Transport Training Centres of Canada - Advice

The guys that make money fix trucks, they don't drive them.

 

TTCC is the school I have chosen but I am in Ottawa and I only had two choices. I did my research and they are a good school. Now will going to TTCC put you in a better position to get a job? It all depends if you are comparing it to Bob's trucking school that charges $999 or another school like let's say 5th Wheel Training. The schools that give you more time in the seat is better than the fly by night companies that just try to push you the road test as soon as possible.

What I did was contact some of the companies in my area that will hire new drivers and ask which schools they would recommend and recognized. You will notice on some of the companies websites it will say, we hire new drivers from accredited or recognized schools. Contact these companies and ask the questions. The other thing you will want to see is what the AZ includes. TTCC includes dump truck training as well as fork lift training which maybe a fall back job should you not get a AZ job right away. The skid school looks like fun as well.

As the best with your training, which ever route you decide to take.

 

I went to TTCC back in 2013. You get what you put into it. Saw many people fail, but they want you to graduate so you get many chances to 'pass'.

Had one student in class that failed the driving exam with the ministry 7 times. Yes you read that right. Not sure if he passed in the end but I know he took it 7 times and the school kept trying their best to train him and kept booking him the driving exam with the ministry over and over. Quite honestly surprised the ministry didn't put a stop to it, do we need a driver like this driving big rigs on the road? Anyways Im not the ministry just food for thought.

I was fortunate/unfortunate to be laid off a well paying job ($25/hour) and was able to apply for government assistance which basically paid the $10,000 school tuition for me. Was in class at school for 2 weeks and driving the trucks almost everyday for 4 weeks after that. Got some really good experience, had a great teacher and instructor.

Was able to secure a job pretty much once I graduated, got hired to do flatbed work all over Ontario as well into the States all over. Loved flatbed but after 4 months I couldnt take long haul. I was working 6 days a week, 120 hours a week and after doing the math was making less than minimum wage at 42 cents a mile plus tarp/strap/chain/border bonuses. Was clearing a little over $4,000 a month but the cost of being away from home was even higher. Sleeper beds are also pretty awful, no matter how much foam or whatever you like shoved underneath your sheets.

I am now working as a local driver, drive about 250 miles a day, getting paid by the hour straight up. Making only $17 an hour but getting about 65 hours a week. There is no overtime for truckers, at least I am not getting any but the job and the people are great and I enjoy doing drop and hook with reefer loads. Work about 12-14 hours a day but at least I am very close to work and get to see my family and sleep in my own bed each night.

I recommend the TTCC, I only picked it because it was the closest to me out of the three ministry accredited options but in the end it was a great program and I enjoy driving trucks. Was a straight truck driver for many years before getting my AZ.

 

I went to 5th Wheel Training (in New Liskeard, Ontario).. They are a very good company and spend lots of time with you.. I went to this school because it is well known for both trucking and heavy equipment... I originally wanted to become heavy equipment operator and was only getting my AZ incase I got into a job doing dump truck and float... Anyhow I got into trucking (heavy equipment was hard to find a job - no experience) but in the end at my current job I am both trucker and heavy equipment operator so it worked out for me...

I have a friend who just finished TTCC, and he seemed to like it judging by post on facebook... He is also already starting to work for "Exclusive Transfer" which was a quick turn around from when he finished school.... I hear good things about TTCC as well... So I think the top 2 choices would be TTCC and 5th Wheel Training....

There is good paying jobs out there, you just need to have the experience and/or look for them... I started off OTR to the eastern sea-board and Michigan... Now unlike Trucker82 I loved sleeping in the truck, some of my best sleeps were in the back of a rig.. Nice and dark, I found it comfortable and quiet if you stay out of the truck stops... I just couldn't handle doing the US anymore, it was invading my personal life (didn't have much of one other then weekends).. So I moved on.. Now I work local (furtherest I go is about 150km, most I do in a day is 600km).. I get paid good money ($28.60/hr), good benefits, good pension and overtime as well... I am pushing avg $83,000-$85,000/yr with overtime... (approx $60,000 base)

So I would recommend both schools and decide which one... TTCC might have a closer location which might be a deciding factor.. Don't know where all the 5th wheel training centres are..

 

I have been comparing TTCC, 5th Wheel and NATT. I live in Sudbury so TTCC and NATT are both here. Curious if anyone heard anything about Northern Academy (NATT) besides being tied to Manitoulin Transport

 

I live in Sudbury and see the NATT trucks all over the place. I know a few guys who did the course a couple of years ago and seemed to have enjoyed it. I know of only one guy who did the course at TTCC and apparently he was the best shifter in the class, but couldn't drive a 13 speed for the life of him!

 

I went to TTCC about 10 years ago, and I didn't know the first thing about trucking. I passed my AZ first try. There were things I had to learn the hard way like crossing the border, etc. That they didn't teach in the course. I also wasn't able to get hired on with any of the companies that sponsor, but that's also my fault for not having a clean abstract.

 

I have decided to go to TTCC and just started the other day. I am tracking my progress over at this thread http://www.thetruckersreport.com/tr...hreads/first-day-at-ttcc.288510/#post-4652586

 

check out my review really crappy school. needs to be shut down. Half way through transport school and it sucks! The reality of my trucking school experience.