MTC - Hazelwood, MO (Experience and advice)

MTC is up front about what they do in three weeks - take 20 or more students on Day One and give them the skills to pass the written and operating tests all inside 16 10-hour days (+1 off day to comply with HOS standards). There are 7 manuevers (straightline backing along with driver and blind side offset, parallel, and alley dock parking) that have to be practiced along with road time. In those 10 hours between the 20 students and 3 classes on site (weeks 1-3) working with a single instructor each the math breaks down poorly for individual attention and instruction. I know after discussing with my local community college that CDL classes are 4-6 person affairs. It is the same 160 hours, but the attention and theory is better than a CDL mill.

The only reason I am comfortable in this situation is that I have long term experience with Class A vehicles and understand enough of the theories to be able to look beyond the mere basics. I would also hope that at your local CC that you would be getting significant time behind the wheel with more than just the minimum number of turns and hints about what will automatically fail you at the CDL test site.

As for the time break down:

MTC: 160 hours divided by 20 students= 8 hours
CC: 160 hours divided by 6 students = 26.67 hours

If you account for the first two days to pass the permit test (20 hours) and a day to experience both logging and defensive driving skills (10) the math comes to this:

MTC: 20 students = 36.5 hours. 130 hours/20 + the 30 classroom hours.
CC: 6 students = 51.67 hours.

When you break down the cost structure it gets even worse.

 

What's your proof? I have a hard time believing that this school can increase the population of Missouri 30 a week and not find issue with the other 48 DMVs (Illinois has demonstrated issues because of past gubernatorial practices). That said, I'm on hold with Ohio's BMV as I type.

 

Having spoken with Ohio's Bureau of Motor Vehicles, the only issue is a possibility of taking the General Knowledge test again and qualifying endorsements. There is also the high likelihood of just paying the fees once I prove I am a resident of the great state of Ohio. You can also transfer an Ohio license to any other state, the same with any other certified state. That's one of the purpose of the regulations put in place by the FMCSA.

 

UPDATED REVIEW: Because I am a natural cynic and mildly paranoid person by nature I kept some of the opinions and facts about MTC under my hat until I got my hard copy CDL forwarded to me from Missouri to Ohio.
Now - for the full truth.

If at all possible, AVOID MTC.

1. The costs are ridiculous for the product provided.
2. The instructor turnover is increasing, so what sort of loyalty or investment can a student expect when his trainer may have arrived just a month or two before?
3. The equipment in both the yard and on the road is dilapidated and creates a series of bad habits (Not using the trailer brake when in the yard leads to dragging the trailer when at the DOT site, I know!)
4. The "lunch" provided is just Monday-Friday and not on the weekend, you have NO way of going to get food on Saturday or Sunday. NO OTHER MEALS ARE PROVIDED.
5. The lunch menu is stuff off the dollar menu at McDonald's, Wendy's, or Little Caesar's. The breakfast at the hotel is either granola bars or oatmeal - nothing more.
6. The administrative staff are interested in their numbers and treat you like one.
7. There is no individualized training for students needing work on a particular area of practice, it is up to you. (Maybe a drawback, may be just the way things should be.)
8. The last three weeks of classes are held at night instead of previously being split between a day and night shift.
9. 4 students per truck leads to less than 10 hours of windshield time before going for the CDL test.
10. The hotel shuttle takes 2-3 runs and you have to pack more than is either comfortable OR safe in the vans to get everybody back and forth. That is, if you aren't left behind to walk 5 miles to the hotel.

Overall, the place - as I said before - is nothing more than a glorified CDL mill. I am on the hook for about $3000 ($50 a week for 14 months) while my carrier is picking up the rest of the overpriced tab. That isn't a bad thing, but I didn't get three grand of education. The administrative staff is unfriendly and unsympathetic.

Just avoid the place.