Pinellas Technical College

You still have class after you get your cdl?

 

I went to North carolina truck driving school in Smithfield NC. It's at a community college. We did have about 2 weeks of school after we got our CDL. So we were able to "solo" drive with another licensed student in the truck while still in school.

It sounds like this program does the same thing. The program is so long that there's time to do that. Community colleges or tech schools are the way to go in my opinion. Cheaper and more in depth instruction.

 

I'm curious how does the more in depth instruction benefit you? From what I heard is the real training starts when you get your first job and you go out with a trainer. So the extra time spent in school has a cost of what you could be making if you start with a company.

 

Do you plan to become a trucker? If so, what interests you as to type of trucking?

 

That is true.

What I meant is you have a better understanding of rules and regulations, definitely going to get more backing practice, log book practice, more time with instructors to answer questions. If more instruction time may benefit and individual them that may be the way to go.

My main reason for doing the community college route was the cost. It's a fraction of the private schools.

 

What's an Atlas? Just kidding. At 55 years of age, I can't remember the last time I used an Atlas. I'm hoping to take the same class to get my CDL before fall.

 

I can respect that but I feel like the extra time in class is usually a waste of time. The private 3 week schools are even worse. You probably get a couple days of actual driving time behind the wheel at places like roadmaster. Usually multiple students to a truck teaching each other and it's actually distracting and irritating because no one knows what they are doing but they are telling you what to do. The truth is they just don't have enough trucks and instructors. But the community College is definitely better imho if it's cheaper.

I would do either community College but best to find someone with a truck who will teach you backing first. Then just go take the test yourself.

No matter how much time you spend in a class, training doesn't start until you get with the company.

 

For guys like me, who have a business and are just adding trucking and my own authority to the mix its a welcome opportunity to get some extra practice. Since I won't have the training that is given to a company driver, its nice to hear that Pinellas tech gives you the extra time.

The price is about half of what Roadmaster or Tampa Truck Driving School charges, not that it matters to anyone that is having a company pay for it. Not my case, though. I'm shelling out the cash.

 

Yes i would do that too with tech before going to one of those schools. Also, I know those places run low on trainers and run it like a boot camp. If I pay all that money, I rather be treated like royalty vs boot camp.

Also I know tampa truck people often have the manual restriction on their license. Often people fail the manual test at roadmaster because they didn't get enough seat time at roadmaster. That is a waste of time. You usually have to start training all over again to learn to drive manual to get the restriction off your cdl.

 

That would suck. I talked to one guy that went to Tampa Truck Driving School and he got trained in an auto, so he can only drive an auto. That's fine if you're going to drive a brand new truck and not heavy equipment.

I have to find the time, between running my business now and carting my foks all over to Dr.s offices in their old age with illness and disabilities. The nine week course is a bit long, but at least its not 7 days a week like the truck driving schools.