Need Help Picking A School

In Washington State, the 160 hours is not an option, it's required.
http://www.dol.wa.gov/driverslicense/cdltraining.html

Oops:

 

First, it's (haha) Commercial Driver School. And that's where I went.
Instruction was very good, equipment was so-so. Nothing unsafe, but those poor ten speed transmissions.
Got to drive the short trailers (which you will test on) the long trailers, flatbed with a load, and doubles which were weird in a straight line, but easy to turn.

Many of my classmates passed the first time tested. Of those that didn't, probably 80 to 90 % of that was from nerves. Most of those passed on the second try.

If you go to school in Tacoma or Olympia area ( I think that's my tester's area) remember this.
The DOL testers I met (the two I had for CDL and schoolbus and two others) are probably the most professional Washington State employees I have ever met. They are not out to trick you and will give you a chance to regurgitate all that knowledge that got packed into your gray-matter over the previous few weeks.
They will give you plenty of time to execute their clear and concise instructions during the road test.
BUT, it is not a gimme. You must perform to earn a passing grade.

Good luck.

 

How was their job placement program that they claim is so good?

 

Quite a few companies recruit directly from the school. Meaning they have reps come in and talk to the class in person. Granted all those companies are also advertising on craigslist, etc. But the reps seemed to have a very good opinion of the quality of training there.
Add in that very few of the reps are actual recruiters. Some were safety managers, some type of area managers, etc and I think it says something for the school that they took the time to talk to us.
Take that for what you think it's worth.