Reno/Sparks driving schools (June 2011)

I don't have any information but have been watching your thread hoping for the same information. Hopefully someone will have some up to date information for us.

 

Don't know about Reno/Sparks for schools.

They do have one in Carson City, I think it is part of the Community college.

 

There are currently only 2 schools I know of that serve the greater Reno area.

NV Truck Driving School on N. Virginia, 775-232-4411.

Advanced Truck School, with their office on Ironwood, but they teach at the Western Nevada College campuses in Carson and Fallon, 775-741-5891.

I'm looking at them both, now, for my CDL.
Rob

 

There is one called Desert Driving School I think. Its right by Nev-Cal on Gregg Street.

 

I talked to the lady who runs NV Truck Driving School back in December while I was at my in-laws. $1700 for Class A, and $1800 for CDL + HazMat. Seemed like nice people. Classes run 3-4 weeks. Tey have a 3rd party tester on site.

 

I just finished up at Horizon Commercial Truck School in Sparks. I went to all 3 schools in the Reno-Sparks area before deciding on Horizon. Nevada Truck Driving School was decent but was within $75.00 of Horizon. Desert Truck Driving School in Sparks was the cheapest. Desert seemed like a learn at your own pace and was open 6 days a week.

That said, it's like everything else in life, you get out of it what you put into it. Horizon was the best fit for me and I am happy I went there. A good friend of mine went through Desert 2 years ago and was very happy with his experience. I was told by each school while I was there in late August that Horizon was the only school with a 3rd party tester on site.

Horizon is the only school that shows you, and makes you chain up a truck and will show you how to connect doubles and triples and then let you drive them. Granted, they only let you drive them around the yard, but still none of the others do that, that I'm aware of. We also got to go on live load deliveries with a Pete 377 and a 53' van. I feel I got a good value out of the school and I know that the 5 guys I was in class with were happy at the end.

Your mileage may vary as with many things in life, but that's my experience. Hope it helps.

 

Hi SR, did you take the 160hr complete licensing program? I see a price on the website of $1,900 but not clear what that it for. That seems low for 160hrs, the programs I am looking at are more like $4,000, may I ask what you paid in total for the training you felt satisfied with?

Regards

 

Yes, that is for the 160 hour course. My total cost was $2,187.00. That includes the school, DOT physical, drug test, permit fees and something I'm forgetting. What I felt most satisfied with was the instructors willingness to work with you, or some of my class mates who weren't understanding something. There was no pressure and no hanging over you if you didn't understand something they would just try another way to get through to you. The equipment was decent and well maintained.

I tried to respond to your PM, but I don't have enough posts yet to be able too.