Question:
I wondering what are some truck driving schools up in Minnesota. And what schools are any good.
Also does anyone know if Transport America has a drop yard in Egan, I know that they have there office in Egan.
[This message was edited by Kenworth007 on February 11, 2004 at 17:39.]

Answer:
THere are schools all over the U.S. TRY the websiteweb pageit will give all the info you'll want.

Answer:
Dakota County Technical College in Rosemount, MN(a southern Twin-Cities suburb, not far from Eagan)has one of the best truck driver training programs in the country. Prices are reasonable too considering what other companies charge. College credits are even given for the course.
Here's the link to their web page:
http://www.dctc.mnscu.edu/programs/truck_driver_training.htm
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The truck is our home; the nation our back yard. The truck is our home; the nation our back yard.

Answer:
A Team is correct. Dakota County Techincal College is ranked right up there in the top few.
I have several friends that attended there, they said training was top notch.
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Edited to satisfy that sorry POS Chicken Hauler from Canada that likes me sooooooo much.
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Member: Happy Dweller Society
Owner Operator Division


Answer:
Iv heard about dakota county. But has anyone heard about "Transportation Center for Excellence"

Answer:
Never heard of them, but here's their website.
TCE
Here's the part I don't like about it.
Graduate in as little as 4 weeks
Dakota County TC is 1 semester (if I'm not mistaken), and being ranked where they are, I'm gonna say much more training than TCE will give you.
Quote from one of the students:
Within less than one year I went from trainee to trainer and am now getting ready to start training my 6th student. The pay equals or exceeds what I would have made starting out in the IT field.
found that quote here

Answer:
Hoss , you' re right about the "less than one year and I'm a trainer" quote.
I checked the Dakota County website though, and their training is Monday thru Friday 7:00 AM to 12:00 Noon., for day classes. That would be 5 hours per day, 25 per week for how long? Two months?
I am starting classes at the community college here in Austin, TX., on Feb 23rd, funded through TAA as a displaced worker. The schedule is also for 4 weeks, but we attend from 7:00 AM to 5:30 PM M-F.
First week is class room, study for permit, etc.
Last three are on safety, range, city, and interstate driving, for a total of 200 clock hours, with no more that two-three students per one instructor. School is certified thru CVTA.
I was born and raised in Owatonna, so I know where GT is.
Codger

Answer:
Last time I checked, Dakota County Technical College offered two CDL programs...one that the above link talks about, another that you learn about when you call or request their brochure.
The first course is designed for people that have jobs they wish to keep while studying for their CDL. If I remember right (and I may be mistaken here) the first course takes about 13 weeks to complete. The second course is five weeks long and is compressed into full days of classroom and behind-the-wheel training. The second course is designed with trucking companies in mind, some of which send drivers there to get trained and licensed, and for students that want to complete the training ASAP. Short-course students do not receive college credits as the long-course students do.
Note the college provides trucks free of charge for students to use on their state-administered road tests. Also note that class size is limited to twenty students.
I'm not a graduate of either of these programs. Just checked them out once along with others. Was left with a very favorable impression of the Dakota County programs.
When visiting with their instructors I was surprised to learn that it is not always the case that local companies won't hire newbies until after newbies have gained a year of OTR experience. The instructor told me that a number of their graduates move straight into local or regional driving jobs from the Dakota County programs.
Another myth bites the dust.
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The truck is our home; the nation our back yard. The truck is our home; the nation our back yard.

Answer:
St Cloud Tech College also has a program. Runs 7:30a to 5 p. I can't remember if it is 4, 6 or 8 weeks. Seems they have another class starting within the next week or 2.
I am pretty sure that the Alexandria Tech school also has a truck program. It's quite a ways out of the metro, but there you go.
Tom B

Answer:
"The instructor told me that a number of their graduates move straight into local or regional driving jobs from the Dakota County programs.
Another myth bites the dust."
Maybe... maybe not.
I'd put more credibility in their statements if they could provide verifiable references of people who actually did this and the company(ies) they went to.
I'm not saying it deesn't or cannot happen, but it does need to be verified this isn't just another marketing ploy by the school to reel in a few more students reluctant to go OTR.

Answer:
Paul56,
If you doubt it, call the school and verify it yourself. I'm only reporting what I was told. As I spoke with the faculty and school staff, I came to trust the school and its claims as credible. I visited at great length with them, talked about their advisory board, the names of the employers that do the hiring, the kind of jobs their graduates get, etc.
Dakota County Technical College has one of the best truck-driving training programs in the nation, which is why companies are eager to hire their graduates. I'm not the only one saying so. Read in this thread what Hoss and friends he knows that are graduates have to say.
When good schools and jobs like these are there to be had, you do no one a service by painting them with the brush of the bad. Research the school yourself before smearing it.
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The truck is our home; the nation our back yard. The truck is our home; the nation our back yard.

Answer:
"I'm only reporting what I was told."
I know you are.
I am not smearing anything here.
Merely expressing the concern this information should be verified before someone attends that school hoping for a local job based only on what you said here. That person needs to verify that indeed a local driving job will be available to them.
All part of the research and crossing of the "t's" and doting of the "i's".

Answer:
I have no problem with your participation in this forum. As you pointed out in another thread, non-truckers are welcome too. It irritates me though that you seldom disclose that you are not a trucker. Most people do so with phrases like "I'm a newbie doing research: or "I'm a former trucker that has not driven for years" or "As a retired trucker...."
You freely dispense advice, cautions, warnings, etc in numerous topics as if you were an experienced trucker. My guess is you have no knowledge whatesoever about this school other than what you may have picked up here. Yet you see fit to caution people. Who appointed you as the guardian of all users here?
TruckNet users are big boys and girls. In fact, if they're here at all, especially newbies, it's a good sign that they are already doing good research. I believe they can get along just fine without someone that quit trucking (by your own admission) partly because of the worries you had.
I can see it coming now. You, the accountant wannabee gets his CPA certification and starts offering services to truckers on the basis that he understands the industry. Don't you dare! You haven't earned the right.
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The truck is our home; the nation our back yard.
[This message was edited by choclit snda on February 15, 2004 at 12:30.]The truck is our home; the nation our back yard.

Answer:
Experience summary:
5 summers running a custom rig with my girlfriend mainly in Canada with some runs south into the States.
3 years running a custom rig across Canada and the States, this time with my wife... same person as above.
5 years general manager of truck operations at a dealership.
Between this and the next time I piloted a rig I spend at least 25 years in the IT industry.
2 years running a company truck OTR long haul transport across Canada and the States.
Over the years things changed for me. Several life altering events. When I went OTR the last time I thought I could still do it... unfortunately not as I no longer have the nerve.
Want to know my boot size as well?
[This message was edited by choclit snda on February 15, 2004 at 12:28.]

Answer:
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