Newbie needs advice: Who to go with for experience?

DCTC sounds impressive. I like the fact that the course has the slick pads. I'm all for anything that will make me a safer driver. The school is very pricey, but maybe not considering the fact that it's a 320 hour course. If I attend DCTC, I'll have to see if my state (KY) can provide tuition assistance of any kind. Thanks to this economy, I've been unemployed for a rather long time, and I don't have that kind of money lying around.

DCTC's course is about twice as long and about twice the price of the schools I've checked out. Roehl's school lasts 17 days and costs $2800. Swift's school costs $3900, but I'm not sure how long it lasts. I hope the company name isn't an indicator. Millis' school lasts 3 weeks (128 hours, minimum), and costs $2500.

At DCTC, how much time is spent on the classroom, how much on the track, and how much on the road? Also, what does DCTC do for you regarding housing and meals?

Please send me the link to the school. Send via PM if you prefer.

 

vmwelker, The DCTC course I'm taking will be from December 6th - January 28th and will run M -F 7am - 3pm. I don't know the ratio of classroom to driving to road time but it does say in the literature that upon graduation I will have between 1000 - 2400 miles including an OTR trip. Here is the website for the school http://www.dctc.edu/continuing-education/transportation/truck-driver-training/index.cfm and click on Advanced Truck Driver Training for the info.
The problem I see with going with a trucking companies training program is that you are obligated to work for them for a certain amount of time and you are essentially learning their way of working. With DCTC, I'm learning essentials of the business and then I can go and work for anyone who will hire a newbie. Much more flexibility and choices.

There are many companies that come to the school to sign up new drivers because this is such a good school. I can't wait for that to happen. A lot of drivers on here have told me that companies lie so I'm doing my homework ahead of time by viewing their websites and checking out what other drivers say about them on these forums.

I'm working the dislocated worker program through MN unemployment system to get what I need to be paid for. They will pay for my fuel to get to and from school, tuition, books, physical and drug test, even for my hazmat endorsement! I'm sure if you try to go through that program in Kentucky, they would be most happy for you to get through the training and working again. Just really push that you would like to attend this school because it has such a great reputation, which it does.

When I went to the school I talked to Maxine in the trucking office, she was very informative and cool to work with. Her email and phone number is on that website I posted here. It would be cool if you could get all of this in order to start with me in December!

Are you female? lol

Good luck!

 

What does LTL mean?

 

Less Than Load (Think Yellow, Conway, Roadway, etc.)

 

Guitar Man,

Why would a company put LTL on their website? Is this a bad thing and something that they do regularly? Does that mean I wouldn't get full pay for that load or something?

Thank you!

 

Here is what I call a sign from the Universe that I'm bound for the trucking world.

On my way home from a friend's house along a 15 mile stretch of two land highway I passed 6 semi's!! I've never seen that many EVER along that road but then again its harvest time in my rural area but still, I'm taking it as a sign! LOL

 

Hi MaMa Bear, LTL means Less Than TruckLoad. With that being said,there are shippers and consignee's [ receiver] that cannot use a full truck load of goods and have to use smaller shipments. Hence, Less than TruckLoad. Another poster said, think Yellow, Roadway, Conway etc. That is correct and they are LTL companies that for the most part make del's and pick up's to multiple company's. If you saw a company advertise LTL on there website and it is a truckload carrier,that means that they also do LTL, again which is mulitple stops.Is it a bad thing? not really, It could be a good thing depending on how a company pays you for doing it and if you enjoy making a bunch of stops. I enjoy making multiple stops as it can be a challenge at times and your backing up skills will get pretty good. The down side to this is, for a OTR company your on duty time will get eaten up pretty good. Hope this helps a bit.

 

Thanks for the info. You've done a lot of good research. If I'm going to do this, I'd much prefer doing the training in the winter. I need to be able to handle the truck in the worst of conditions, and I don't see how I would get adequate training for that in warmer weather, even if the pavement is wet.

I will contact the Kentucky unemployment office ASAP to see what kind of programs are available that will help pay my way through school.

Thanks again.

And no, I'm not female.

 

Well vmwelker, we all can't be perfectly female. LMAOOOOOOOOO (Sorry I couldn't resist it!)

 

Rocknroll81 - Thank you so much for the info! That has helped me much because depending on the freight involved I might want to steer clear of those companies since I'm really looking for long haul OTR jobs at this point. That could always change when I get behind the wheel in school, so I will reserve my final decision for that time.
I hope you continue to be a contributor to my thread because you seem like you are a wealth of information that I can draw from!
Thanks again!