Newbie: 3 Weeks Training Vs 9 Weeks?

I was just looking at Tampa Truck Driving School and another local Vocational School offering driving instruction. TTDS looks pretty turn-key but it's $2,000 more than the Vocational School. It's also 6 weeks shorter. How does that work?! Obviously the faster I can get through proper training, the better but that's a lot of difference in length of training. From TTDS: "The cost of our program is $5000.00 and there is about $400 worth of fees you will need for your DOT physical, drug test, CDL permit, CDL exam, and CDL License. But you don’t have to pay all of that up front if you don’t want to. You see, 100% of the companies we place our students with have up to 6-15 thousand dollars in tuition reimbursement. They will pay for your schooling just not up front. What we do is finance it for you, and then you get the company you go to work for help you pay it back. So all you need to get started is $200 out of pocket for Physical and License, and we will finance the rest of your fees and tuition. Our in house financing option doesn't even require a credit check. As long as you are qualified for job placement, you are qualified for financing options with Tampa Truck Driving School. What makes our financing even better is that your student loan payments don't begin until 60 days after you graduate. This gives you a full two months to get out there driving, start making some money before you have to start making payments towards your tuition loan."

My concern is that I'm clueless and so I'm here looking for good advice from those of you who have been in the industry for a while. Thanks for your help.

High Road Training Program, Company-Sponsored Training , Truck Driving Schools, and How To Choose A School are good places to start.

Thank you!

TTDS looks pretty turn-key but it's $2,000 more than the Vocational School. It's also 6 weeks shorter. How does that work?!

Tammy, Welcome aboard!

What the trucking companies are looking for is that you have a certificate of training indicating 160 hours of training. That can be done in a three week course if they also have a class on Saturday during the week. Most trucking schools are three or four week courses, unless they are conducted through a community college. The community colleges spend more time because they have to have a full length course to be able to get some government funding for their classes.

There are some Company-Sponsored Training programs that will pay just about all your expenses including your transportation to their facility. These programs guarantee you a job after your successful completion of their program, with the caveat that you will agree to work for them for a certain period of time, usually one year, so that they can recoup the expense they laid out for your training. Some of them pay you during your training. If you follow that link you should be able to do a lot of research on the different options available. If I remember correctly Prime will pay you 600 dollars a week during the second part of the training, and during the approximately three weeks of the first portion they will advance you 200 per dollars per week if you need it.

Some folks prefer to go to a private trucking school - personally I think there is considerable merit to the company sponsored programs, but it really boils down to whether or not you can afford to pay your own way.

Tammy, you feel free to ask all the questions you want in here. We have a wealth of resources for you here in the site, but often times the things you read just cause you to think up more questions. There will always be someone in here who can give you some helpful advice.

Tammy, the one thing I noticed when looking into many schools is that not all of them give you your road test at that school. Meaning, they will give you all the info and practice but when you actually need to do your road test they will send you to a third party testing sight. Is that ok? Well, that's a personal decision you have to make. As for me I didn't like that deal. But I did manage to find quite a few schools that did their own in house testing and road test because they were licensed by the state to do so.

My experience was, I decided to go with CR.England and let them pay for my schooling and license. which don't get me wrong is a pretty good deal. They put up $6,000 for you to go to the school they choose. When you are done you give them 9 months worth of service or pay them back $10,000 (after financing) if you don't stay the whole 9 months. And when you start your pay is bottom of the barrel. I went thru class with many guys and gals that this was their only option. I decided not to go that route and dropped them. Talked to God and my family and we got the money up together. Now I am in a better position, where when I graduate I get to pick where I go and for how much money I decide is best for me. I will be graduating from school in about 4 weeks and my mind is much more clear now. The folks here on this board have a great wealth of information. Best board out there.

Hope this helps you. Best of luck. (any questions just ask us)

It's also 6 weeks shorter. How does that work?! Obviously the faster I can get through proper training, the better but that's a lot of difference in length of training.

I second James' comment above--the resources on Trucking Truth are invaluable. Just a bit of additional insight for you--I am in a 3-week course at a private school right now. While it's good to get your training over with quickly so you can get your cdl and start making money, just be aware that learning to drive an 18 wheeler in such a short amount of time is pretty darn difficult. If you pick a 3 or 4 week school, try to find out details such as how much classroom time, how many students per truck, how much time backing, if the school uses simulators, and if you are allowed extra practice after school. Most schools I've researched have pretty similar classroom time. Personally I'd recommend finding somewhere that doesn't assign more than 2-3 students per truck and has several days or half-days of backing--the idea is that you get to learn by watching your classmates, but you get plenty of practice backing and driving yourself and get more personal instruction. And it really wouldn't hurt if they let you practice after school (I don't know if it's that's very common, but I have heard of schools allowing it). Just my 2 cents.

I went with company-sponsored training because I couldn't afford school and they sent me to this little private school in CO. I love it here and feel like I'm getting the best of both worlds since my training is free but I don't have my prospective employer breathing down my neck all the time. But my biggest frustration is that I'm just not getting as much hands-on practice as I want, mainly because the training is so short (even though I've only had to share a truck with one other student most of my time here). So, what it boils down to is, there's nothing wrong at all with choosing a short course, but do your research and bring your A-game.

Good luck!

Your replies are all very helpful really. I appreciate your in depth comments about this.

I suggest you look at it this way; All private cdl schools will get you enough training/ schooling to pass your state cdl exam. What they will not teach you is the real world of truck driving . For that you will be trained thru the truck company you sign on with. A short period of classroom /yard skills and then on the road with a trainer who will show you what you really need to know. While I believe the longer spent with the trainer the better , some folks pick it up quicker than others. You can listen to talk about snow, traffic, and backing into tight spots, but you are better off learning this stuff with a good trainer over as much time as possible.

And by all means use the high road training course to help you pass your cdl exams

Tam, I think I can give you a little insight.

My wife and I both chose Pinellas Technical College a little over a year ago. We couldn't have been happier with our decision!

The PTC course is set up with small class sizes, lots of one-on-one instruction, all designed to teach you to drive safely.

The Tampa school (formerly Roadmasters?) is designed to get you to pass your CDL. And costs over twice as much. Very much a CDL mill school.

Because we are safety oriented, and wanted the best instruction available, we went to PTC. When we started training with our Company, our trainers all thought we were experienced drivers.

The only advantage I can see to the TAmpa school is if timing is critical and you can't wait to start work. Even so, the extra $3 grand out of pocket could possibly sustain you for the extra 5 weeks of school.

I'd recommend you visit the campus in St Pete, ask a lot of questions, and go where you're most comfortable.

Good luck.