Dayton Ohio schools

I live in Columbus and there is a Roadmaster driving school on the west side near 70/270. I went to Roehl (WI) and saved the $5k - $6k as they loan you the $2,800 (school cost) and then paid it off without taking any $ out of my check in the first year. They also have a secure drop yard in Dayton off Stanley Ave to leave your truck when your home.

 

Ohio Business College offers CDL training. First week is in classroom on Edwin C Moses blvd. in Dayton.
The next two or three weeks they have at the former tri state truck driving school in Middletown.

 

Clark State Community College has a CDL program in Springfield, OH. Its a 5 week course, $5100. How much is the tuition for Roadmasters?

 

Earlier last year when I asked around I believe it was around $5,600 - $5,800. Napier in Cincinnati was around the same. Clark State offers Class B if taken with Class A for an additional $500.

 

Check with Southern State Community College. They offer weekday courses for about a month, or weekend courses for about two months. Cost is $4800 for either. They have a weekday course starting Oct 20th, and a weekend course starting Nov 22. The tuition includes lifetime refresher courses for free.

Keep us posted on any others you find. I'm in Columbus and I'm trying to decide whether there are worthwhile alternatives before taking the plunge.

 

Apollo Career Center Lima Ohio has their course. Thats the one I took, 8 weeks $4200 at 5 hours a day 4 days a week. Also have 4 weeks at 10 hours a day. Smaller class sizes, that means more time in the seat. I had 3 people in my class.

 

Talked to a successful TMC o/o driver who suggested Roadmaster on the west side of Columbus. Not sure if he went there, and not sure if he was recruited straight into TMC as a company driver, but it's worth noting.

The negative online reviews of Roadmaster seem to vastly outweigh the positive reviews... but that just may be because, psychologically, people are more inclined to share bad experiences than good or indifferent ones.

I'm still leaning toward Southern State Community College, due to the free lifetime refresher offer.

 

It also doesnt help that Roadmaster is a corporate school, they are only in it for the money. They have 9 schools across the US, and they push people through the course as fast as possible. Classes are large so the instructor to student ratio is very high. Youll have less time behind the wheel, and road time will be minimal. I suggest taking a quality course from one of the community colleges or a private instructor.