Dakota County Vo-Tec...Minnesota

Sorry, its NOT ATI out of St. Cloud. Its ATS, its the sometimers you know!

 

It may be just me, but I haven't heard much good spoken about Roehl. They recently bought out Blume Farms and turned them into Blume Refridgerated div. of Roehl. I heard the benefits dropped, pay dropped, and miles dropped. They constantly commit to delivery appts they can't make and hold loads in their yard for up to a week before we call looking for it.

 

I tried sending these questions in a PM but apparently you have to have 50+ posts in order to do so. I have a couple quick questions regarding DCTC and hope you don't mind.

I've seen multiple schools around here that cost between $2000-$3000 and will give you the minimum hours of training in order to receive your Class A CDL. Do you feel that the extra money and the extra training you received at DCTC was worth it?

I was just wondering what different companies came in?

Thanks!

 

I'm 2 wks. from finishing CDL trucking school from St. Cloud Tech , St Cloud MN. It's an extensive 6 wk. course I would rank it the top school in MN. if not the nation presently. They have 1 instructor in class rm. and 5 at the ATS (Anderson Trucking Service) range. The instructors have between 2-4 million miles ea. 1 being a 3 time truck rodeo champion, and another a 1 time winner. The is NO ONE else in the country that has won that kind of title 3 times, let alone twice, as far as I know. So if you want to learn why no learn from the BEST! Several are former Dachota Co. instructors that let do to downsizing/ penny pinching!
The are a ton of CDL mill schools out there, but will you be able to get a job when finished? If you want a real top and through training then St. Cloud tech is it. The top hire companies will ONLY hire out of the top schools. They have had many companies contact them as to the students they have hired, and are in awe as to their overall knowledge, lots of cudos! Great instructors and plainly Great people also!
Be carefull that you don't get through a school and can only end up with bad job prospects with crappy pay per mile and lousy benifits. You can't compare apples to oranges either, all companies have differences. You really need to do the math with each.
As far as I can see, and I have rescheached alot, there's no way you could go wrong with SCTI, provided you have a disire to learn and have a solid work ethic. This school covers everything.

 

cabmaster, youare correct in your assesment of SCTC, in my opinion. I graduated from them back in Oct. and am out with ATS now. I think Dakota Tech. used to be one of the top schools but as you said there was a change in management or something. The other school that I have heard only good things about is Alexandria Tech.. Its supposed to be VERY thorough, but also long. I think I heard 6 months. You get a lot more mechanical stuff, kind of geared to the O/O. Say hi to the instructors for me! Have you gotten Vern to open up much? Lots of knowledge, just got to get him off of being so #### humble. Did you know he has almost 5 million accident free miles? He's on the "wall of fame" at ATS. By the way, there is a driver out there who has won the National Truck Driviing Championships many times, I think it's 8! Gary knows him well, he could tell you.Good luck out there! And don't worry about Les on the test, he's not nearly as hard as you would think.

 

To Big Schimidty, cost is $4800 for 6 wks. Alex. Tech is 16wks. but with only one teacher, then I'm told the more advanced students go on to teach/help the other students.
Not whatI would call a real great arangement, but that's what makes them different I guess. I did also see some their tractors the other day as we were through Alex Tech.... all I can say is they must keep the newer tracors inside or something ? Not
quite the eqipment as SCTI, they do have much more modern of tractors.
And no Les doesn't intimidate me in the least, Great guy once you get toknow him and make him laugh a little.
The other morning we had Werner's fast talking (BS) salesman in lets just say that his literature found it's way to make a nice doorstop the following morning. I noticed it right away and gave a nod & smile to Les. He asked if I liked the use and I agreed it was the proper one TOTALLY!
They all have been great to work with, yes Vern is pretty quiet
and hubble, still a super guy. We like to give Yvonne a bad time about he goats. She was trying to talk Vern into watching them at his place while she would be out of town for the weekend, he replied that they may get eaten
Good Luck out on the road!

 

Schmidty,

I currently go to TCE and while a little more expensive they are ALOT more flexible. They have multiple programs and will work with you to fit your schedule. All of there instructors are great, pretty much all of them have 15+ years in the industry. They also get you moving right away, I was in a truck my third day. You can also contact MN workforce center about getting some help to pay for it along with state grants. I have enjoyed my time there. I hope that this helped and good luck with whatever you decide to do.

 

Well unfortunately you have to go to a school and have the school code to find out if you qualify. Pretty much all it consist of is filling out a FAFSA application which pretty much is all vital info and your tax info for the previous year. That doesn't mean that you have to go to the school but thats how you would find out what your eligable for.