Phoenix, Az area Truck Driver training..... - Truckers' Trucking Forum | Message Board

zepurple · **^ Top** #1 03.03.2008

I have read through a few pages of posts here and haven't seen any posts that give information regarding truck driver training schools in the Phoenix, Az area. Having attended truck driver training school recently, and having gotten my CDL A with HazMat and Tanker endorsements, I think I can contribute some info to a thread for wannabes in this area. In the Phoenix area, Southwest Truck Driver Training School, Swift Transportation Inc., and American Institute of Training are three of the ones that are prominently mentioned. There are also others that offer truck driver training. I attended Southwest Truck Driver Training in Phoenix. Glendale Community College also has a program in Glendale. Each program costs different amounts and varies in length of time to complete. How much time it takes to complete depends on your desire, your abilities and your experience. The program at AIT takes 3 months to complete because they go into much more depth. The Southwest program can be completed in one month if you attend the daytime program versus their weekend or nights program. The costs range from about $3000 at Glendale community to over $6000 at AIT. There is also a program available through WorkForce Connection that gets your program paid for in advance through a Pell Grant. The price then ranges from free to anywhere in between to $6000. For individuals who have good driving experience and abilities, the expedited class at Southwest Truck Driver Training is excellent. The staff is very knowledgeable and experienced. And they have the ability to pass that info on to the students who apply themselves. I passed the road test, 7 step airbrake test, pretrip inspection test, parallel parking, serpentine backing, 45 docking test, 100 ft straightline pullup/backup test, the CDL general knowledge test, tanker written test and the HazMat written test the first time. For those who want more indepth and class room time the AIT program may be more to their liking. They cover other subjects like finance and expense. A friend of mine that attended that school took the night course and took the full three months to finish it. I finished up at Southwest Truck Driver Training in one month. We both ended up with the same CDL A license.

rollnrock · **^ Top** #2 06.24.2008

Hi Ze

I was looking at AIT when I came across your post. I see you went to Southwest. How much experience did you have prior to attending? Did you get the driving time you felt you needed? How much did it cost in total? Any other comments welcome too!

Thanks

rollnrock (Larry)

zepurple · **^ Top** #3 06.29.2008

Hi Larry. When I attended Southwest I had no actual experience driving an 18 wheeler. I suppose it is possible to get through the CDL without going to a truck driver training school. But, from everything I looked at, once you get your CDL, you probably couldn't get hired anywhere. I had experience driving other trucks, tractors, grading equipment, paving rollers, etc. But no over-the-road driving experience in large rigs. I drove truck for UPS years ago as a delivery driver for a brief time. I had a chauffeur's license back in the 60's. The course at Southwest cost me $3995. I could have gotten it paid for by going through one of those Govt. sponsored training programs. I just don't like giving the Govt. my personal details just to get the money. The course was ok for me because I got time behind the wheel with a trainer over-the-road before I took the driving test. And, they have a yard set up to teach you how to do the 90 degree back, the serpentine back, the straight back and the parallel park back. So, for me it worked. Others may need more less time and attention to certain details. You really need to find out from the school in certain exactly what they will teach you, and how much time they spend on the specific activities. A friend of mine attended driving school with Swift driver training school. They spent a lot of time in the classroom. He told me personally that he wasn't prepared properly for the backing exercises and he failed their test the first time around. So, it isn't a given or a guarantee that going to any particular training school is going to set you up for success as a driver. The training course should be arranged to meet your personal driving experience background to prepare you for passing the CDL test. I see young guys and women driving OTR who will not change/check anything on their rigs. They insist that the company fix/do it all. That's not the real world. If you get out of the corridors like I5, I17, I80, I15, I40 etc, there may not be repair shops to fix everything and change your wiper blades for you. That's my take on it anyway.

rollnrock · **^ Top** #4 07.05.2008

Thanks Ze but not sure about "once you get your CDL, you probably couldn't get hired anywhere" because I read here and online that quite a few companies in Phx hire new grads and will pay for thier tuition? Pleas follow-up if you have anymore info.
Thanks

SeekingTheTruth · **^ Top** #5 09.08.2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by rollnrock

Thanks Ze but not sure about "once you get your CDL, you probably couldn't get hired anywhere" because I read here and online that quite a few companies in Phx hire new grads and will pay for thier tuition? Pleas follow-up if you have anymore info.
Thanks

I am in the same boat you are. I have been looking for the right school here in Phoenix and am finding mostly negative information. I almost signed on with Swift but their contract requirements and hearing about drivers being terminated and told to find their own way home left a bad taste in my mouth. Tell you what I do know about AIT. They seem to have a thorough training program and they seem like nice people and they offer a few different levels of training as well. My only problem with them is: They are placing a lot of their students with Swift and Werner well, if you are going to end up at Swift or Werner why not just start with them to begin with? There is no need to go through AIT. Swift and Werner both have online applications to fill out to apply for their training program(s) and if you answer their questions to their liking: i.e. good driving record, DWI's, no felonies, someone will call you back PDQ. Who knows.... they might even be cheaper! Just make sure that you don't sign anything before you are completely satisfied that you have chosen the right company/training program! AIT told me that I would be able to get a route that had me home at the least on the week ends or even every night (more than any other) yet I just read somewhere that a guy just finished with them and they are telling him that they don't even have a truck to give him yet, let alone a local route!! This raised a red flag for me. There are a lot of Werner truckers out there that have good things to say about them so I am still considering possibly going with them.

Southwest has received some good feedback too. I am definitely going to explore these guys too before making a final decision.

Glendale CC may be an option too?? Only thing is whether they help you get a job because with the other guys you have a job when you finish!! But, they are an acredited school....

I think what ZePurple is saying about not getting a job after getting your CDL is that many companies want anywhere from 1-3 years experience OTR before hiring you. There may be some that don't require this but the pay might not be as good because of this.

I'm interested in knowing which school you choose/chose and how it goes/went?? Take it easy... See you down the line..

Git_R_Done · **^ Top** #6 4 Weeks Ago

Southwest was a great school. I took the day classes finished in a month and had plenty of behind the wheel time. The day class was 2 weeks in the classroom and 2 weeks in the yard/behind the wheel. We did 4 10 hour days 6am-4:30pm and if you counldn't pass the road test the 1st and they think you need more time behind the wheel they will put you in the next class that is doing the behind the wheel at no cost to help you get time. The trainer I had was awesome he took his time to explain everything in detail. The staff was really nice and helpfull. if you need anymore info let me know

willie allman · **^ Top** #7 3 Weeks Ago

same as Git R Done, i went with swift out of lewiston,ID. and had no problems, if a guy had problems with the 90 deg. or intersection part there was a option to go trough it with the other class, you have an opertunity to improve and the main concept that i seen was understanding how to turn a trailor, and down shifting.lol

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