Is This Info About Swift CDL School Really True?

Keep in mind the people attending the company sponsored training haven't payed any money out. In fact they are given a bus ticket, motel room, and are fed at the company's expense. Not that it's a bad thing, my point being is most aren't serious about becoming a truck driver.

In my class at a private school, each person paid $5000 to be there. There was about 12 of us in my class and only 2 people dropped out early on, they left on there own for some reason. The rest of us finished and received our CDL's.

I'm not saying private school is better, I'm saying the people who payed $5000 out of their own pocket must have really wanted it. I didn't even know about company sponsored schools till I found this site months after getting my CDL.

I guess my point is, if you really want it and prepare you will be the few that make it through. Good luck to you, the fact that you are here researching puts you ahead of the rest.

Chris L wrote:

I guess my point is, if you really want it and prepare you will be the few that make it through. Good luck to you, the fact that you are here researching puts you ahead of the rest.

No guessing at all,...this is 100% true.

Thanks for all the responses to my initial thread.

I'm not afraid of the challenge of going to school to get my CDL , I just found it astounding that 16 out of 17 students taking the final CDL test could fail it. But now that I've read all of your responses, I realize that this guy may be BSing, or most of those students who failed the first time may have retaken the test, passed,and got their CDL.

It seems that a few people on this forum have attended the Swift school in Corsicana. Can any of you tell me if that is the location where Louisiana residents attend? I figure Louisiana residents would attend either Corsicana or Memphis.

Thanks again to everyone on this forum for the valuable info .

It seems that a few people on this forum have attended the Swift school in Corsicana. Can any of you tell me if that is the location where Louisiana residents attend? I figure Louisiana residents would attend either Corsicana or Memphis.

Unfortunately I can't answer this question for you. A recruiter should be able to give you a good answer to your question though. If you do get to go to Corsicana, I guarantee you'll enjoy it. The staff there are all absolutely amazing.

Nancy said:

Tell me what school you're going to, John. I'll be sure to avoid it.

Werner, Swift, Covenant, TMC, USA Truck, Sysco, and Pepsi are just a few of the companies that have sent recruiters to Tidewater Community College's Truck Driver Training Program, and there are many more who regularly hire graduates before they leave the building on graduation day. Plus, the instructors usually use no more than 1 finger (collectively) to count the number of graduates who are unable to pass the DVM exams and get their Class A CDL.

If your considering attending a private school, a community college or vocational school program, you might want to move TCC to the top of your list...

Best bang for your buck, or in this case $2700 bucks, that I was able to find.

John, I attended the Swift Academy in Phoenix. My assumption would be that a Company that size would have a very consistent method across all of their Schools. If you show up, take it very seriously, stay away from the jerks ( yes, they will be there too). Find the FEW students that are there for the same purpose as you and migrate towards each other, you'll pass with flying colors. Good luck!

Tractor Man said:

John, I attended the Swift Academy in Phoenix. My assumption would be that a Company that size would have a very consistent method across all of their Schools. If you show up, take it very seriously, stay away from the jerks ( yes, they will be there too). Find the FEW students that are there for the same purpose as you and migrate towards each other, you'll pass with flying colors. Good luck!

I think you wanted to direct that to the OP, Earl T.

I'm already in school (graduating in two weeks!) at Tidewater Community College.

I think you wanted to direct that to the OP, Earl T.

Sorry John. I'm not the sharpest tool in the shed!

Werner, Swift, Covenant, TMC, USA Truck, Sysco, and Pepsi are just a few of the companies that have sent recruiters to Tidewater Community College's Truck Driver Training Program, and there are many more who regularly hire graduates before they leave the building on graduation day. Plus, the instructors usually use no more than 1 finger (collectively) to count the number of graduates who are unable to pass the DVM exams and get their Class A CDL.

If your considering attending a private school, a community college or vocational school program, you might want to move TCC to the top of your list...

Best bang for your buck, or in this case $2700 bucks, that I was able to find.

^^^^ Totally AGREE.

Community Colleges, County Schools, VoTechs - any school that does stuff OTHER THAN TRUCKING too, is going to be the best bang.

Downside - they aren't typically the usual 160 Hours and OUT THE DOOR courses. They typically run TWICE AS LONG - as their hours and curriculum is dictated by the STATES Dept of Education.

So on one hand, they're a lot less expensive - OTOH - they are more lengthy, and in reality, these courses are SO COMPREHENSIVE that if you're in a good hiring area, recruiters are falling all over themselves to snag graduates.

Flipside - because they are State/County funded - they may be running much older equipment. The "yard skills" trucks were ancient KW cab-overs, real vintage, single axle trucks. Because they were the first trucks students got to drive, they were well worn in the shifting department and had to have the clutch brakes replaced every few months.

So while we can rag on these schools for being so lengthy, and having such old equipment - you can't beat them for price and the amount of wheel time you get. I logged over 1,000 real road miles during the road training portion of the course. And not just driving locally in the same commercial areas. Trip to the Keys, city streets all over the Dade/Broward areas.

I'd highly recommend this type of course if you have the TIME AND MONEY. And TIME is the real factor here - 9 weeks full time, is a lot for folks that need to work and pay bills.

Rick

Hey Nancy....when your are having self doubts, do what I do... Go spend a little time at a truck stop...look around...notice some of the drivers....then tell yourself, "if that guy right there can do what it takes to get a CDL , then I know damn well I CAN!! Works for me in just about every category of life. That's not to put anyone down, simply to boost my own spirits. I'm hoping one day someone will come up to me and say that they used me as their example!!

Good luck...stay positive...give yourself positive self-affirmations..."YES I CAN" "IF IT'S TO BE, IT'S UP TO ME" "CONCEIVE IT, BELIEVE IT, THEN GO OUT AND ACHIEVE IT!!" You can do it!! God Speed!