My experience @ NETTTS today.

NETTTS will get you your CDL if you owrk at it. My big problem with them, was they readily took tuition and set up student loans for people who they knew full well would never qualify for employment with ANY trucking company due to criminal/driving history.

 

You are right on target and this goes for anything one does in life. You can tell from the first day of class who will and who will not cut it. In my class that started with think 8 or 10 only have 3 now.

As for the elevator not working I don’t care as I walk up the stairs-YES all 4 floors 2 times a day. Once when I get in and the other at break time. Maybe more if we go to the fields.

Andy is a good teacher. I have only met the woman once never had her as a teacher. I think she is out on the field now. I have a guy by the name of John that is also good that is doing the rest of the modules. Like Andy he has been out on the road and tells you like it is. He also takes us out to the field to do drop & hooks if no one is on the fields. I have found this a big help mainly to others that have never seen a truck up close or driven a stick. I have a Class B lic. So after doing a few D&H’s I have been helping others that this is their first time in a truck or driving a stick. Also when you do get to the field time of your class you can setup times outside your normal time to use the trucks if the class that should be on them is low in numbers to free them up.

As for the equipment yes it could always be better but as I have told the guys I have been helping if you can learn and do the job with this equipment then when you get good equipment you will be like a pro! The tires that will not pass a pre-trip are not the trucks you take on the road, they stay on the fields only.
I have seen 2 times now in the 3 times on the field (during class room time) guys pulling the air/elect lines off the trailers when they were only to move the cab 2”-3” off the 5[SUP]th[/SUP] wheel! I hate to see what new equipment would go thru?
Do you think the first job you get the equipment will be new?

As said it is what YOU make of it
Guys good luck and be safe
Dave ----

 

Wait, hold up... 10k for CDL school? lol.. Yea ###### right!

Try $1,600, 30 days and a bit of common sense...

 

That's the cost for NETTS if you finance your schooling. Crazy, to be sure.

 

Ok you say that but there is a reason behind the $$.
Your school you are paying out of YOUR pocket it is not a loan and could not get a loan for that.
Because we can get a loan the school is accredited continued education school (540 hours)so need to keep up your GPA (for your loan) and that goes a long way when getting a job that may ask for a year+ experience too. I do not start to pay back the loan till out of school for 30 days and I should have a job before then.
How deep do they get into say HOS rules with your log book and how to fill out your log the right way? Second day we are filling out mock log book for the next 3+ weeks then a week before you get on the field as you need 7+ days to show DOT.
How about how to scale your truck/trailer and what is needed to make it legal?
Did you go thru a defensive driving course and get a cert you can turn into your insurance co. for a discount?
Does the short course get you your DOT med card as part of the course? Only thing we have to pay for is the permit/endorsement tests.
And I will not get into tanker or hazmat classes.
Now out in the truck what if you don’t get it right away and need more time behind the wheel how much more do you have to pay for that?

So they offer way more than the 30 day course.
Now the cheaper course is good if you need a refresher because you have not driven in a bit and some employers I hear want you to do this so the 10K one is just a waste.
Oh and I did look into a cheaper/shorter course school and felt they were pushing too much on you in a short time to retain it all.

There are different schools for different people and as they say each their own.
What works for you may not work for me.
Dave ----

 

The 5K is for the 160hr course, the 10K is for the 540hr course.

I am currently going to Nettts in Pawtucket, RI and my experience has been completely different.

The instructors and staff have been outstandingly helpful and have shown me and the rest of the students that I know a great interest in teaching them the right way.

I hope you do end up at a good school and you find a good job.

Laterz

 

Thats something I do not go with.

I personally know a student at NETTTS who is going to have serious issues getting a job because of records and what not and its just not right that when they asking all these questions and doing the pre-screening of the student they do not bother to mention or consult with the career placement officer on what's the student going to face after graduation.

According to this student, school did find a local match for him but it wont pay much until he proves himself as a safe driver, but you gotta start somewhere.

 

i don know what youre talking about ....i just fininshed a full time ,3 week ,120 hour program. it waws listed for $5700, i went in with cash i paid $3495 ..... you must of came off like a push over or something ... i cant say a negitive thing about the program besides oenn dick head i had to put in his place names "jim" hes the "director of safey" . other than him that place is top totch ! they kept thier word and gave me a huge cash dicount and the instructors were the balls! .... i highly recomend the program . when you go on and sign up ask to speak with Gary Peaters i promise you wont be disapointed , they will take care of you .....

 

As I posted there are many different cost for schools and how many hours each is.
Less $$ & hours I bet you are taught how to pass the state test only, computer part maybe & driving part only. The more $$$$ & hours you take safety classes some you can turn into your car insurance Co. for a discount if they take them.

Did they teach you how to read a truck atlas or plan a trip? You know how many cannot! I was shocked how many could not name the states when showed a map of USA! How the heck can you plan a trip if you don’t know where that state is! And don’t laugh some did not know where the state we were in was on the map!

How about weight limits on axles and how to fix them? And you need to know math to do so. That class was fun for me. Or how to fill out a drivers log or post trip inspection sheet? You say Elogs you still need to know how to fill out both if the Elog goes down. And there is more you get in class that will help a noob when sent out on the road the first time on the job.

Also I am helping more “short course” people on the field than I am doing my own practicing for my driving test. Long course gets 2 weeks of the 4 field stations were short gets 1 week of each and it shows. There are short course people that can’t do a brake leak test/drop & hook/pre-trip in there 3 week where the long course know this before hitting the field as we have done it in class for a week or 2 before sent out.

If short works for you great
If long works for you great also
But as they say “you get what you pay for”
and cash always gets a discount just look at gas pumps
Dave ----

 

I graduated NETTTS in '07, and they are pricey but well worth it.

I definitely wouldn't go the company training option. It's bad enough that a lot of the Werner/Swift etc. OTR trainers don't teach anything to students who already went to school. Companies like Prime that train start to finish in the road are unleashing guys with no business whatsoever driving a truck.

As far as truck driving schools, I was a trainer for Werner and had students from all over the country. None of them had the knowledge or depth of training NETTTS provided. Some of these "puppy mills" crank out grads in 3 weeks who know virtually nothing. I had one student from Baltimore who was trying to shift like he was in a car. You'll also be taking the CDL test in a sleeper cab, which at least for MA is more difficult.

it was about $8K when I went, seems like it's gone up a little. A lot of the companies will pay back your student loans, they take GI Bill, and if nothing else you can make a lot of money in this field. I'm taking home over $50k this year, and I have 4 yrs experience with a big break in the middle.