Driving Schools in Chicago

Yeah, I suppose. Then again too, it's overwelming enough for a new driver without cars parked along both shoulders (some where they shouldn't be),right turns in the city where traffic has to back up to let you around(and dragging the trailer over that illegally parked car on the corner) and homeless (drunks) washing your windshield at every other corner.( working there I had the cleanest windshield in town)

 

I don't see any advantage to the PTDI certification. Progressive was supposedly certified, but the classroom work books were so old that it didn't have the "new" hours of service rules ( they changed them years ago). Any updates they'd glue to the inside front cover. You ought to check out STAR, they've got a place in Bensenville and Oswego ( good people)

 

Isn't that a T800?

 

I don't if it really makes a difference. Roehl, H.O. Wolding, Crete, Schneider, etc. all hire from Spirit and from talking 1 on 1 to the recruiters that were in last week, they are really impressed with the drivers coming out of the school. It is Secretary of State certified which does mean they are held to a much higher standard than a school that is not. On the possible downside, that also means the examiner will hold you to a higher standard during your driving test. But I see that as a good thing.

Congratulations on the new one!!

 

This is a tough situation...6months away and they want you to take a refresher it seems.

Might want to look into a small local carrier...someone that doesn't care if you have been out of driving for awhile, as long
as you can pass their road test.

These bottom feeder companies claim its the insurance costs that cause this rule, but I personally don't believe that.

 

Attended Star at their Oswego, IL facility. Finished in May. Star requires you to have your permit BEFORE you come to the first day of class, but work with you to get you up to speed on the required materials for the Secretary of State tests. You're encouraged to come to the facility and study using their computer / video based training courses before you go to take the written test for your permit. They offer three different truck CDL courses (the 160 minimum class and a 200 and 240 hour courses), and a bus course as well. Equpment at the Oswego facility was all 10 speed Eaton / Fuller transmissions. My road time was split about evenly between being with Don driving a sleeper cab unit and with Warren in a day cab unit.

From my perspective: Pro's- Hands on day one (they have you behind the wheel, either on the road on in the yard on day one), safety focus in the yard and on the road, instructors have been there done that and don't deal in theory, rather in practical application, SOS examiners come to the facility for testing and the instructors are pretty well dialed in on what you will need to know / show / do to pass the pre-trip, yard skills, and driving portions of the examination; they offer a weekend course, allowing you to have a weekday job and get your CDL on Saturdays and Sundays, all 10 speed transmissions to maximize the learning curve (not bouncing between trans types and having to relearn every monday). Con's: relatively small yard that is shared (sometimes it gets kind of hectic and you may wind up with some down time).

The opinions above are based on attending the 200 hour course on a flexing schedule (weekend course). The office staff are phenomenally nice. The instructors that I had were very capapble teachers, but they don't baby you. If you screw up, they tell you. Sometimes very bluntly. It's ok, we're all grown ups. If you want elementary school self esteem, probably not the career you want to choose.

I have recommended them to over a dozen people, and would recommend them to anyone serious about getting a CDL.

 

Reverend, they use Star for their school.

 

I just graduated from Spirit today and have to say I'm extremely pleased with the course. The instructor's do a good job of tailoring your driving to what you are ready to handle (even if you don't think you are). Especially after reading other threads about schools that barely teach you to back up.

Every day you are in the yard practicing your skills and then on the road. I got to drive in the city, country and interstate and got a truck in places I wouldn't have even thought possible. Even learned how to blindside.

Again, from reading other threads, it seems like a lot of schools goal is to merely get you your CDL and get you out the door. Although I know I still have a ton to learn, I really feel like I was given a really good set of tools to begin my career.