Back to MCT Driving School

Went to this school back in '94, looking forward to seeing how many things have changed since then. I've been reading the board for a while, seems like a lot of things OTR haven't changed a bit.

 

First week of school is finished. Pretty much the same as when I went through in '94, except now you have to sign an agreement to stay with MCT for one year, if not you have to re-imburse company $4,600 for training. Shifting and backing courses are boring since it only took about 1/2 a day to get comfortable again.

Pay at MCT is far from the best, but you are treated like a person and not a number. I was told that even if you can pass the road test, you have to go through the school, because of insurance. Is there any facet of life that is not controlled by the insurance industry anymore?
Any questions about the school I will do my best to answer!!!

 

I'm not familiar with MCT in St Louis. I'm attending the school for Midwest Coast Transport out of Sioux Falls, SD. They are owned by COMCAR, which owns CTL, CCC, WSE, MCT and CT. I attended this school in '94 and since I was out of the industry for several years I have to do it again.

The tuition is $4,600 if you don't drive for them for one year. If you stay one year it is free. School is 3 weeks long, 40 hrs a week. Down side, you have to live on your dime during the 3 weeks of school, there is a motel that will set you up for $30.00 a night, you buy your own food. After the school you pick the owner that you want to drive for. I knew a truck owner before I started school, since I drove for them back in '94-96. I have two more weeks of school, and a trainer is waiting for me. There is already a truck waiting for me when I get 1st seat. I have driven before, but I still have to do around a month with a trainer.

If you have no experience, it is 3 weeks of school, I think 25,000 miles at 10cpm and 25,000 at 11 or 12 cpm. After that if you pass the road test your in a truck making around 28-30 cpm. Your first year you will bust your butt to make $35,000-40,000. I don't think first year is easy anywhere, and you will not get rich at MCT, but you will be treated with respect. My instructor used to drive for the same fleet I did in the 90's, and we became friends pretty quick. They do not sugar coat anything, for the first part of the day they reiterate, "do not sign this agreement if you are not 100% sure this is what you want to do. They are very clear that if you want to make any money your first year, you are going to have to be away from home. When I drove in the 90's, I usually went out for 6 weeks minimum, home for 1 day than called in to get on the load list, which may take a day or two since I live in the sticks.

MCT doesn't own their own trucks, they are all either fleet or owner/operators. You can find the person you want to drive for and somewhat negotiate about pay. CPM, layover, detention, multiple stops for loading and unloading, etc., if you find a decent person to work for they will give you an opportunity to make a living.

 

School finished Friday, heading for Ontario, CA this afternoon. Ran this route quite a bit in the 90's, not expecting any big changes. See y'all on the road!!!

 

I left MCT for a regional route that has a lot better pay and benefits. I imagine they still start a new class every 3 weeks. You don't have to find a owner to drive for, if you don't have one they will find one for you. Their pay per mile is low, and benefits are not good either. They do offer plenty of miles though. I know some good drivers that have worked for MCT for many years and still only make 30 cpm.

I don't know anything about PRIME, but I've heard they don't pay very good either. I'd guess you would be treated better at MCT as they are much smaller. At MCT you will meet almost everyone that you will deal with, from the President down to your dispatcher. I had several years experience from the 90's so I went with MCT as a refresher course and to get some current miles.

MCT has given me the experience to get pretty good driving jobs, both in the 90's and now. Drove tankers in the 90's and a regional van route now.

 

I was in a 2007 Freightliner with no APU, but trucks will depend on who you choose to drive for. MCT doesn't own the trucks, they are either fleet or owner operator. When I started at MCT, student miles paid 10cpm. 1st seat paid 27cpm if you had no experience. I know a driver that has over 30 yrs OTR working at MCT and he only makes 31cpm. They weren't using elogs when I was there, don't think they have them now. They do use qualcom, so their pretty good at knowing when and where your truck is moving, but you use paper logs.

If you don't stay with them for a year, you wil have to pay for the school. School is three weeks long and MCT doesn't pay for anything during that time. You pay for housing, food, physical, and drug test. You will not be paid anything until your in a truck. Pay and benefits suck, but you will be treated good there.