school or trucking company u aint going to make squat.
Depends on where you are working, and the freight contracts that company has. Our company is swamped right now, and money is very good.
patriciajnsn
Steering Wheel Holder
Very true,my company is swamped as well which is a very good thing.They have more lds then drivers.But u get to one of these training companies,those poor drivers are sitting and sitting.I see it everyday when it does'nt have to be that way.
Cerberus
In God We Trust
Nothing wrong with signing a 1 yr contract. Every driver should stick with there first company a year anyways. Some just need that little extra kick to do it.
True, and regardless where you go, you won't make 10K more at another company in your rookie year.
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