Lehigh Career And Technical Institute

Hello all,

First time I've made an entry to this forum, but I have been doing research on Trucking Truth for a few weeks. I have a college education and have been working in business for over 30 years. But last month became a victim of corporate greed and was let go from my purchasing management position after 15 years...reason: "we're just looking to go in another direction". Translated "too old, too expensive". They let go of over 10 of us in middle management since January of 2013. My buddy turns 50 next month, they just let him go Tuesday from his logistic manager job after 10 years. I have a buddy who was in purchasing for the same company for over 20 years, he is just a few years younger than me (I'm 57). He has been out of work for 2 years. I've sent 45 resumes out and have gotten lots of "thanks but no thanks". I can't wait 2 years, so I have been looking into getting the CDL A.

This isn't something that just popped up. When I was a full-time commuting student my first year of junior college, I had to work part time. So I had a job driving computer reports in a company van, 90 miles, twice a day before class. When I was on Interstate 287, I'd watch the tractor trailers drive by and dreamt of doing that. The bug never left me, and now I have a chance to live it (?) I can't possibly stay out of work for 2 years like my buddy. I need something by June - July. Anyway, long way of getting to this: After my research, I decided if I do this, I have to start by mid-April, early May and will to go to Lehigh Career and Technical Institute in Schnecksville, PA. Two questions: Can anyone tell me if LCTI is a good choice? Good school? Good program? I know it's a SAGE school and PTDI certified, and I believe that's good. I am waiting to see if I qualify for tuition assistance from the PA unemployment office. If not, I'll borrow the money from my 401K. Also, the instructor at the open house last night at LCTI said there is a huge shortage of truckers in our area, and I would have no problem getting a job after graduation in a local / regional job. Any thoughts on that comment? I have two buddies that have been driving for 30 years. One OTR and one local / regional, they both love it. Am I crazy for wanting to get into this. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

We're in the same area. I went to the CDL-A program at LCCC and so did RedGator, another member here. I think we'd both definitely recommend LCCC, they provide very good training. I considered LCTI as well but after asking on here and thinking about it myself, 1on1 instruction doesn't make sense for truck driving. At LCCC I learned as much in the driver's seat as when I was watching the other students. I would not have had that opportunity if it was strictly 1on1 instruction.

PTDI doesn't mean much really. More importantly ask each school which companies hire their graduates. LCCC program was 1 month and they prepared us very well. You get the benefit of rotating instructors so you can learn from different teaching styles.

Our area has A LOT of driving jobs. You could get something local/regional straight away. You could get something OTR straight away. All types of freight, anything you can think of.

We're in the same area. I went to the CDL-A program at LCCC and so did RedGator, another member here. I think we'd both definitely recommend LCCC, they provide very good training. I considered LCTI as well but after asking on here and thinking about it myself, 1on1 instruction doesn't make sense for truck driving. At LCCC I learned as much in the driver's seat as when I was watching the other students. I would not have had that opportunity if it was strictly 1on1 instruction.

PTDI doesn't mean much really. More importantly ask each school which companies hire their graduates. LCCC program was 1 month and they prepared us very well. You get the benefit of rotating instructors so you can learn from different teaching styles.

Our area has A LOT of driving jobs. You could get something local/regional straight away. You could get something OTR straight away. All types of freight, anything you can think of.

Thanks Too Much, appreciate it, I figured I would get good information here. Sorry, but what exactly does LCCC stand for? Is it Lehigh Carbon Community College?

We're in the same area. I went to the CDL-A program at LCCC and so did RedGator, another member here. I think we'd both definitely recommend LCCC, they provide very good training. I considered LCTI as well but after asking on here and thinking about it myself, 1on1 instruction doesn't make sense for truck driving. At LCCC I learned as much in the driver's seat as when I was watching the other students. I would not have had that opportunity if it was strictly 1on1 instruction.

PTDI doesn't mean much really. More importantly ask each school which companies hire their graduates. LCCC program was 1 month and they prepared us very well. You get the benefit of rotating instructors so you can learn from different teaching styles.

Our area has A LOT of driving jobs. You could get something local/regional straight away. You could get something OTR straight away. All types of freight, anything you can think of.

Thanks Too Much, appreciate it, I figured I would get good information here. Sorry, but what exactly does LCCC stand for? Is it Lehigh Carbon Community College?

Nevermind Too Much, I just checked and I see that it IS Lehigh Carbon Community College. Thanks again.

Yes, Lehigh Carbon Community College. They have a CDL-A program affiliated with All-State Career School

First week is in classroom 7am-5pm M-F. You learn the CDL Manual in order to go get your CDL permit. But as a reader of this forum you will use the training materials here and have your CDL Permit with all your endorsements BEFORE that first week. That way you can just review the materials in class and ace all the tests.

The next few days is learning pre-trip in the yard on a real truck, then moving the truck around the yard a few days. Then the next week you take the truck to an industrial park and practice shifting and turning. Then last week it's in town, highway, mountains, all sorts of driving. We even got the chance to pull a loaded trailer a few times.

We have a lot of terrain around here that is great to learn on. Taking an 18-wheeler straight through Tamaqua downtown and not taking any parked vehicle mirror's out was challenging.

It's a 172-hour program. Both full-time and part-time options. 172-hours should be enough for any major company to hire you. When you walk into their office they can give you a list of companies that hire their graduates.

LCCC CDL-A Program

Yes, Lehigh Carbon Community College. They have a CDL-A program affiliated with All-State Career School

First week is in classroom 7am-5pm M-F. You learn the CDL Manual in order to go get your CDL permit. But as a reader of this forum you will use the training materials here and have your CDL Permit with all your endorsements BEFORE that first week. That way you can just review the materials in class and ace all the tests.

The next few days is learning pre-trip in the yard on a real truck, then moving the truck around the yard a few days. Then the next week you take the truck to an industrial park and practice shifting and turning. Then last week it's in town, highway, mountains, all sorts of driving. We even got the chance to pull a loaded trailer a few times.

We have a lot of terrain around here that is great to learn on. Taking an 18-wheeler straight through Tamaqua downtown and not taking any parked vehicle mirror's out was challenging.

It's a 172-hour program. Both full-time and part-time options. 172-hours should be enough for any major company to hire you. When you walk into their office they can give you a list of companies that hire their graduates.

LCCC CDL-A Program

Wow!!!! Thanks too much, I really appreciate the help. I am now looking further into it and in fact just sent an e-mail to Jack Bruer. Thanks again and good luck in your new career.

ThinksTooMuch when I drove for JB Hunt which does a dedicated out of Bethlehem Pa. Not that far from Allentown. They was a wreck on 78 so could not tame 33 to 78 and since I had to go to south New Jersey I could not take 510 or is it 512 north to i80 so I had to take pa 145 south through Allentown a d take some really narrow roads to get to New Jersey. That day sucked. That was in a otr tractor with 48 foot trailer. That was also the day I first went to Jersey City Nj. Let me tell ya 12th St down there is not meant for the size truck i was driving. Was meant for day cabs a d 30 foot box trucks. When I got back that day to the DC I said that was the last time I was every going to Jersey unless they gave me a day cab. It's the same day I went to Weehawken nj. It was on big barrel of fun.

For those that don't know the area those streets are small and if you miss your turn then it might be 10 to 15 miles in the city before you find a place to turn around. Not full size otr truck friendly. There were times I was making right hand turns and barely missing cars by less than a inch. Cars on both sides of the road. And serious truck restricted routing cause if you take a wrong turn you will not make it out without help. The pic below is 12th street only in Weehawken Nj. Now imagine it like it was when I went down there with cars on both sides on the street and a very narrow path down the middle. Was no fun.

I most definitely recommend LCCC:) They are a great school and the instructors are fantastic. You learn so much from the other students as well.

Yeah Jersey City is fun guyjax. I drive those type of streets almost every day now. I need to start taking pictures of places I go and docks I need to back into. Absolutely insane. But the reason they send us there is because some driver did it once... so they know it CAN be done lol.

JB Hunt has a bunch of Dedicated Accounts around here. Were you doing the grocery wholesale account? That's the one I would have went with instead of US Xpress but they only had 1200-1500 starting times available and I needed morning shift.

LCCC produced RedGator and myself, so it probably is a decent place to get your CDL.

Yeah Jersey City is fun guyjax. I drive those type of streets almost every day now. I need to start taking pictures of places I go and docks I need to back into. Absolutely insane. But the reason they send us there is because some driver did it once... so they know it CAN be done lol.

JB Hunt has a bunch of Dedicated Accounts around here. Were you doing the grocery wholesale account? That's the one I would have went with instead of US Xpress but they only had 1200-1500 starting times available and I needed morning shift.

LCCC produced RedGator and myself, so it probably is a decent place to get your CDL.

Yea C&W or C&H warehouse. I for get the name. Basically the main warehouse for chain stores in that area