Training Through Road Masters, West Memphis, Arkansas

@Professor - based on your time so far with ROADMASTERS, Can you recommend them and are you happy with your decision to go there?? Just curious, as I am contemplating on attending there Salt Lake City location.

I am on the fence about a recommendation for the following reasons: 1) The pace. This is a program that really fits those for whom this will come naturally. Some of us finished our 160hrs and tested out. Others had been there for 4-6 weeks trying to test out. 2) Cost. Looking back on the program, I would judge that what I was charged was high for what I received. Taking into consideration the equipment, personal instruction, facilities, and accommodations, I would say the tuition should be around $3500, not $7000.

There were many positives: I had some really great instructors. The job placement department is very helpful and will even help me if/when I move to a different company. Once the trouble makers in our class washed out, we were left with a really solid group; generally we all got along and look forward to seeing each other on the road. (Several of us may even see each other at orientation next week)

I would recommend going to RoadMaster under the following conditions: 1) If I lived within daily driving distance of the school, 2) Was not in a pinch to get a job quick (i.e. I could afford to be unemployed for at least 1 month), 3) Had a penchant for fast learning and picking up new skills quickly.

I graduated from CDL school with my Class-A this past Monday! (8/24)

I completed my 160 hours last Thursday which left me with Friday and Saturday to practice and fine tune my skills. Why? Previous classes had a large failure rate and the number of students left from those classes clogged the testing queue. As a result, I had to wait until Monday to test. By the end of Saturday was I sinking the 90-degree Alley Dock every time. I am glad I had the opportunity to practice more.

I did well on my practical test considering that I had learned my father had suffered a heart attack on Friday afternoon and was still in ICU on Monday. I had had several opportunities to speak with him over the weekend to know that he was doing fairly well and was forbidding me from delaying my test to come home. Accordingly, it was on my mind Monday while I tested.

I did very well on my Pre-Trip. I forgot a few items, but nothing major. The one that sticks in my craw was the oil dipstick. Why did I forget it? Because as soon as I went to mention it, the examiner took a 5 minute phone call...in the middle of my engine inspection. I let it throw me off unfortunately. After that test, the examiner inquired as to my previous occupation. I explained that I had been a teacher of special education and gifted students for 4 years. He laughed and commented that my pre-trip was enjoyable to listen too because I evidenced that I knew how the truck worked and explained why I would be looking for certain issues rather than just repeating a memorized list of verbiage.

The skills part was odd. We were taken to a different pad than when had been practicing on and I am almost certain the lines on the test pad were narrower than the practice pad. I say this, because the 90-Degree proved challenging. I had been using the 4 white lines (outside of the alley box in which the trailer actually sits) as a guide of where my tandems were tracking. However, on test day, this method did not work. I did eventually get the trailer in the box, but I narrowly missed failing the skill. Having thought about it since then, I think I simply pulled up too far and started bending my trailer too early. Nevertheless, I passed.

The road drive was great fun. By then the instructor was a little more conversational. My goal ahead of the test was to narrate my drive, listing every potential hazard, every pertinent road sign, pointing out every bridge and underpass, explaining how I was executing turns, etc. As a result, I beat him to every potential question he was going to ask (i.e., what was the marked height on that underpass back there?) Overall it was a smooth drive, though the clutch started acting up the last 15 minutes of the test. (The last turn of the drive, I went to go from 5th to 4th gear...had proper road speed and RPMs, but it didn't grab in time for the turn. Rather than coast through the turn, I quickly put it in third which resulted in a one handed turn. A no-no for sure, but I deemed it more important to maintain control than coast through the turn)

After the test, the examiner and I discussed all three aspects and pinpointed areas I could improve on. After that came two hours of waiting for paperwork, a visit to get my CDL from the DMV , and my 7hr trip back home. First stop was naturally my father. He has since returned home with little damage to the heart.

If I had to do it again, I think I would choose a school closer to home. I considered one here in Kansas City with cheaper tuition, but they didn't return my calls or inquiries until two days before I was to leave for West Memphis. I think my biggest critique for Road Master is their class size. 50 people is simply too many to effectively manage the amount of time students get behind the wheel for their skills practice.

I start orientation with Werner on Monday. I am thrilled and am ready to get underway.

Perhaps you will encounter me on the road.

Sincerely, Professor (or my nickname in driving school: Blue)

I am going to be attending Road Masters driving school in west memphis arkansas on december 7th what are some tips you could give me as far as there course goes. a little nervous about it as its a little bit of a drive from my home in (louisville,ky).. they sent me material to study and i basically know it front to back. but i also appreciate your account on there course. it helped me in making my final decision as to go with road master

Well I must say that the picture you painted of Roadmaster In ark is by far ,nothing of the salt lake city branch ,speaking purely from a business standpoint ,just the stereotyping of students lackadaisical attitudes of the instructors ,with the one that actually gave a crap about his students and teaching,im not gonna name any namesgood ole Texas boy .don't go to salt lake your wasting your money

I am going to be attending Road Masters driving school in west memphis arkansas on december 7th what are some tips you could give me as far as there course goes. a little nervous about it as its a little bit of a drive from my home in (louisville,ky).. they sent me material to study and i basically know it front to back. but i also appreciate your account on there course. it helped me in making my final decision as to go with road master

Jeremy,

You're going to spend $7k at Roadmasters in West Memphis when you could spend $4k at Truck America Training in Shepherdsville? I've heard good things about TAT. I went through Lake Cumberland and regretting it... if you'd like to hear why, pm me.