Good NH+ME CDL school!!

Well...PASSED MY CDL on the first try!!
The school I went to was ProDrive in Scarborough ME...near Portland.
I am, for one, very happy.
My Class had 0 Movies, was very good, had TONS of 1 on 1 time...heck, the class only had 3 people in it. That is the way the owner likes it...he limits classes to 6 I think. Lots of personalized instruction...QUALITY time.
That and all TRUCK time is BEHIND THE SEAT...no observation crap.

It is not a big school, but the owner is who you deal with...it is a very good setup. Small, Personal, flexible. You are not paying for a ton of overhead...just a small classroom, a pair of trucks (extra trucks are leased depending upon how busy stuff gets), a few trailers...some loaded, some unloaded, some long, some short. The Yard is just a shack, a porta-potty, and a table...Minimalistic, but perfect.
Part of the practice yard is used as a drop lot for the paper mill, so when you switch trailers, you get to practice backing (for drop and hooks) next to REAL TRAILERS, sometimes with a sleeper cab parked there next to you...and also see how working drivers get in and out of their spots...heck some will come over to chat, gripe, or ask the owner/instructor a question.
Scheduling was flexible, and the trucks have 10 speeds...no auto's like NTI...learn to shift, or you will fail you road-test.
Like I said, the school is not big or flashy....just a good local operation that go the job done for me!! I liked my experience at PRODRIVE.
The school is not big...does little advertising...but they stay busy...and that speaks volumes IMO.
http://www.prodrivemaine.com/index.html
help@prodrivemaine.com
[FONT=helvetica,arial]136 Rt.1
Scarborough, ME 04074
Phone: 207.885.1211 or 207.885.1212
Toll Free: 1.866.243.1370
Fax: 207.885.9257[/FONT]

The owner of the company, and Main Instructor, took great pains to instill works of wisdom...about not Leasing to fast, How to play the Pallet game and be sure to not trade $$ (oak) pallets for Peso's (pine) like many places will try.....in general, lots of useful info.
The classes are taught in more of a semi-informal conversation way...still class room, but interesting due to stories with useful info, and less stressful for the average student who has been out of the classroom for many years!
It just shows that sometimes the best info is not in any book, but is hard earned....a few important stories about "interesting" loads, and what to do so as to not get stuck getting $$ tickets etc....Tons of good info.
Not the cheapest, but competitively priced good school!!
And best of all, I can say I got my NH CDL-A on the first try...that and they matain a list of companies that are hiring in the area!! I found one that was very interested in me, and me in them, and I have a start date scheduled...pretty good place IMO for a "starter company", and they are repaying me for my schooling....so I go the best of both worlds IMO.
I got to got to an independent school of my choice, and work for the company of my choice, that company is paying for it!!