community college or CDL mill

I've been checking into it for a couple of months. I haven't gone through it, but I can tell you what my experience has been so far. If you go through a CDL mill I think your experience will be similar to going through a company's driving school. They just dictate to you their requirements. They ask the questions--not you. It's kind of like being a military recruit. And they are about twice as expensive as going to a small college or community college. I'm sure some are better than others.

I've already decided how I'm going to do it. I'm going to go to a small college just west of Ft. Worth called Weatherford College. They have a continuing education 4-week truck driving course there. The cost is $2,900 and I will be able to get some financial aid through Texas Public Education Grant. We can't use Pell Grant money though. The first week is class instruction and the physical, etc. The last 3 weeks are all driving M-F 7 to 3:30. My understanding is the PTDI certified schools just give you more classroom instructions. But maybe you could get certain jobs with PTDI certification that you couldn't otherwise. He said 3 guys go out in the truck, and they have found this is the best situation. There are 3 to 9 guys who usually go through the 4-week course.

You might also qualify for WIA federal grant in which case they will pay for all of the tuition and even your lodging. This is a longer process though that starts are your local state unemployment office.

 

You would likely be able to get more money to help paying for the course, and pay a lower amount going to a CC. You will also get much more in depth training, and not be committed to owing a company an amount of time of service.

However, if you want to get in, get out, and rely on a company to train you on the job, then CDL mill is best for you.

Raid3r

 

Ive been to both, a few years ago I went to c1 in INDY, stayed at a nasty hotel, teachers were decent...but acted as if they didnt care...Was suckered into the school with a promise of '' free training provided by company''...was told when I got there if I signed on with the company to pay for training Id only make 21 cent a mile...luckly the Indiana DMV kicked back my birthcertificate, and I got to leave and not pay anything 3 days into the class....

Now I am going to Middle Georgia Technical College....Georgia's HOPE and PELL grants are paying every dime. My instructor is a class act, makes learning fun and we get ALOT of driving time in different situations. If we mess up he corrects us and because the class is 10 weeks we have plenty of time to master backing parking etc....we spend about 2 hours a day on the range (after the first week on the range) then drive the rest of the day all over the Middle Georgia area...the school is very professional and we have recruiters from the better companies looking in on us.

Here is my first post, hope it helps!

Dirty

 

CC will be MUCH cheaper and have a better course. Went thru a votech in Oklahoma, course cost me a little over $2000 including a place to stay. A "trk driving" school here wanted $6000.

 

I would suggest a Community college.
The wife and I just graduated last week from a local community college, St. Phillips of San Antonio, Tx. The course is actually taught by the Sage Corp. At a Sage school each student gets 44 hours behind the wheel. Total instruction time 156 hours, PTDI certified.
I did a lot of research to find the best school. I was not concerned with cost. However this school was cheaper than Roadmasters. The total was about $4500 and all but $700 was paid by a Pell grant and a DOT grant through the college. Sorry didn't really find out much about that DOT grant. They offered it, we took it.
You may or may not be eligible for the Pell grant. Depends on your recent income level basically. There is a web site you can use to apply and a community college will certainly help through the process. The process is fairly easy, but it doesn't happen overnight, a week or two.
Some say that the PTDI is a joke, and it might be, but carries weight with many of the carriers.
If you have mechanical experience and retain what you read, then the classroom part is not really much to worry about. But if you know very little about trucks, safe driving, or you are not one that learns quickly and easily, then of course it is very important. I thought it was waste myself. But many people have trouble with the tests. My wife for one. I was amazed at how many students had to take written tests many times before passing. You know yourself better than I do, so make your own decision about the importance of class time.
Driving time is very important, unless you have driven these truck before. I had driven a lots of farm equipment, industrial stuff, but never anything the size of an 18-wheeler. I am glad I got the 44 hours. I passed my driving test on the first try. My wife paid for 8 more hours of driving (she just needed to build confidence) and passed on her first try. She had never driven anything bigger than our old F-250.
I witnessed many drivers from other schools/companies fail on their first try, and second. Yeah, some make it on the first try, but maybe half don't. Our school has about 80% pass on the first try record.
While in school send job apps to everyone!!!! If you don't hear back from a company in a few days, send another app or call them or email them. Don't let any company ignore you!

 

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DITTO!!!! I second this motion, Do go to your CC it will be in your best interest!!. I went to my local CC and now I'm headed to the very best trucking company around(MOHO)