What questions should I ask before signing up for a school?

I would first look at the BBB, and find out other ways to completely investigate them. Does most people pass? What is the failure rate? Typically the longer the better.

Also find out if they ar eon the list of accredited schools that a lot of these companies want, this speaks for itself.

This may no be the exact answer your looking for, but it's essential in choosing a good school. There are many good schools out there, but theres a few flops as well. Six grand is a huge investment.

 

Find a few/several companies you would like to work for, Call them and ask if the school your planning going to is on their list of approved schools

 

Yeah, what the others said above and/or will they help place you after you're finished.
If you have any criminal or MVR stuff make sure you bring that up to them first.
I was originally going to try Roadmaster but because of an old felony they said they could not guarantee placement.

 

the certification that was referred to above is the PTDI certification.

 

Ask what carriers recruit from there . Ask how many students that carrier has hired in the past year . Then ask how much that carrier increased its fleet in the last year .
The answer will probably be the carrier reduced its fleet but hired 200-300 students . What's wrong with that picture ?
It doesn't matter how good the school is . 90% of graduates go to bottom feeder carriers . 10% of students never get hired .

 

Rick, Just curious, where are you getting your statistics?

 

So you're saying he has a chance ??

 

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCFB2akLh4s[/ame]

 

Just being pretty liberal with posts made here by students saying where they are going and which ones complain bout sitting home .
Placement means nothing though . Saying 90% of the students don't make it a year sounds extreme but many here have quoted that . Many say half don't make it past orientation .
How many newbies do you see going to Watkins & Shepard ? Then consider how many students go there that don't post here .
They have less than 1,000 trucks . My opinion though is they are a good company but the work is more than most newbies are willing to do .
Think about the 90% + turnover of OTR companies though . Probably 3/4 of their drivers have been there over a year so all that turnover is in 1/4 of their trucks .