This is were you are wrong everyone hires from a ptdi schools they just may not hire from that school you are looking at due to having bad experinces out of newbiees.

Poor Experinces out of newbiees with companies will ruin the schools rep and soon no one will hire out of there.

Yes but Crete is the only one that told me they only hire from PTDI schools.

I replied to the fact that you said Crete was the only one that hires from a PDTI schools not that they only hire from PTDI schools.
Every company hires from PTDI schools.

No, my driving school is located in Harrison ark. It is part of the North Arkansas community collede. The way their course is arranged, you get your CDL as well a college certificate of completion. The course is two part, one is the 8 week on campus driving training, followed by another 8 week part of OJT. Now, the school doesnt have anything to do with the OJT directly-----but you have your employer send in a paper (that they give you) after working for 8 weeks. they then use that info to give you the college credit. Since it is technically a 16 week (?) course, the students are able to get grant money (in some cases) to attend. As tuition goes, its pretty cheap--its currently only $2000. for the course.
Now, with all that said--------- Ill also tell you that its just a small operation, friendly people, minimal pressure, but being a small operation that also means minimum facilities and equipment. After you get your permit, you Will be driving on public highways and the streets of harrison, ark. None of which are any where near the super highway catagory.

Part of any training is what you bring to it----attitude and competance. If you have that, anyone can show you how to drive a truck, and if you dont, you can go to any school in the land and still not be a driver when you get out.
My school showed me the basics and it was up to me to learn how to use them to my advantage.
I do have "school envy" when I see the equipment and facilities of some other schools---but mine did its job, I was able to go from having never even sat in an 18 wheeler to securing a job with one of the toughest companies to get on with (because of their desire for safe, competant drivers) in less than 8 weeks.

I guess its too late to make a long story short, but--------- a school can only do so much in a short amount of time---------find the best one you can for YOU---(which means close to you, in your budget, etc), then study your butt off----------be the best you can be and dont wait for some one to magically give you knowledge cause that wont happen anyway. good luck to you,,,,,,,

Thanks for the reply. I dont have that much time im afraid. The newport program is only 3 weeks. I just closed my business and i got to get working fast. Newport was a PTDI certified school a couple of years ago. Evidently they raised their fees and most of the public college based schools quit paying for their PTDI certification. I wish i had the time for a longer program though. Spending 19 consecutive 11 hour days without a dayoff doesnt sound that enjoyable!!!!!!

if you do not want to spend 19 consecutive 11 hour days with out a day off you better not get into trucking.

You may be out as long or longer than 21 days with some companies with out a day off then after that many days you only get 3 days off.

The way days off work is usually 1 day off for every 7 days out.

Oh yea its hard
Learning new things is hard
11 hours of learning is alot to take in
Yes long hours are to be expected in trucking
But "book" work is hard, I spent lots of time in school when I got older and it about killed me. Talk about lack of sleep!!!

I had a few 8 hour days in school and man my left leg hurt. It hurt even more when I drove in downtown. The second day I learned that when I seen a redlight 3 blocks away I let off of the accelerator and let it idle by the time i got there the light had changed.
I hate having to wait on lights or trains because the instructor would not let us take it out of gear and release the clutch after a while your leg starts shaking and hurting untill you get use to the clutch.

The eight hour days were because I could not do weekends due to being employed and working alot of hours.

I am starting with my first company on July 16 even though I graduated on May 18th I told the company that I needed to save a little money and put in my notice at the current job.

I will be glad to leave my current job because I just caught them stealing over 200.00 from my checks. They will be paying me before friday of next week.
I have been delivering newspapers for now to make money but they are also doing away with 450.00 of my work that is another reason I am glad that I am going into trucking.

Sucks
My old roomate did papers, he was king of the hill.
They used to have a loophole and he was paid 1 1/2 for fill in routes.
They must have gotten wind of the better than avarage money.
They now pay by the hour to fill in. It turns out less than the original amount of the route.

What did they do to you?

do not understand you question of what did they do to me.

But here is what I am talking about with they stole money from me.

I was looking on my print out that I get every two weeks and seen that my pay was not right on this last one I got on Monday I realy looked it over with a fine tooth comb.

On the front page it says they owe me almost 800.00 on the last page it says they owe me almost 900.00 there was a difference of 97.00 and some change.

So I started looking a prevoius statements and found another one that 108.00 and some change missing from it.

I confronted them yesterday after I found that they at first told me no you are wrong I said oh really and I was ready and took another previous invoice that showed I was right about the totals on the front and the back page should be the same. Talk about them backpeddling they did not know what to say.

They are suppose to be looking to see were the money went I told them you can check but I want my money now no excuses.