AIT in Phoenix

I am looking for some insight/information from former students/graduates of AIT (American Institute of Trucking) in Phoenix, AZ. Specifically, can someone with first-hand knowledge explain to me what the differences are between their "Professional Truck Driver Training" program, ($9250 and 6-months long), and their "Commercial Truck Driver Training" program, ($7610 and 3-months long)?

That is, in my mind, a huge difference in tuition, as well as time. What gain is there in spending approx 2000 more and being there 3 additional months?

They refer to training in their "externship" program, which appears to be working as trainee at one of their "partner" trucking carriers (in this location seems to be Werner and Swift)...so is the additional 3 months just more road time/miles in the externship portion? If so, does anyone know whether trucking companies accept that additional time/miles of training in lieu of their own in-house training/mentor requirements? I've seen where most companies that will hire a new graduate require the new-hire to ride with trainer/mentor before going solo.

If the difference between the two courses mentioned above is primarily the amount of time I would spend in their "externship" program driving for one of their carriers for trainee pay, then it seems like it would be better to go with the shorter course, and do the trainer/mentor portion with the carrier that hires me and be paid trainee pay, but save the extra 2000 in tuition?

Any other information that former students/graduates can give, or advice about AIT, would be greatly appreciated.

Getting "pre-hire" letters from various carriers, and studying to get the permits now, so that will be all out of the way prior to going to school/training...just have not made a final decision on where to go for training yet, so any and all information/feedback would be appreciated.

Thank you for your time and assistance.

 

Going to AIT this am, after morning traffic thins out a bit, to talk to them first hand...my reasoning for asking for feedback on this forum from former students/grads was to see if there was much variance between what the "recruiter" at the school says, and what students/graduates say.

While I am in that part of Phoenix, going to stop at Phoenix Truck Driving Institute as well. Their website gives very vague information, nothing about costs, and little detail about length of the courses, driving time, etc. The AIT site, in comparison, seems really up-front about it...there are dozens of pages of information regarding cost breakdown, length of courses, etc. (granted all that alone doesn't justify the high price tag), but not seeing that kind of info on a site makes it little harder for someone with no information to make comparisons.

Best thing is to do face-to-face, I know that...but trying to get opinions/information from others who may have already used these schools.

Also, the community college route is a bust here: Maricopa County Community College, which has all the other community colleges under it (sort of like a big company with subsidiaries) has a CDL training program listed on their website. But after making phone calls I've found that it was discontinued approx. four years ago.

I am also leery of going through company training, as I have read so many negative things about so many of them.

Truth be told, after spending cpl weeks reading through all these forum posts, trying to compare companies and schools, my head is spinning with all the conflicting information that is flooding the internet. I'm 56 years old, and tend to be a little suspect of everything I read on the internet, in message boards/forums, etc. Not saying there isn't good information and advice to be had, but it is hard to slog through it all and sift the truth out of the internet.

 

Going to drop in there unannounced today, as well as AIT, to do face-to-face with both and ask questions, etc. Probably have to make an appointment to come back later, for more in-depth, but like to see what I see and hear a little when they're not expecting me...