Pros to a community college truck driving school vs company trucking school.

I got my cdl from Atlanta technical college in Georgia and I will add that the community college route is a WAY better route to go compared to going to a 3 week school imo. It takes a long time for most students to get comfortable with condo trucks with 53 foot trailers and if you are nervous about getting into trucking you better get the most training and the best value at the same time to meet your goal. My course was $1562 and the other schools in Georgia want $2500 to $4000 to train. Its free and clear once you get your cdl too, no commitments to any company; you are a free agent like in professional sports! Where I took my test at, the private schools used daycab trucks with 48 foot trailers to test. That can make it a lot easier to do your backing test giving the fact that a smaller trailer reacts faster when making turns and backing. It can be difficult testing with a bigger truck but it brings a lot of satisfaction knowing that you can roll with the big dogs! Public schools all the way unless you are homeless or anxious to get to work right away. If that's you a company school can benefit you with getting your cdl. They say that its ALOT easier to get them through the companies than other avenues.

 

I can only speak for Prime's CDL training, which I thought was pretty good cause while you are learning to get your CDL you are actually out in the real world making deliveries and pickups. So for that 30 days or so you are driving the truck that you will be taking your test in. While I was doing my training sure we hit open spaces like Wyoming, Nebraska, Arizona and New Mexico but we also did city driving in Houston, Dallas, L.A. And Jersey/NYC. Not to mention the Mountain driving we did across the Rocky Mountains and other mountains out west. Also backing in a controlled area like most schools have setup is a lot different than backing into some of the docks you will see once on the road.

 

CDL through College Pros:

Lower cost
Better training
More choices (what companies you start out with)

Cons

More money up front
Longer amount of time learning which means longer amount time without a pay check
Job is not guaranteed (a slight con, I mean the job is almost certain with your CDL)

 

The school I am using is Apollo Career Center in Lima Ohio. Its a private tech school with Adult education and they also contract with local schools for high school kid technical education. Cost is 4200 and they accept GI Bill benefits. 20 hours in class, and 120 hours in the truck. Class sizes tend to be small and they have 5 full size Freightliner Cascadia's with full 53' box trailers. Not sure if they load the trailers with different weight to give the feel of being loaded or not, or if they trailers are empty. The cost of the school covers CDL A, B, C, background investigation for hazmat, and testing for doubles and triples, they give you the waivers to get your DOT physical, Abstract driving record, and your permit. Of other drivers I spoke to that have taken the course there they specifically site how good the instructors are and the road driving done isnt just once around the block. They also do night classes, which happens to be the one I am taking. It stretches the class length out to 8 weeks, but I can continue to work in my present job until I pass the course and get my CDL. I am currently looking into several of the starter companies and have filled out the applications and done the starter interviews with Melton, Millis, TMC, NTB, and Maverick. So far Melton is my number 1 pick, followed by TMC, and Millis

 

I personally think you are better going to a community college or private school rather than going through a company sponsored course...

The main reason.. is getting your CDL free and clear... no contract... we often have new drivers on here who are unhappy at their company... but cant quit cause of the contact they signed...

I went to a private school... took on a part time job bartending at night in addition to my full time day job to squirrel away the money to pay for it... but, it was worth it.. when I finished the I had my CDL and the school was paid off.. the school was expensive, $4500... but, it was worth it and I got it back over time with the tuition reimbursement many companies offer...

 

Quick question for you guys and gals that went the community college route and then went to a company that offered tuition reimbursement: Did you have to sign a contract in order to get the tuition reimbursement? Thanks in advance.

 

Most that do tuition reimbursement pay you so much per week/month towards the tuition instead of giving you a lump sum. Doing that way I do not think there are any contracts signed.

 

thanks cardinals1970 ...fast response too!