School Questions

Discussion in 'Trucking Schools and CDL Training Forum' started by nascarchuck, Mar 10, 2009.

  1. nascarchuck

    nascarchuck Road Train Member

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    Sep 2, 2008
    DFW, TX
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    I am beginning the search for a good truck driving school. In my area there is C-1 that is about 3 or 4 mins from my house and there is the truck driving academy at Weatherford College but it's about 45 mins away.

    At this point I dont think that I can afford to stay away from home at my expense so I may have to settle for C-1 even though I know that it's a CDL mill.

    Are there any questions that I need to ask the driving schools?

    A few that I can think of are:

    * How long is the course?
    *Is everything included in the tuition? Are there hidden expenses?
    *How many hours in class and in the truck?

    Anything else I need to be aware of or ask?
     
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  3. RickG

    RickG Road Train Member

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    Jul 22, 2008
    Owensboro , KY
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    Ask for contact info for graduates in the last 6 months and contact some to see how they are doing .
    Ask how many trucks the carriers the school refers you to have added to their fleet in the last six months . If they haven't added trucks ask why they are hiring .
    Read this site thoroughly before gambling on getting a trucking job . Many trucking school graduates here still haven't found a job months after graduation . Now their CDL is useless unless they pay for a refresher course .
    Many that did get hired quit within a few months because they couldn't get enough miles . Just go to Welcome Wagon or Report A Bad Company Here Forums , click a members avatar , then click to read all their posts . It'll make you aware of the real world .
     
    kickin chicken Thanks this.
  4. harleyman60

    harleyman60 Bobtail Member

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    Mar 7, 2009
    Hemet,Ca.
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    Good points RickG , also ask how many hours of trainning. Most companies want at least 160 hours!
     
  5. davidcboyd33

    davidcboyd33 Light Load Member

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    Apr 24, 2009
    Forsyth, GA
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    One of the most important things to ask C1 is which company are they going to put you to work for. I think you will have the option of 2 companies: USA Truck and PAM

    What happens if you don't like these companies? Are you free to go to another company? Do they give you a graduation certificate, or do they withhold it so that you stay with the company they put you with?

    I get calls from students all the time that have gotten their license with C1, got spun around by USA truck and can't go anywhere else because they don't have the CDL School credentials they need.

    Do your research on them.
     
  6. RickG

    RickG Road Train Member

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    Owensboro , KY
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    The school credentials aren't what's keeping them from getting hired . The jobs aren't out there . The only ones hiring are bottom feeder carriers that need to replace new drivers that quit when they got a reality check . All the major carriers have reduced their fleet size . Union carriers are laying off and recent Teamster contracts resulted in paycuts and other concessions .
     
    kickin chicken and luvtheroad Thank this.
  7. davidcboyd33

    davidcboyd33 Light Load Member

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    Apr 24, 2009
    Forsyth, GA
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    You seem to be an expert on the jobs that are available. You must spend an awful lot of time trying to find a job, that you've exhausted every company and are convinced there isn't one out there.

    But lets say, just for kicks, that there is a job out there. And lets say, just for kicks, that this one available job absolutely requires that the applicant have a graduation certificate from a CDL school, what I have reffered to as "credentials."

    IF THIS GUY DON'T HAVE THE GRADUATION CERTIFICATE, SOMEONE WHO DOES WILL GET THE JOB.

    So, he might want to make sure that he has one. Just in case, he doesn't get the job that he is promised by C1, he can maybe step into a job that is vacated by one of the 100's of driver's that do something stupid and get fired every week.

    No matter how much the economy changes, one thing will remain the same. A certain amount of truck drivers are going to be thrown in jail on any given weekend and vacate their jobs. Or quit, or wreck their trucks, or any number of the other reasons that turnover has been so high for as long as I can remember.
     
  8. RickG

    RickG Road Train Member

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    Just FYI I run dedicated hazmat tanker . You're students wouldn't get a second's consideration for a job by my employer . Graduate certificates are useless for the best jobs . Experience counts . The turnover is not as high as it has been "for as long as you can remember " . Drivers aren't giving up good jobs . Drivers are quitting jobs when they realize the won't make half the $40,000 -$50,000 a year recruiters talk about . Your posts about your patient instructors and how you help drivers are subtle spamming to bring in more money .
     
    kickin chicken Thanks this.
  9. ss goose

    ss goose Light Load Member

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    Apr 20, 2009
    texas
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    That dude is getting real annoying it always sounds like he's trying to sell something !!!!! O WAIT HE IS !!!!!!!! No matter where you go they will always try to tell you that you can't do it without them. AND HE TRYS TO TELL US HE'S DIFFERENT !!!!!!!!!!!! LMFAO :biggrin_25523::biggrin_2559::biggrin_25523::biggrin_2559:
     
  10. RickG

    RickG Road Train Member

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    Owensboro , KY
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    Yup , using names in posts isn't allowed so use it as your user name . Then add to year old posts so you can get your 50 real quick so you can PM contact info .
     
  11. ss goose

    ss goose Light Load Member

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    Apr 20, 2009
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    And he can get away with that ? :biggrin_25513:
     
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