Any information on this school in Reno? I am wondering if the 120 hrs total of classroom and driving is enough to get hired by any company? If so, will the company make me ride with a driver for a month or send me to their school? Would I be better off just going to a company school? The tuition is $1700 at the school. The lady that owns it (Heather) says she used to be part owner of Sierra and she now owns this school. Any info would be appreciated. Thanks.

Chuck

I think the Desert Driving School is better. Still 140 hours, but a lot of that is in the truck driving. I know Swift will take the graduates and put them to work. Most trucking companies have some sort of training for a few weeks just to make sure you can be on your own with their equipment over the road.

Remember most companies want at least 1 year driving experience in the past 5 years you can show. So most graduates are stuck with the big trucking companies who will take on driving school grads, where a lot of the smaller ones won't. Best thing is if you have a job waiting for some company that will take you on.

Desert is 1800.00, but well worth it. I know because I went to it to get my CDL back. Lots of instruction and you can drive all you want over the road with a drivers permit along with the instructor.

Plus they are lay back and don't quit on you even if you go over the 140 hrs. I know people there who took 3 months and the school stuck with them. If you don't feel you have had enough training by the time your 140 hours are up, you just keep coming to the school.

Snits

I actually went with Desert. I started Tuesday and as far as the driving and pre-trip goes, I think I will be in really good shape. As far as the other stuff I am not getting much info directly. If there is other info I should be getting let me know because a crash logbook session was the only other info provided thus far.

I do love the driving when your ready and access to trucks to practice skills when you want. After 4 days I have driven in all traffic situations and drive the class to or from the practice areas. There is a new instructor there named Frank, not the Swift Frank but a new guy. The new Frank is an amazing instructor. He can take a woman that has never driven a stick shift and have her shifting in minutes. He makes you feel safe and secure while driving and he is the best teacher of anything I have ever had at any level of education. Can not say enough about this guy! As for the skills go, I have concentrated most of my time on driving, but I understand the skills and now need to perfect them without having to do additional pull ups. By the time my classes end I know I will be an excellent driver with the skills necessary to excel in this industry.

Thanks for your advice and any additional advice on who to work for would be appreciated. I do not mind doing long haul and I would prefer a decent paying gig with some perks like new equipment, mega miles, etc.

If you started Tuesday, you must have gotten all you written test done fast.
I got mine done in the first week. I know the Frank (Fox) as Jimmy calls him. I never rode with him, but hear he is good. The thing about the skills in the
yard is to ask for help. Most of the time the other Frank is there, but he lets you alone unless you ask questions. Ride in the truck with someone who has done the skill a lot and watch how they do it. The way Frank in the yard teaches it is the best way to do it.

As far as jobs go, well if your not worried about over the road, then I know the school can get you into Swift or maybe Interstate. I don't like Swift and being a previous driver with 8 years driving, I don't really want to go long haul if I can help it. But even us guy and gals who have driven before don't have any more options than the new folks. If you haven't at least 1 year driving in the past 3-5 years, the only companies taking new drivers are the ones like Swift.

Hope you enjoy the school. Take all the time you need and have fun.

Snits

situated in the long shadow of the Mustang Ranch. Anyone have any info on them? I called them today and they talked to me for quite awhile, no pressure really nice. The local contractor for FedEx Ground referred me to them.

I would go with Desert Truck Driving School in Sparks. I went with them instead of Horizon or Nevada. Much less expensive than Horizon.

If you choose Desert, you should go out on runs with Frank Fox. He is, in my opinion, the best instructor I have had for anything. I have seen him take a girl that has never even driven a stick, and within 30 minutes she can up and downshift n the road in a no traffic situation. He has you do what you are capable of. If you are a good driver he will put you through your paces with challenging driving situations and take you to real alley docs.

I highly recommend that you read through the CDL manual for Nevada a few times and take little notes on the side summarizing what was in the section, and above all make sure you can answer the questions at the end of each section. If you are even a moderately intelligent person, after reading the manual 6-7 times you will be able to take and pass all portions at the dmv. Also, {site removed by Admin, no links to that site, please} has practice tests on their site. Take a practice test each time you read through the manual. If you can consistantly get above 80% to take the tests.

Also, be prepared at Desert to learn by error. You will drive around all day in the yard practicing your skills. You will watch a video on how to complete them correctly (take notes), then its up to you. If you are having problems Navy Frank (another one) will help you if you ask him. Otherwise, just do your skills over and over till you master them. Oh, the pre-trip, just memorize one section at a time and understand what that section is, and you need to memorize the whole thing.

The two Frank's, Sue (administrator), and Jimmy the owner are all good people. It is not the swankiest establishment, and the equipment is far from new, but you WILL get your CDL.

Good luck to you and if you go with them tell them Chuck at Arrow says hi!

I concur with Halonut. Horizon is a good school, more expensive than Desert because they have their own on site DMV tester. You have to pay 300.00 for you driving test. If you fail it, then you have to pay it again. With Desert you test at the DMV. If you fail there you can come back the next day or next week and do it again. If you don't feel you are ready for the DMV driving test you can wait until you feel comfortable. Sue or Jimmy, or the 2 Franks will not push you.

With Frank Fox there now it does make it better. When I went through the school the in the truck road practice was with Jimmy and you had to get in line some times to be able to go drive. Now you have two road teachers, Frank Fox and Jimmy.

Another thing about Horizon, (maybe good maybe not) They are also a trucking company and will have you driving as a student with another driver in the truck hauling their freight. In some respects this is a good thing because you learn what it is like to pull 80,000 lbs of weight, but on the other you are not getting paid to drive, you are paying them. Another thing, after 4 weeks if you don't pass the DMV test they ask you to pay for the school fee again, Desert does not.

I think both are good, but Desert is a better deal for your money, and if you are paying for it through unemployment of Nevada, they will usually send you to Desert Truck Driving School.

Snits

Thanks for the info guys. Horizon told me that if I get my own permit & skip the first week of training they could get me out the door w/my CDL (including taking the drive test at Horizon) for $2000 even. They have a price matching policy with the other schools if you get your own permit.

I am interested in Horizon mostly because I want to get on with the contractor that does the Fed-EX ground account and he referred me to Horizon and hires from them.

Today I also interviewed with Fed-Ex Express for a delivery driver position. They sent me to the Doc for my physical and pee test so I believe that they are serious about hiring me.

I'm a bit torn at this point between going to school & driving big or staying in town & driving delivery. It is important to me to be employed and making money ASAP but I also want to make the right decision for the long run and of course if I like driving but don't like driving delivery I can go to school later.

Any advice y'all can offer will be greatly appreciated!