How much do CDL class A courses cost

LOL, did you notice that he chewed you out for something I said? He jumps on me about intelligence, but didn't even bother looking who he was responding to.

*Sigh* I guess I should just respond to people's questions via PM, so that way the children can play and don't get involved in the discussion.

 

I've always suffered from the terrible compulsion to make idiots listen to reason on the internet. I'm just a glutton for punishment...

 

ok. i rarely get into people's business, however...don't do swift academy. not popular with other companies. you'll be bound to work for swift once you get done with their school. average lifespan of swift driver is 6 month - not enough to pay them back! *please, don't trust me on either statement and do your own research to confirm*. i've seen people upset. employers DO care what school you went to.
consider a private school for two reasons. you can get better training cheaper, faster and your investment is both - tax deductible and most employers will pay you back for your school in portions as you drive for them. (including swift that is. swift will pay for your private school up to 1500 or so. others will pay in full. do your research)
go to the school of choice and talk to their trainers. that's most important. makes all the difference. be safe

 

Since you asked... Here are some I can think of right now. I'll probably think of more later. I didn't know any of these things until I was with a trainer after having graduated school, and a couple I didn't know until I went solo and learned the hard way.


1. Until I got with a trainer, I had no idea that the tandems on a trailer could slide. That was never once covered or mentioned in any class I took.


2. I had no idea that the air tanks on most trucks must be purged in order to prevent water buildup. Found that one out the hard way when water built up so bad my engine failed. My trainer didn't even know, because his particular truck had an automatic purge, whereas mine was manual.


3. I had no idea that the landing gear on a trailer could be cranked up so high that the kingpin could slide right over the fifth wheel, crashing the trailer into the tractor. Might seem like something obvious to long term drivers, but as a student, it never occurred to me that they could go up that high.


4. Never once was I trained on how to set up to back in from any angle. We did practice angle backing, but the truck was already set up, so you just had to back it in. The setup is EVERYTHING - and I was never taught how to set it up until I was with a trainer.


5. At the school, I was never once offered the opportunity to drive a trailer that had enough weight on it to simulate a full load. Everything I knew about driving went right out the window once my first customer stuck 40,000 lbs on there.


6. My school training pertaining to a pre trip inspection involved a three minute walk around the truck, making sure nothing was falling off. We opened the hood and looked for leaks, but I was never shown how to check any of the fluids. Oil is obvious, but there are lots of other important things to check that a new driver would never know about.


7. I was never shown how to drive up or down steep grades, or how to pick the proper gear when heavy and entering a downhill grade. Was never taught or shown anything regarding jake brakes.


8. I was never taught anything about how to slide a fifth wheel, or that it was even possible.




That's just a few. I'm sure there are more, but it's almost 2:00am so I'm not completely awake. And like I said, this stuff might seem obvious to experienced truckers, but for someone who has never even sat inside a big rig before, there's no way to automatically know this stuff if you're not taught. And all of those things are pretty #### important in my day-to-day work.

 

FFE is seeking Midland/Odessa, TX based drivers with a Class A CDL with tanker endorsement to haul water to oil rigs.

 

Please tell me what companies don't accept Swift Academy. I talked with a half dozen companies while attending the Academy, and NONE of them had a problem with my choice of school. Swift Academy is PTDI accredited, which is more than many of the independent driving schools can say.

That may well be true, but the same can be said about all the starter companies. Many people get their CDL, drive with the company to get 6-12 months of experience, then switch to a company that requires experience.

Cheaper? $3900 (Swift) vs. $5000-$8000 (private school)
Faster? 3 weeks (Swift) vs. 4-8 weeks or more (private school)

My schooling at Swift is fully tax deductible, and not once did I hear "Oh, you went to Swift; we won't reimburse you for that". If they reimbursed, they didn't care where I went.

I quite agree. I went to the Richmond, VA Academy. The instructors there are very knowledgeable, passionate, and committed to their students. They are also very proud of their 93% first-time pass rate.

By all means, do your homework. This is a HUGE decision. At first, I had ruled out Swift Academy because of all the negative things I had heard about Swift. The local school was too expensive and took too long, and I sought out people who attended the various starting company schools. I will say that Swift wasn't my first choice, but I am very satisfied with the training that I received from them.

 

Many students from "good schools" need more than one attempt to pass the DMV test then get rejected at carrier orientation.

 

You were successful with Swift because you obviously have natural skills many students lack. A 93% first time pass rate means nothing. I'm not buying those leaving after 6 months are going to carriers requiring more experience. I bet most leave the industry entirely after long hours at low pay.

 

School is worthless, thanks. Whats your better idea, that doesn't involve already knowing a driver and begging him to teach you for free in his truck?

Also, being kicked out at orientation generally means that they liked what they saw on paper, then you came over and did something stupid in person, or failed the drug test or physical. Not a schools fault. There's plenty of people that want to go to truck school with bad backgrounds/health, the school will take your money. Eh.

 

Exactly. Well said.