National Training Inc (NTI) in Green Cove FL...LONG POST!

This might sound like a commercial, but with all the school-bashing, and bad schools out there, I wanted to share some info.

First, obviously, it's the only school I have ever gone to, but from what I have read on this forum, talking to a fellow classmate who had attended RoadMaster 7-8 yrs ago, and my bro-in-law who went to some company-sponsored school in MO, NTI is great!

I chose them based on their credentials, and the lack of negatives I could find on them online. Their set-up makes the most sense of any school I have seen (~334 hours total, with ~160 being hands-on)

You complete 30+ online courses before going to their "resident training." Thankfully, I live in the area, so no motel for me.

But you get all that out of the way at your own pace before you go to 'school.' For me, that was a Saturday and a Sunday, but that was becasue I was told the fastest anyone had completed them before was 3 days; and to me that sounded like a challenge! If you just took two classes a night, you'd be done in 2 weeks.

I think we know by now that 3wks seems to be the industry standard...they are no different. But; at NTI, you are actually IN the trucks the FIRST DAY. You will either shifting/driving on a private test track, or learning backing on day one. (they have a ~350 acre facility with a fully paved 1 1/4 mile track of their own)

Every day you will either be shifting/driving or learning/practicing backing for 8hrs and classroom learning for 2hrs (log books, driving techniques/hazards, etc)

They stick with 3-4 students per truck, and you will be driving on public roads progressively more throughout the 3 weeks. They are located off US17, south of Jacksonville, so you get to drive in all kinds of traffic/road situations after you have suitably learned how to shift and control a tractor/trailer.

All of their instructors are certified to administer the driving portion of the CDL test. If you live in FL, you simply take their certificate into the DMV and get your CDL.

Do not mistake your tuition for an auto-pass. In my class of 24, we had one person drop out, and go back home humbled after a 8 days of struggling to get the fundamentals down. We had another 7 people fail the driving portion on their first est attempt, with 3 of them failing it the second time, and requiring additional training outside the 3 weeks. I can assure you this was not instructor related.

Again, I know this sounds like a commercial, but there are so many bad reports on schools, and I have read so many posts talking about how people felt ill-prepared for their DOT road test after leaving school, and many failing; I felt the need to post a positive experience.

I will say the negatives about NTI as well.

1) Their equipment is a little rough: the backing exercise trucks have seen MANY better days/miles, and my assigned road truck was a fun-beast to say the least (late 80s 830k mile Cat powered Pete, with a 13 sp. Yeah yeah...seems like low miles until you think that it sees only 2-3k a year, ALL student miles)

2) Although they provide you with "lifetime job placement" the career center could use a great deal of improvement. They have a few trucking company reps come in and sell you their green grass and then the school gives you apps for 30 different companies, and that's about it from what I could tell. I will say though, that almost every company I called knew exactly who I referring to when I said NTI, and were more than happy to talk to me. Even the ones who weren't currently hiring students in my area (FL FTMFL!)

I know it would have been cheaper at the local college, but I am very satisfied with how my $5000 was spent, and the fact that they are an approved educator for your GI Bill/VA money, I think they are a great choice for anyone in the Southeast or further.

Sorry for the extremely long post, but this board seems to be so full negative threads, I thought it was time for a positive one for a change!