Question:
Just graduated from what has to be one of the worst driving schools on earth.
The school is State government run, but has little capital to provide decent trucks or equipment.
I chose this school because of the excellent instructors I had heard about...but after arriving found out that all the instructors that I had heard such good things about had left..
While in the three week school (all written tests had to be completed before starting) it rained heavily making for huge puddles and mud on the unpaved range. Trying to straight-line back and alley dock were especially difficult for a beginner because of the deep puddles and uneven ground. (should have chose a school with a level, paved range)
The instructor that I drove with along with two other students seemed to like to chit-chat about everything except trucking. There was very little instruction going on, just BS sessions, except for very brief two sentence utterances.
The Trucks on the Range were very old and decreped. There was only one truck that the school trusted enough for a student to take his test in.(but later I found out that it was putting the tester, myself and others on harms way)
Almost everyday we were given a different truck to drive with a different tranny. Even drove a Freightshaker Columbia for a couple of days, it only had a few thousand miles on it and the tranny was very stiff, but I finally mastered the tranny after two days of driving it.
Because there was only one supposedly good truck at the school, and there was a need for another truck, one of the instructors would go over to a Trucking Company nearby and borrow a truck each morning. The Trucks that were borrowed had the drivers personal items in them, unmade beds, coins laying around, etc.....
A State trooper came to the school one day to show us what a level II inspection was like and the Trailer failed miserably....but the school kept on using it on the road???
When it came my turn to take the road test I was driving a Truck that I had only driven for a few minutes 8 days before...a real well broken in truck.. Couldn't find 6th gear when shifting down most of the time, had to brake on the tracks!!!! trying to find a gear and up shifting to seventh gear was also a real challenge. Now I know why one of the Instructors was complaining about one of the trucks not having a 6th gear... Failed the Road test, and they want me to come back to take it again....No thanks, their trucks were putting the tester, myself and others in Harms Way.
Give me miles, miles and more miles.

Answer:
Soooo, what do you plan on doing, now?

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Might be helpful if you told everyone what the name of the school was!


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I went to Sun Prairie driving school for a two week course. They were understaffed and had too many students. I got maybe 12 hours behind the wheel. Then I failed the road test. My husband called the school and said he felt the school should pay for the next road test($100.00) since one of the things mark was Lack of Skill, Ability or knowledge. The head of the school agreed. Went back to school and only got three more hours behind the wheel. At least this time I passed the road test. And come tomorrow morning I begin my career as a Commodities Relocation Engineer teaming with my hubby. The school cost $3000. If I had to do it over, I think I would have gone with a company school.

Answer:
When someone does not properly do their homework before signing on the bottom line.
Whether you are looking for a driving school to attend or a company to work for you need to research the outfit the best you can to make sure that it is what you are looking for.
truckschoolsusa.com has some very good information on what to look for in a school. From the home page just click on "Training Guide" and there is a list of FAQ's with answers. While this site leans heavily toward PTDI certified schools the advice is still sound.
Only two things I know of are infinite. The universe and human stupidity, and I am not real sure about the universe.
Answer:
Best thing to do is visit the school before you sign on the dotted line.
One of the "Trucks" at my school caught on fire once while doing yard manuvers. The student who was driving was originally from Jamaica. I'd never seen someone from Jamica move so FAST. (Most Jamaicans are very laid back) This guy was laid back too--until he saw the flames!
I didn't get enough seat time during my attendance, but fortunately passed everything my first try and got hired with days of recieving my licence.
The tuition was around $3000. This was in '93.

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Hey that sounds like the school I went to.DO NOT GO TO ANY SMITH AND SOLOMON DRIVING SCHOOL IN NJ OR PA.There trucks are all junk,the owner didnt pay his parts or fuel bills we practiced in the parking lot of an abandoned wherehouse,tooo many students so we were rushed along no sanitary facilities unless u count the porta potty in the winter time.the VP had a God complex.I was assigned to the yard for almost 2.5 weeks and when I told the VP I wanted wheel time cause I was scheduled for my road test and I tenetivly had a job with SNBC he told me that HE controlled everything and that he knew Don Schneider personally and I asked him to call him and have him personally guarantee my job,he never did it cause he was fulll of b---.The owner of the compnay Smith allegedly stole all of Solomons money from the company when he died and transferred all the titles for the vehicles to his name.And never paid Solomon's widow for them.Solomon owned the trucks and Smith owned the real estate.Oh and the class room was in an old store in a MALL!
On the positive side most of the teachers were great and I did get my CDL(barely)
Neil

Answer:
My hubby also went to Sun Prairie Driving School. His cost was 4200.
We thought we had researched thoughly. After all, Swift donates their trucks to the school.
The problem he had was the fact that they didn't teach everything they were suppost to and each truck had around 4 students in it.
The school claims to have a good networking list but the one he recieved was terribly out dated. When he requested an updated one - a nasty letter was recieved.
My Son in Law went to Fox Valley. Only 2000. and this included room and board. The instruction he recieved was remarkable.
It's hard to check on these schools when you don't know what your looking for.

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But, speaking of company schools--i.e., Schneider, US express, Millis etc.
How does it work? If you don't stay for the specified period of time, how much do you have to pay?
Also, are they third party testers? Does this mean basically everyone who attends gets their licence one way or another?
I'm asking because I have a few friends who are thinking of getting their licence, but a little scared. I'm thinking this might be their ticket.

Answer:
Originally posted by Sir Lee Teemster:
But, speaking of company schools--i.e., Schneider, US express, Millis etc.
How does it work? If you don't stay for the specified period of time, how much do you have to pay?
Also, are they third party testers? Does this mean basically everyone who attends gets their licence one way or another?
I'm asking because I have a few friends who are thinking of getting their licence, but a little scared. I'm thinking this might be their ticket.
but most of them seem to have a clause that states that if you do not complete your employment contract you will have to repay the company 100% of the tuition for the school.
One thing to strongly beware of company schools. many of these are only two weeks long, some three. Most of these company schools have
NOclassroom time. Students must be prepared to pass the written tests for their learners permit on their own and within the first to third day of class. Also with no class room time you will not learn anything about logging, routing, etc, and will have to rely solely on the trainer you get for your on the job training.
Only two things I know of are infinite. The universe and human stupidity, and I am not real sure about the universe.
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I've heard nothing but horror stories on Sun Prairie . Roehl's school is around 2700 or so (maybe more--not sure--Wiz would know) and is very thourough. Another is Truckmaster Driving School in NC somewhere. We had a group of drivers came from there and almost all of them had to be "retrained", Just another CDL "mill" at work.
Better to have it and not need it as need it and not have it!Just remember:If the world did'nt suck, you'd fall off!
The more I see and read about Republicans and Democrats, the more I wish we had an Independent Party.
IMPEACH BUSH!!!!!!!!!!

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100%. If people have a bad experience at a school where they clearly got terrible training like the first poster did, then others need to know.
Unfortunately someone will post a bad experience with a training school, and not leave a name. This just opens the door for others to have the same bad experiences.

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First of all one must be aware that it is nearly impossible to find out if the trucks in the schools fleet have good working transmissions...etc, and the quality of the instructors.
The school I attended was LCSC, Lewis and Clark State College in Lewiston, Idaho. There were a couple of good instructors, but I didn't get a chance to have them as my instructors.
One of the other major problems with the school is there are only 2 weeks of limited driving time
in mostly worn out Trucks.
Also there is a very large pulp mill not far from the school that has an overwellming gross smell.
It took me several weeks to recover from breathing polluted air, and I was in excellent condition before starting the so called
Trucking Program.
Just noticed that the CDL tester signed me off on passing all the many driving tasks for the school, but at the same time failed me on the same test for the CDL ???

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Sir Lee Teemster,
With Schnieder I believe the total ammount you would be liable for was approximately $3400. If you were discharged or quit within one (1) year they would default you. The kicker is that $3400 started acruing interest at 18% from day one. So actually you would owe a heck of a lot more. Now what nailed it for me was 2 things actually. I was all set and ready to go up for training when I read the fine print on the contract. Part of the money that you would have to pay back included the "free" lodging and meals that you received while there. What added insult to injury, I have family that lives in Appleton WI. and was going to stay with them for the 2 weeks. The 2nd nail in the coffin for me when reading this contract was the conditions that they could default you on. You see, they can default you even if you are still employed with them. Some of the things that would cause a default on the loan, fling bankruptsy or having a wage garnishment placed against you. Now I do not plan on filing for bankruptsy or having my wages garnished but I felt that the company was putting their nose in my personal life. Here is an example where they could default you. Say you have children where you pay support. You set up a wage garnishment to automatically take the monney out of your pay check, BAM DEFAULT. No thanks.
As far as school stories, I will tell the story about my school I am attending right now. I have until the middle of the 2nd week of April. When I am finished there I will give my "grade" of this school, just cautious of doing it until I have completed it. Last thing I want is some one from there seeing what I have to say while I am still there. I learned one lesson in the Marines, keep your mouth shut until the right time
Buzzdog

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A friend of mine went to a really good school. They have a satisfaction guarantee, and one-on-one instruction in the truck. She felt like one of the family when she went there. She lived in another state. The staff went out of their way to help her find good housing, work through her tough times - we all have them in school, and take the time she needed in the truck. Thought you might be interested in it. http://www.isothermal.edu/truck