AIT truck driving school

I graduated from AIT back in Feb of this year. They were alright. They gave me all the info I needed to get my CDL and the training was good. The drawback is that I didn't qualify for a grant and ended up getting stuck with a bill for $8840 when it was all over. I paid wayyyyyy too much and now I will be trying to pay it off forever... I went to the 18 week 360 hour course. It would have been a good experience completely if they hadn't raped me on the tuition considering I was paying for it and didn't get the government to pay my way.

 

You're supposed to find out about financing before you sign up... that's what I did so I knew what I was getting into first.

 

I went thru AIT, Phoenix course in 2009. After 4 weeks, I had my CDL. Went to Swift and it was down hill from there. AIT and Swift required 240 hours to be completed by student in 6 weeks. Drivers refused to participate. AIT wouldn't help find jobs. On my own, I heard I needed 2 years experience. AIT is now suing me for the portion of money they didn't receive. AIT DID find me a job when I submitted a claim for false advertising to the State Attorney General. The AG said they didn't have any money to investigate it, but acted as the document sender between AIT and me. AIT advertised a bottling company. When I called, they said I needed two years. After the AG contact, I was hired. 6 months later, layed off; said business was slow. This just 3 days after letter from AIT.
If AIT cannot get someone a job, then they are charging way to much. All AIT can do it seems, is get your CDL, but work is on you. It seems Swift and other companies AIT does business with are revolving doors at AIT's desires.

Bad experience and still out of work.

 

I went to AIT and got a fine job with Knight. I haul reefer. I'm busy and can easily afford to pay my share of my loan back to the man. I received one grant and one loan and some decent work.

I did my homework first. I made sure I had at least one job before I signed up. I had three and chose Knight over Werner and Stevens.

There are good stories, too. You can't expect a school to get you the job. They are there to get you the CDL and get you applications for various companies. It's up to the trucking company to hire you... not AIT to ensure that someone hires you.

Do your homework!

 

Knight & Stevens wasn't available at the time. When did you graduate and how long have you been driving?
It is understandable that a school cannot guarantee someone a job, but AIT does advertise they will try to set you up with companies. In my case, they would send me to companies that flatly told me they already hired the ones they requested. The Kalil company in CareerBuilders that I called AIT, I was told I needed 2 years. After AIT was contacted by the AG, they got me a job.
I guess they pick their winners and losers.

 

I signed up in April. Graduated in may and have been on the road since.

 

sounds like this school will soon experience a back lash from the "expensive" side of things. I mean, 8,000! really! I've heard of other school to going up towards 10,000. Come on now!

 

What does GCC stand for? Have a phone number or website address? No anything about Southwest truck driving school in phx?

 

I am very interested to follow your progress as I am in the process of looking for a school.

 

I am in the process of deciding on a school and such myself... Thanks to all for informative posts. @Eskimo you may have already gotten this information?

I want to say up front I am not a friend of, employee of, anything of, related to AIT. Just a prospective student that wants to give as much info as I can as I have run into the "is it really that good/ bad" questions after reading many forums. I believe state the facts then your experience/ impression...Let the reader decide. Plus my first post of potential many.. I put my best suit on ...lol

Since I was just sitting at an AIT recruiting desk Monday I thought I would outline the programs they offer.. makes it easier than making the trip to get the same info. It was totally relaxed ZERO hard sell. Handed me applications and gave me more to apply to for pre-hire before I enrolled. They did pre-approve me for Fed Stu loans that was painless. Even pre-approved for the loans there was a very relaxed "Hey we are doing it right attitude." Made me very comfortable with the extra money I might have to pay. Also there are Tax breaks($2500) and Grants($3-5k)that are available because they are a private but Accredited school. Accredited through the Az Private Schools association I think. Yes Vet and V.A. friendly.

AIT- PDT- Professional Truck Driver- Short Day(daily 4hrs day on a morning afternoon or full day weekend schedule) classes = 24 weeks total = 18 weeks + 6 weeks with Paid Externship with possible bonus/ Mentor with your pre-hire carrier = $9720.00 = CDL + Diploma + Predetermined Job

CDT - Commercial Trucker Program- Full day (8hrs Mon- Fri.) classes = 10 weeks$400 cash "deposit" (refundable?? doubt it probably applied to tuition) 2 weeks class + 2 weeks range and road + 6 weeks with Paid Externship with possible bonus for on-time delivery/ Mentor with your pre-hire carrier (min 240 hours) =$7930.00 CDL + Diploma + Predetermined Job

TD- Truck Driver- CDL program (CASH ONLY) 2 weeks class + 2 weeks range and road then straight to carrier in a pre-hire status basically I was told if your mentor decides your not going to cut it or I am assuming there is possibility for personality issues to come into play until they make you a full on employee. Basically they can fire you and call it fired on any reporting they do. = $4240.00

Endorsements- You get endorsements for Air Brakes (standard) and Hazmat (not sure how standard this is)

***Options for Tanker and Doubles are available for almost nothing I was told $10 each and they don't own the equipment but they will source it for your training and certification. I don't know what other schools charge. There may be limits that a carrier or insurance may have on experience that you may not get these jobs anyway. Not sure about this yet myself. Also if you have issues with the test or confidence issues (I don't think you should be in a truck if your confidence is not there....) or whatever you can stay in training with no additional fees and there was no limit expressed on this but I'm sure there is a time when they will pull you aside and have "that conversation".

I am not sure if the "externship" is just fancy wording for the pre-hire or if that is part of the school program to cover the 20k miles you need to complete the CDL process and be clear to drive solo. I do know that in some cases that Phase 2 some call the 20k mentor miles is not paid. I have heard that this is not mentioned in the recruiting process. CR England is one that I have read more than a few poor reviews about their schooling process. maybe isolated but there were more than a few on other forums.

Please help me define some differences AIT is claiming from other local schools listed below:

1. They basically told me unless you get a pre-hire offer they don't take you. (I think this is a benefit because I have found other forums with horror stories about certain schools that just take your money and may have a placement program but as we all know a $250k++ rig with no prior exp is a hard sell to a lot of companies.)

2. I guess as I re-read my post before upload I have listed the programs as described and written down to me only 2 days ago. I actually pulled the info off the sheet the recruiter gave me. So I ask is this what GCC is offering? Other schools local to Phx?