Private CDL School Course Curriculum Interpretation Help Needed

This Friday will be the my last day of a 3 week, 120 hour CDL School Course. The course curriculum that I signed up for includes the following: "80 hours of Range and Pre Trip Instruction" and "40 hours of Behind the Wheel Driving and Training"

I approached the Lead Instructor this morning and I told him I only have 3 days left on my 3 week course. I have only been off the Range 2 times for a total of 4 hours. I have 20 minutes of actually being behind the wheel out of those 4 hours off the Range. The other 3 hours and 40 minutes was spent in the passenger seat as the instructor was commuting back and forth to the off range industrial park where we practice or in the back as the other 3 students took turns driving.

In my opinion the school has not upheld what I signed up for and paid for. It was my understanding that I would get 40 hours of actual driving "Behind the Wheel" drive time.

Am I misunderstanding or did the school misrepresent ?

After day 5 and completing 40 hours of my "80 hours of Range and Pre Trip Instruction" I met with the School Manager and expressed my concern about getting enough instruction on skills and also about getting off the Range for my "40 Hours of Behind the Wheel Driving and Instruction" because I could tell things were not organized and I was concerned that I would be in this exact position near the end of my 3 weeks.

His reply was "Don't Worry, The First Week is Mostly Pre Trip Instruction. You will get plenty of behind the wheel driving. Trust Me"

So as I have been Trusting Him, I only have 20 minutes behind the wheel.

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The standard for most legit private schools is 160 hours of instruction, I doubt you'd find a company willing to take you on for less than that. Not saying it can't be done either. Check out the above links and see if you can get on with a company to train you.

I dont know you or the situation personally but that school sound shady af.

Best of luck.

The school offers a 160 hour course for people that want to obtain their permit through the school

120 hours for people that obtain their permit on their own.

I did my research and talked to 10+ companies before making my decision to take the 120 hour course. Every company including all the mega carriers accept the 120 hour course!!

The private CDL school I went through was 160 hours and you had to get your own permit, you could use their facilities to study but it did not count toward the 160 hours.

My school also offered 40 hours behind the wheel the first week was slow with the behind the wheel since we where learning to shift but by the end of week 4 I had at least 40 hours. I'd talk to them again and show how many you had.

Just for future readers, I had 40 hours of pretrip/range time at FedEx in my first week. One on one instruction and I was getting paid while I did it.

For the OP, are other students having the same frustration? How many students are in the class? How many trucks are there? How many instructors are there?

Currently there are 3 Tractors with Trailers and 1 Bobtail. There are 3 instructors.

Yesterday there were 16 students in class (4 test per week, 2 on Thursday and 2 on Friday). The Arizona DMV we test at only has 2 examiners so our school only tests on Thursday and Friday.

So on Thursdays and Fridays there are 12 students, 2 Tractors with Trailers and 1 Bobtail. 1 Tractor with Trailer goes to Testing.

Currently there are 3 Tractors with Trailers and 1 Bobtail. There are 3 instructors.

Yesterday there were 16 students in class (4 test per week, 2 on Thursday and 2 on Friday). The Arizona DMV we test at only has 2 examiners so our school only tests on Thursday and Friday.

So on Thursdays and Fridays there are 12 students, 2 Tractors with Trailers and 1 Bobtail. 1 Tractor with Trailer goes to Testing.

What they promised you isn't possible. Honestly, you're probably SOL as you probably signed something that said nothing is guaranteed. Do you best, take your test and see what happens because you've come this far.

Look over the paperwork you signed (if you have copies) and see if there's a loophole you can take advantage of. Maybe get together with other people that are frustrated in that group and sue to get your money back. But, with the way things are now, that can take a long time.

Here are some of the problems the school is facing. They are associated with the Community College and credits are earned for completing the course... Since the DMV can only handle so many tests per week it has log jammed our school, and many students are still in the 3 week course after 5 weeks and still haven't tested. I realize it's not all of the schools fault, but I would have expected them to inform me that I needed to possibly budget 5 weeks to complete the course vs the 3 weeks that I agreed to.

My original question still stands. Did I misunderstand or did the school misrepresent? In regards to the 4o hours behind the wheel

Here are some of the problems the school is facing. They are associated with the Community College and credits are earned for completing the course... Since the DMV can only handle so many tests per week it has log jammed our school, and many students are still in the 3 week course after 5 weeks and still haven't tested. I realize it's not all of the schools fault, but I would have expected them to inform me that I needed to possibly budget 5 weeks to complete the course vs the 3 weeks that I agreed to.

My original question still stands. Did I misunderstand or did the school misrepresent? In regards to the 4o hours behind the wheel

Haya, Shadow Trucker . . .

Quick question; Was your schooling paid through a WIOA grant? (If not, what 'was' the cost?) << might be irrelevant; just trying to figure this out.

Also; any way you could post a copy of your contract on here? Might help these guys above (and others) interpret your situation better. IMHO, you are probably still going to have to sign on with a 'training company.' You've got no road time at all; wondering how you are even going to pass a road test. I'm not being snarky by any means; my other half went to Roadmasters in 2003 and I've still got his 160 certificate in a file, somewhere. He recalls having around 20 hours of road time.

Just thinking out loud, trying to help. I think it's a bit of both; misunderstanding AND misrepresentation. Seeing your paper copy would help us help ya~!!

~ Anne ~

ps: With that 'extra' 2 week drag, for testing, why can't/won't they let you DRIVE whilst waiting for the DMV?!?!?