All State Career School Lester, PA

Won't the GI bill pay for the school?

 

Oh, I understand. My last ship, believe it or not, was the USS New Jersey (BB-62) when it was homeported in Long Beach, CA.

Many trucking companies will reimburse you for your school tuition. That's something to look at when putting in applications. I wouldn't make that a first priority though when looking at companies. A good way to prepare now is to get a passport, TWIC, and all endorsements, especially hazmat & tanker. These will give you many more options to choose from & probably land a better paying company right out of school.

 

There is an Allstate school near Pittsburgh I checked out when I was getting ready to get my CDL.....checked it out in person, didn't like what I saw.....7-8 students per truck on the backing pad, very little road time.....said it was a 21 day program but if need be you cold take an extended course either 1 night a week or on Saturdays for 6 months......also at this time 11 years ago it was about 6k.

I ended up going to Transport Tech in Western PA, a smaller but IMO much better choice. Basically it's a 6 week program with 3 weeks classroom and backing pad and then 3 weeks roadwork in various types of situations......since they are in a small town you get a lot of country road, small town experience which IMO you won't get anywhere else. It was always 3 students per truck no matter what level you were at so you really got more truck time.

At least when I went there they put your training first above everything else, if you weren't ready they would keep working with you until you were and at no extra charge after the initial 6 weeks. I remember one lady was a school bus driver who wanted to go into big trucks....it took her almost 12 weeks but they stuck with her and she finally made it through.

It's not a fancy place but the did have sleeping quarters with a shower and a small shared kitchenette for folks from out of town who were on a budget. The staff was very open and friendly and once they got to know you they treated you like family......of course that depended on your attitude as well.

Cost at that time was about 5K and they will finance.....I thought I definitely made the right choice.
When I got out I immediately signed on with ROEHL Transport for their training program, when I went for my initial road test I scored a 141, the driver/trainer said he had never in all his years ever had anybody score near this high coming right out of a school, so I believe this speaks for itself, and yes I will pat myself on the back and say I'm a pretty good student and a quick learner but I had never even been around a big truck in my life ever except as a passenger 1 time.
http://www.superpages.com/bp/Bessemer-PA/Transport-Tech-L0003504649.htm

 

Wow, I live in Bessemer! When you said Transport Tech, that got my attention. I have an appt at All State tomorrow, but from what you said, I'll definitely check out Transport before I commit.

 

Smith & Solomon have a very nice reputation among their graduates...I cannot say much as I did not attend that school but can only let you know what I hear from some of my trainees...