Please Help! Good/Fair $ Trucking schools in SO.CAL?

CRST is strictly team driving. in my opinion, if you are looking at company sponsored training, look into central refridgerated. if you do decide that team driving is ol for you, call CRST and ask for kari. do your research and have questions ready. no recruiter will go into details about training/company. but if you ask her, she will tell you. good luck.

 

Thanks Doug.

 

I went to dootsons in feb, got the 875 package, got CDL 2 weeks later.
I did end up buying 2 extra sessions to improve my on road skills.

Charlie was my instructor, rudi for preteip. 1 on 1 training is great, and I highly recommend it no after what school you choose.

If you do chose dootsons, just remember, you get what you pay for, a CDL license. You will know how to drive, but just barely. Even with that said, I still recommend them for the value (low price). If you have extra cash to burn, there are better schools all over the country .

 

I was thinking the something. I would like a lot more hours behind the wheel than what Dootson offers. I know i can buy more time, but some schools come with more time included in the price.

 

Yes, this is true, BUT make sure the 'more time' is actual time driving and not observing. ALOT of schools tell you you get 60 hrs of driving, but these hours include observing other students/instructors driving as YOUR driving time.

 

Want2...as to why these dootson grads keep pushing it I don't know, but it is 100% clear they are not for you. You are looking for career training, not JUST a Class "A" License. I would recommend looking into Company-Paid Training. Don't "burn" your money elsewhere...

 

Sorry want2, I am unable to send Pm's atm

So here is your answer:

I can't say, I just went for the schooling knowing after I got my CDL I was moving to the better coast (east), so I did not use their recruiting depart, but I do know SNI will hire you once you get your CDL

@ paluche

I don't want to step on your toes here, but what is the difference really?

Lenghthy paid training and getting speedy CDL and start earning a bigger check (as compared to training pay) faster, to me the only difference is freedom. At dootsons you schedule your times, you control how fast you learn, and once you are done there are enough large companies ready to hire you.


In the end, it's all the same, it just comes down to how you get there.

SNI reemburses your school costs, so it's a good fit with dootsons if you are looking to get on the road on your on the fastest.

 

I would think there's value in doing road training as a group too. You learn from your own mistakes, but you also learn from other people making mistakes and laughing at them...and it's probably cheaper.

 

My personal advice would be to attend a non trucking company school.
Why, you ask?
The simple answer: To cut the crap and learn to drive.
I can tell you, from personal experience that a motor carrier that offers training is going to toss you out of the parking lot well before you are ready to face the highway. How do I know this, you ask?
Answer: I first completed 600 hours (twice the required hours normally allotted for a driving school) because when I began my course, the DOT, in their infinite wisdom (sic) felt that 300 hours wasn't enough. Later, I left one company and, while looking for employ, a month elapsed and C.R. England 'required' that I take a refresher course (to the tune of $500,... Mormons are thieves when it comes to money).
I saw how the Motor Carrier 'trained' drivers and can assure you, MOST (if not all) of them shouldn't be on the road when they get pushed out of that classroom but the Carrier needs to make money off you so they accelerate your learning to suit their needs.

I had people put into my truck that stalled on upgrades, couldn't make a right turn without taking out the stop sign or running over the curb and generally screwing up the shifting as if they'd never double-clutched.

I told them NOT to use my clutch... if they are grinding the gear, they're trying to go into the WRONG one. FIX IT.

I gotta stop... I'm getting angry.

On a positive note,... I drive tanker for Foodliner/Quest now.