What can you tell me about 3rd party Testing (state of Pa)...Wife asking here)..

Husband is in a situation where he will be laid off next if he doesn't get a Class B License soon... he is next on the chopping block even though he has the highest seniority at his workplace.. They do not drive these heavier trucks every day.. so it's not a truck driving Job ...He needs Air brakes & Passenger since he will be taught how to drive a school bus to get his Class B ...we are facing paying someone/ a school $3,000 to $4,000 to be quickly taught how to drive a Class B.. just so he won't be next on the chopping block at work (a little extra security)..

Time is of the essence ...we have heard that if you go with 3rd party Testing.. you will get in much quicker.. is this true?... what are the benefits or cons with 3rd party testing.. this is all new to us.. anyone who can give some advice.. he is just trying to hold on to his Job right now.. We are in Western PA.

 

I have heard if you go through the DOT -that it's hard to get In.. booked up fast.. he could be waiting a long time (the last thing we need in this situation)...

So for a Class B.. is the test 2 - 3 hrs.. we have heard this also... (Yes I understand this is JUST for the Testing to get his licence)... after paying over $3,000 he doesn't want to fail .... are they on par with the DOT in what they Test..can they get you in much FASTER ...have more hours available to work around..... what are their fees like ? For anyone familiar in our area.. do you favor some over others and why?

 

Here is the lousy situation.. please tell us what you would do.. without saying where he works.. he's been there 17 yrs plus... it's not a Truck driving job... in the past 3 months , approx 8 of his co-workers were laid off.. (3) men are left.. he is the only one without a Class B.. (2 guys with more seniority were canned because they lacked the class B)....his Boss does NOT want to loose my husband.. his boss set up the health card thing (company pays for)...but his 2 co workers & him are swamped with work... having only 3 men left. shifts not covered.. and if YOU were them... would you want to train the Guy who will be then be in higher seniority over you- when your job is at stake too?? (think about it)..... those guys wants NOTHING to do with helping my husband learn.. and he can't get off work to take a class , so we are faced with going with whom is available to work around his schedule.. we have 2 options.. at this point.

 

It is not a requirement for him to get for work...never was.... we are looking at it as "a little extra job security" - since being Class B-less takes him from #1 - to #3 on the seniority scale.. we don't care about the money.. but we don't want to go to some testing place who is going to FAIL him just so they can make more money either.. we're heard stories.... you don't know what to believe.. who can be trusted.

 

His Boss may even get laid off -to be honest.. so No.. his job is not going to foot this bill in any way.. we're on our own.

 

He will NEVER find a job that pays as good as what he has now.. so no.. he is not leaving.. it would be like going from $30 a hour to trying to find something around our area that pays less than HALF that much.. plus we got 2 sons in college.. 3 kids left at home.. and when his job goes.. so does his health insurance... if anyone could match all that. we'd jump.. we're just being realistic here.. he could move to another location -like many of these men.. but not willing to do that.. and live for 2 days a week to see your family.. so yeah if he gets laid off ..he'll have to get a sh** job.. but until they can him..he's staying.