Another 'Can I get hired' thread

[Lurchgs]

Originally Posted by Schlemazel

Schneider was first on my list to contact, but apparently they are not hiring out of the Buffalo area at the moment. I have been doing some research on schools, is there a ranking of schools or such?

Never heard of one. Doesn't mean it doesn't exist, just that I never found one.

My *personal* recommendation is Sage. I checked out the schools near me, and they came out on top. easily.

There's one kinda near Buffalo - over in Rome.

I agree, $8000 is a crock. The salesperson was trying to sell me on the idea that it really isn't bad because I can get $5000 in Federal Student loans AND sign a $3000 note with a private lender. I agree that $8K should not only get me luxurious accommodations and a nightly massage with a happy ending, j/k.

That kind of pricing would earn some rude comments from a certain individual who currently resides near Denver. I wonder if something like that is against the obscenity laws.

At first it wasn't really the money part that put a bad taste in my mouth but the presentation of their "Partner Companies".... Swift, Werner, and CR England. He (school salesman) tried to even sell me on CRE's Lease Program and told me I could easily make $100K a year. I wonder if these places pay commissions to the school to feed this #####????

Lol. "easily" and "make".. yeah. easily if absolutely everything falls into place and you don't mind never getting out of the truck. And don't mind waiting 10 years to get the experience needed to command that kind of pay scale. "make" - maybe. Gross.

You caught on, obviously. Anybody who tries to put a newbie into a lease program is dishonest. While you MIGHT survive, odds are kinda against it. Probably better chance of winning the lottery.

Lurch's rules of thumb for CDL schools:
1) never go to a carrier-sponsored (or owned) school
2) Never go to a school that puts more than one student in the cab at a time
3) Never let a carrier "pay" for your school.
4) always go to a PTDI certified school

the only rule I'm adamant on is rule 2

[Schlemazel]

I looked at the Sage school in Vestal, problem is that it isn't PTDI. I think the school up (NTTI) here has a monopoly with PTDI because the only 2 schools in NY that are PTDI certified belong to them. I may still go to school there, PTDI or because I have a small cabin near that area...

[thestoryteller]

Originally Posted by Lurchgs

Lurch's rules of thumb for CDL schools:
1) never go to a carrier-sponsored (or owned) school

Agree 100%

2) Never go to a school that puts more than one student in the cab at a time

Gotta beg to differ here............
You got all 120 field hours behind the wheel? One-on-one?

I don't see the problem with 3 or even 4 students in the truck as long as everyone gets their 40 hours (which appears to be the average)............. but then I have ALWAYS been the type of person who would rather learn from someone else's mistakes than my own.

I have actually learned a great deal from watching the other students and especially from the questions they have asked (that I hadn't even thought of yet....) .......... it has also allowed us to do both day and night driving every day.............

3) Never let a carrier "pay" for your school.

This is the one I need clarified.....

I paid for my school.

If I go to Company/Carrier X they will reimburse me for my school at up to $250 per month for each month that I drive for them. I sign no contract with them for anything other than that....... If I stay 2 months, I get 2 payments....... if I stay 2 years I get 24 payments.........

Am I missing the down side to this?

4) always go to a PTDI certified school

I think this one is a judgement call.

Personally I decided the trainers themselves were more important than the companies ability to do the paperwork for certification.
Who cares if it is a PTDI certified school if I get stuck with an idiot for 160 hours?!

(Note: My "school" is run by idiots but the trainers are great!)

[woodstock36]

That amount of money is just down right crazy!! I am in NY, 50 miles outside of buffalo, did you look into BTTI? Thats where my husband went, he even worked a full time job, and was able to finish in no time 3000.00 was the cost.

[thestoryteller]

Originally Posted by woodstock36

That amount of money is just down right crazy!! I am in NY, 50 miles outside of buffalo, did you look into BTTI? Thats where my husband went, he even worked a full time job, and was able to finish in no time 3000.00 was the cost.

I don't know why there is such a big difference in prices....

I am in California and I have been told the East Coast schools charge more because they train for all the inclement weather (snow/ice).... but other than that I don't get it. Most West Coast schools are $3000 - $5000.... I don't think I have ever heard of one out here that is more....... I have however read posts of East Coast prices of $5000, $6000 and $8000 (don't know why they skip the $7000).... I guess they can charge what people will pay.....



My classes are in the evenings...... 6-10pm........ so it is easy to keep your regular job...... and I paid $3000 as well.......... so I certainly don't see the point of giving up or paying more??

[im6under]

Originally Posted by thestoryteller

Who cares if it is a PTDI certified school if I get stuck with an idiot for 160 hours?!

I see what you are saying... about idiot. but most if not all ptdi courses don't put you with (one) trainer. they mix you up with different guys daily since different people teach differently and different people learn differently.

MORE SO... who cares about PTDI certified????

Your future employer often cares. Many companies won't accept trainies from just any school.

It isn't just paperwork to be approved, it is COURSE work. So many hours and so many topics...

I did mine at Kirkwood for $2500 and it was money well spent.

30 days, half driving/roadrange city/freeway day and night plus half book
work.

I really felt that 99% of us could drive after the schooling... and the instructors didn't just pass everyone, a couple got held over an extra week and more than a couple got sent home.

just lucky maybe??? but it was good for me.

[thestoryteller]

Originally Posted by im6under

MORE SO... who cares about PTDI certified????

Your future employer often cares. Many companies won't accept trainies from just any school.

I thought of that before I made may decision.......... research, research, research........

I called the carriers and "other" companies I am interested in and they all pretty much said the same thing............ certified or not...... they have very little respect for the schools........ ..... however, they do think arriving with a CDL in hand is the best way to go............ that way they can get you out and start "real training" as soon as you get there...........

Also, the carriers recommended doing my homework on Qualcom..... and if I could learn that on my own I would be set................off and running with a trainer/team.

It isn't just paperwork to be approved, it is COURSE work. So many hours and so many topics...

"so many topics"?

Kinda confused here........... testing topics like air brakes, hazmat etc...?

[im6under]

Originally Posted by thestoryteller

Kinda confused here........... testing topics like air brakes, hazmat etc...?

3/4ths of the school I went to was about all the stuff you don't have to know to get your cdl.

I don't have my book in front of me... but how to adjust brakes, how to slide 5th wheels and trailer tandems, how to bridge laws, how to parallel park, slolom (spelling) lol course.

dukie load of map reading and how to plan a trip.

how to adjust your mirrors... so you can actually see everything you need to see.

what you see in your mirror and what it actually means.

How to drive in the snow and ice without killing yourself...

driving 10 and 13 speeds

To me it was a great school and not a cdl mill.

"THOUGH"

they also did training for CRST. Those guys were there for a week and paid 5,000 for school, "cdl mill" they were able to pass the written, shift, and do a sloppy pretrip.

We were there a month and paid $2500 and I really think I got my money's worth.

[Lurchgs]

Originally Posted by thestoryteller

You got all 120 field hours behind the wheel? One-on-one?

I don't see the problem with 3 or even 4 students in the truck as long as everyone gets their 40 hours (which appears to be the average)............. but then I have ALWAYS been the type of person who would rather learn from someone else's mistakes than my own.

I did about 55 hours behind th' wheel. No other students in the cab. If you got your 40 hours at the wheel, I'm not going to say anything bad - but there are schools where 'in the cab' seems to equate to 'driving', and you and I both know that just ain't so.

I have actually learned a great deal from watching the other students and especially from the questions they have asked (that I hadn't even thought of yet....) .......... it has also allowed us to do both day and night driving every day.............

I wish. Based on the classroom time, I don't think they'd have been asking anything different - or that I'd not already picked up here. VERY good instructor, I had. usually answered questions before I thunk of 'em.

This is the one I need clarified.....

I paid for my school.

If I go to Company/Carrier X they will reimburse me for my school at up to $250 per month for each month that I drive for them. I sign no contract with them for anything other than that....... If I stay 2 months, I get 2 payments....... if I stay 2 years I get 24 payments.........
Am I missing the down side to this?

I think this one is a judgement call.

Sure - but you still owe them at least the pro-rated part if you leave before the time stipulated. I have heard tell that there are companies out there who will ding you for the full amount if you leave early.

In any event - by getting the school to cover it, you are, in essence taking out a huge advance against future earnings. And getting that advance/loan from the very people who control your life after school. Sure, it can be made to work. In fact, it probably works a lot. But it's a very dangerous position to be in, if you can at all avoid it.

Personally I decided the trainers themselves were more important than the companies ability to do the paperwork for certification.
Who cares if it is a PTDI certified school if I get stuck with an idiot for 160 hours?!

(Note: My "school" is run by idiots but the trainers are great!)

Others have answered it before. Who would you rather have designing the next shuttle? Somebody from MIT or somebody from Hoboken U? Certification is a promise that certain published standards are met. You know what you are getting (more or less) from an accredited school.

As for the cost being related to the weather - I think somebody is feeding you a line. Sage, here in Denver, charges far less, and they teach in rain, snow, and big honking mountains. Schools merely charge what the people will pay.

however, they do think arriving with a CDL in hand is the best way to go............ that way they can get you out and start "real training" as soon as you get there...........

valid, too - since all a school does is teach you the basics of driving a truck. They teach darn little about the industry itself - which is where the company training comes in.

How many people in your class were successful at trip planning? Even after several tries? In my class, 2 of us had no real problems. The rest.. varied from taking two hours to plan a simple 4 leg trip, to still not getting it when school was over. Some had never seen an atlas before.

Kinda frightening.

But it's something that experience and real life training can help with a lot - tricks, hints, techniques...

Kinda confused here........... testing topics like air brakes, hazmat etc...?

Among other things. Logging and safety spring to mind right away...

Im6under
Please, PLEASE don't remind me about parallel parking. Gods, I suck at that.

[InMyDreams]

Originally Posted by DaveinKC

I think most companies are 10 years on felonies, some are around 5-7, then the rest are none.

I think TransAm Trucking is 5 yrs (depending on what it is). That's whom I'm going with. I don't have a felony BTW.

I had problem with my license too. It's only been valid since Sept. 06. It was suspended for almost 6 years for Failure To Maintain Ins.(though I had insurance, but never sent proof to the capital) I didn't even know it was suspended, considering I hadn't been pulled over in 10 yrs.

what company did you end up getting on with? I had a susp that was issued in nov 05 WITHOUT MY KNOWLEDGE and cleared as soon as i found out about it in mar 07 ... but #### that's a long time ... who will hire me?