Opinions on Expensive Trucking Schools

There's not much sense in booking a course until the Drive Test workers come back off strike. You can't do your written and road test until they do, anyway.

 

No school can promise you an AZ licence for any price. You either have what it takes to pass the test or you do not.
It's so hard to get a job right now that the big companies that offer their own trianing want people to have gone to certain schools that they know are really good. i found this out after applying to kriska transport.
Humber college offers a good course but its over $4000
I do not beleive that 600$ will get you an AZ license. You have to think how many driving hours your going to get in that course. you can't learn to drive a truck by reading, you have to drive. Having a AZ licence these days does not mean you will get a job. I got my AZ last February and still am looking, but I do finally have a good prospect.
What i would do is call Kriska transport in mississauga, talk to the recruiter there, her name is Caroline blais pronounced 'blass'. She is really good. tell her what you want to do and if you can get a list of their accepted trucking schools and then find the best priced one from that list.
If i did that they would have taken me on but instead I went to a cheaper school and now its harder to find a job.
as for the strike, I would still start taking lessons so you are ready when the strike is over.

 

Beware of the cheap schools....you get what you pay for...
Gerally speaking $3000 and up shoould get you a decent AZ course.
Those cheap "driver mills" promising you a quick AZ are usually very shady buisnesses....some of them just take your money and disapear, others will have you running unsafe equipment with 5 people sitting in the bunk waiting their turn....and if you fail your final ministry test (which you most likely would) they will charge you a lot of money to take it again, so in the end you might end up spending even more money than signing-up with one of the more reputable schools...

 

I paid $2500 for a 2 week program in Saskatchewan, this summer. It was usually $3200, but they had a summer special. First 2 days were classroom, the next 7 were on the road and the final day was the road test, air brake, pre-trip, coupling/uncoupling. I got dinged twice for going too slow and once for a missed gear, but still passed my first time through.

The $2500 included a 2nd road test booking if I failed the first one. I never set foot in a big diesel before this school. A week later I had a job driving short haul in a tractor-trailer. My instructor pointed me in the direction of a couple places that usually give new guys a chance, and one of them hired me on the spot. The pay isn't great, but I'm fortunate to have a job that gives me experience with tractor trailers in this tough economic time. I applied for several long haul jobs, and talked with the recruiters. They all either said were not hiring ANYBODY, or come back when you have at least a year experience if not two.

My school also called me with job offers from farmers, looking for drivers to help get their crops in to the grain elevators. I turned these offers down, because they were all short term. I guess the prairies got hit a little less hard than the rest of Canada.

I was originally trying to get work in the oil fields out here, but with only half the number of wells in operation compared to last year. The companies are only hiring people with a minimum of 6 months experience. When the entry level position pays $23/hr there is a long line of people trying to get the few positions available at the moment. The good news is, there were a record number of land lease's sold this year, so by next year there will lots of oil work again. Just have to tough it out now and gain my driving experience in the mean time.

If you're from a big city, the prairies maybe a little boring, but if you want work, it's the sacrifice you have to make.

 

Hello BT

Have you been working in Canada long enough to collect EI ? I just went through a reputable school in Winnipeg and gained employment at a company with a good reputation first week out of school ( the school helped a great deal ) I had to pay 10% of the course cost which worked out to 500$ . I started the process in the begininng of Feb 2010 and finished school last week , so from the time I deceided to do this to for a living was less then 1.5 months . I was referred by EI to another division ( Entrepreneurship, Training and Trade Employment Manitoba which I would think every province has some division of ) ask at the EI office in your area .
Good luck

 

So you want to learn to drive.

Personally I wouldnt do any school with less than 4 weeks road time and one month of class time. There is a lot to learn in this proffession. The schools will teach you the basics for what you need to get your license.

You dont want to sink money into this. Well hmmm. Perhaps you need to go with a national carrier that will train you. But beware. They can turn your brain into jelly if your not up to par on the learning curve.

Whom to go with? Well that is really your choice. About any company these days will tell you to go fleet lease. Your choice of diet is correct for this. Alas you may not get paid much. See the USA, yes, see it only in the daytime? Maybe. You will meet all sorts of interesting people out there definately!

I have only been with 3 companies myself. If you must learn, then I suggest CR England. They are the better company of all the evils. I may get burned for my recomendation, but really they do teach you alot more than the people here rant about. CR will tell you that you need to lease. But IF YOU MUST, only do something (fleet lease) with a short term. Short term is only 6 months to a year. They will charge you for your schooling through the time you are driving for them. They will expect immediate payment if you stop working for them. You need to recognize what makes you sleepy, what can you do to help you go back to sleep (did you know that removing blankets to make yourself chilled can make you drowsy, then pull blankets back over to make yourself warm, try it). There are many things that you can learn.

Yet you must realize. All companies will treat you poorly. There is very little respect for what you ask as a driver. Your needs are not your own. But if you stick with it and have all your bills paid, and dont expect to get paid much, then I can only say welcome to the world of trucking.