Taking the plunge

For those that might be from my neck of the woods, this is how it breaks down at "Interstate"

100 hours of classroom instruction
30 hours backing range
30 hours (one on one with instructor, no sharing the truck with ANYBODY) this is done on the open road, no parking lot driving here.

They also have a somewhat unique approach to their training that I'm still not sure about. They concentrate on helping you pass your driving test in the early part of the course, rather than at the end. Once you possess your CDL you continue with the second phase which is most of the classroom work. I'm still trying to wrap my brain around this, but they claim it has been very successful and they stand by it. I will post more with my experience and my opinions on the process as it comes.

 

DAY-1

First day down and not a bad day. I started on a Wednesday which is dedicated to Air Brakes and Pre-Trip. Air brakes was pretty self explanatory with some pretty cool working displays showing how everything works. The pre-trip portion was great with really good instructors taking the time to explain everything slowly and with good detail, which was very beneficial for us new guys. One thing I can say, the instructors here are very friendly and knowledgeable. ALL of the instructors have a history in driving and have great stories. One thing I found interesting about the State of Minnesota is that the examiners are not required to hold a CDL. With the exception of ONE, none of them have a class A or even class B. How the state figures this is sufficient is beyond me, but it is what it is. We are being taught how to pass the test the way the manual says (which is all the examiners know) and after we pass the test we will be taught the "Proper" way to do it. We are allowed to take the pre-trip class as many times as we need till we feel competent that we got it. We were told that at anytime on any Wednesday or Saturday we can seek out an instructor for one on one instruction on pre-trip and any issues we may be having. I'm not overly concerned as I have some mechanical background and just need to find my groove and make sure I don't miss anything. So far so good, although it has only been one day, the school has made a positive impression on me, and I am pleased with my choice.

 

After one week at "Interstate Truck Driving School" I can honestly say they live up to what they promise. Excellent classroom instruction, great one on one time in the truck, and overall an inviting atmosphere. So far I have logged about 20 hours in the classroom, 3 hours on the backing range, and about 2 hours on the street (1 on 1 w/instructor) All of this is done with a single axle freightliner 6 speed w/32' trailer, just to help get your feet wet. I will most likely take my test after a couple more sessions, and however many hours I have left of my 30 total, I will have to use in the full sleeper, 10 speed, with the 53' trailer. Most students I have talked to tend to have at least 20 hours of time left in the big truck by the time they acquire their CDL. The beauty of this school is the way they custom tailor the training according to the students learning ability, and not everyone is expected to learn at the same speed. I DO NOT regret enrolling here rather than going to a company sponsored program, very happy with my choice.

 

Yes I am, in fact I now have my CDL A and graduate at the end of this week They do have some form of online training, but to be honest i'm not totally sure on how it works. Give them a call and ask for Josh, he handles all the online stuff. Good luck!

 

Yes sir, they have a number of carriers that visit the school on a regular basis and make it easy to apply. Nichole handles all of your pre-hire apps and sends them out for you sort of acting as a liaison between you and the company, she does a great job and can even offer feedback on companies from past students. I have multiple offers so far. There is a company here in MN I want to work for but they require at least 6 months experience, so I decided to go with Schneider as my starter company. I liked the sound of how they do their training, and dealing with them has been better than some of the others. I am set to start with them on March 12.

 

Yes, Schneider does offer tuition reimbursement up to $6000, paid at $150 per month until total is paid. Most companies offer some sort of reimbursement, the lowest I have seen is $3000 which was Maverick. There are a few local companies, but they are not hiring nearly as much as the mega carriers with a large regional or OTR fleet. I don't actually reside in Minneapolis, I'm actually in a small suburb of Mpls. I paid for it myself, pretty much every penny I had, but you gotta do what you gotta do, and I do not regret it. I looked heavily at Heavy Metal, I just got a better vibe from Interstate, and 30 hours of one on one with an instructor has been invaluable. After acquiring my CDL I still had 23 hours of one on one in a 10 speed truck with the 53'. I feel more than prepared for anything Schneider can throw at me when I get to Green Bay. Come on down and see the school, they will give you a tour and I would even recommend talking to a few of the students to get their opinion on how it has been. Best of luck!