MTC - Hazelwood, MO (Experience and advice)

I'm a new student at MTC - let me give you my take on it so far. Put simply, it is a CDL mill. That's not a bad thing, if you know it going in. You are NOT going to learn the finer points of CMV operation, the laws, or most of the things you would in a 4 week class at your local community college or in-house company school. It is a 16-20 day course to obtain your instructional permit and pass the possible road, yard, and pretrip tests administered by the MOHP. They make no apologies for giving you just enough of the knowledge and skills you need to pass the CDL test for the state of Missouri. IF YOU ARE OKAY WITH THAT, THIS IS FOR YOU.

This school is what YOU make of it. A lot of the class doesn't pass because they don't take the work seriously or they haven't studied practice tests enough. I heartily recommend the tests on TTR as a great resource.

What I do NOT recommend is letting them establish a carrier relationship for you. Look at their website, then research the companies they train for and work backwards. Get a commitment from the company you want and then they will square you away with MTC. I had both MTC and my carrier on the phone in the same hour and it was seemless. If you go with letting MTC pick your carrier, you may end up with less home time or more of a commitment than you could have. Again, YOU ARE IN CHARGE OF THE OUTCOME. For the veterans considering this, DO SO. I have a few former service members in my class and they get both the VA/G.I. Bill tuition benefit as well as not being locked into whatever carrier MTC recruits for you.

Also, do NOT get your CDL learner's permit prior to going to MTC. Changes in federal law dictate that you have to have a permit and license from the same state, since MTC won't let you roll without a Missouri operator's license, you are giving your money away to your home state. You can transfer your permit in, IF you DO NOT have a INTRASTATE restriction from your home state, which comes without having a DOT physical ($100 cost). Let MTC get the physical out of the way for you, it is easier to transfer your operators license and concentrate on passing the test than dealing with the hassle of two different state departments of motor vehicles. I SPEAK FROM EXPERIENCE.

Finally, with gas prices at these current levels ($2 a gallon) if you are within 8-10 hours I recommend fully that you use your personal motor vehicle as transportation instead of Greyhound. You will be in command of your comfort, not subject to layovers, and be able to move about the Saint Louis area for supplies and such - as well as not be dependent upon the local shuttles. Although, the public transportation is among the best I have seen - your own car beats a Metrobus.

Thus far, I am confident that I will succeed at MTC and with my carrier because I've embraced this as what it is, a stepping stone to get in the door. Driving is a lifestyle, not just a job. You have to be in, so does your family. What you put into MTC is what you will get out of it.

 

It might be, but what does that have to do with my post?

 

One of the long term hotels in Earth City. It's decent, just not adequately close to anything.