Help! Advice Needed On Southwest Truck Driver Training in Las Vegas

They have a site in las vegas? i bet that must be exciting to work there

 

I have been attending the school here in Las Vegas. Southwest gives you 160 hours of instruction; very important when you graduate and begin looking for a job. Some schools only offer anywhere from 80 to 100 hours. No good. I must say that the staff is very good here and everything is run professionally. Sometimes, the instuctors seem to forget that you are also a customer, not just a student, but I guess a little discipline never hurt anybody.

 

I start Monday the 25th at the Las Vegas campus.. I'm doing the evening classes. It's still only 5 weeks long which is great. Anyone else starting then?

 

I start 23rd of may night classes....pretty excited

 

Cool.. I wonder when you do your final skills test if you are tested during the day or night?

 

Well I just got home from my first night. Small group only 4 of us in a class. My instructor is really relaxed and down to earth. We moved right along in the book and he said we can take our general knowledge of the written test by Weds and our Air brakes portion by Fri. So far I am very impressed with Southwest. I post more as school goes on.

 

YAY.. I passed the General Knowledge and the air brake portion today.. I am so happy!!! We are going over combination tonight so I can hopefully take that exam tomorrow!! I'm starting to see the lihght at the end of the tunnel.

 

well as far as Southwest truck driver training school goes,this might be helpful. first, before i get into what might be a bash fest-let me state......my gripes are my own, and may quite possibly be "my" fault.
I am a recent graduate of SWTDT school in Phoenix,and 1 thing i can say right off the bat- you better be 100% commited. by that i mean if you have no experience- expect to work for one of the "basement" companies.....and your going OTR-thats it.
Foolishly i thought i could use my 7 years driving experience to further me along in this industry,4 years northeast OTR the road in a Box truck-delivering industrial appliances--and 3 years pumping fuel at an Airport in Phoenix driving straight tankers.........I might as well have been unemployed!! it looks the same to a recruiter. I was very unrealistic in thinking this experience might help me.
the reason i got into this was to make a good living for my family,again-not realistic as i want to see them regularly and be part of thier lives--your options as a student graduate dont really include this.
what does this have to do with SWTDTS?- well half way thru i realized these things....and made the mistake of asking for my money back--let me tell ya, you wont get a colder shoulder if you pass gas loudly at church!
also- if you sign the loans--dont default!!--this will COMPLETELY suspend your CDL....though it reverts back to a class D-this also shows up initally as a suspension. a big headache if you get pulled over!
the only course of action is 100% commitment-and dont even think about it if you dont have a spotless record all around....i.e. no D.U.I's, assaults (ever) ect, anything like that.
in 3 weeks ive contacted probably 90 or more companies class A/B, and though they say 5 years...10 years out....its not gonna happen if you have no tractor trailer 'EXPERIENCE'.
so in closing....if all your ducks are lined up straight-clean record all around- no family your gonna miss too badly--by all means get in on the bottom floor with me- cause you gotta start somewhere.
hope ive been more helpful than whiny-its no ones fault but your own if you dont do the research.........trust me on that.

 

Although Wiseman may go about it in a rather "depressing" tone (no offense), it is the reality. Doesn't matter what school you go to, obtaining your experience will most likely come from one of the national carrier companies with lower wages and a lot of OTR time (little home time). If you are prepared for it, do it and move onto greener pastures in the future! Good luck out there!

 

I switched from nights to days so I was able to take my driving test today instead of next week. I passed!!

The school was great and the instructors were awesome. They take their time and teach you what you need to know. 4 weeks ago I didn't know if I could drive a rig and I was very intimidated, but thanks to Southwest I am more than confident and Im headed to Swift orientation in Salt Lake City.. My instructors Chet, Harv, and Joe were great. I highly recommend them. Don't ever hesitate to ask them questions and no question is too dumb. If I was able to get my CDL there anyone can.