|
Post by sketch671 on Aug 13, 2003 16:16:48 GMT -5
Hello, I am currently studying the Michigan CDL Manual.
I was just wondering if anyone knows of a good school to go to, in Michigan.
I am thinking about going to TRAINCO, if anyone knows of this school I would be interested in hearing what you think of it.
Any help would be appreciated, Thanks. sketch671
|
|
|
Post by SilverBullet on Aug 13, 2003 16:36:31 GMT -5
sketch,
I don't know anything about Trainco, but if you are going to go to school, try to go to one that is PTDI Certified. PTDI stands for Professional Truck Driving Institute. It will make a difference when you go to get a job. There are some good companies out there that will not hire a student that didn't graduate from a PTDI Certified School.
|
|
|
Post by SilverBullet on Aug 13, 2003 16:39:15 GMT -5
I'm sorry...
PTDI = Professional Truck Driver Institute...
Not......Professional Truck Driving Institute.
|
|
|
Post by sketch671 on Aug 13, 2003 21:40:50 GMT -5
Thank you for the information Silverbullet, I don't know if TRAINCO is a PTDI certified school or not, but I will definately find out.
Thanks again, sketch671
|
|
|
Post by sketch671 on Aug 13, 2003 22:22:26 GMT -5
Well I looked around TRAINCO's web site and they are a PTDI certified school so I am thinking this will be a good school to go to.
I am relieved because the company I want to try to work for hires TRAINCO students.
sketch671
|
|
|
Post by SilverBullet on Aug 14, 2003 7:42:36 GMT -5
I'm glad they are a certified school. In my opinion, you can't go wrong with that. What company are you interested in?
|
|
|
Post by sketch671 on Aug 14, 2003 9:11:54 GMT -5
The company I'm interested in is called NTB.
NTB is a regional company that makes runs throughout the mid-west.
From what I've read, it sounds like a good company, but we all know how that go's sometimes. I can only hope its as good as it sounds.
If anyone knows anything about this company I would like to hear what you think of them.
sketch671
|
|
|
Post by Arcflash on Aug 14, 2003 10:09:43 GMT -5
I receive freight from them once a week here in PA. Their drivers speak very highly of them... they're out for three days at a time max. Their equipment seems pretty modern too but all I have seen are green century class rigs.
|
|
|
Post by sketch671 on Aug 14, 2003 10:52:15 GMT -5
I receive freight from them once a week here in PA. Their drivers speak very highly of them... they're out for three days at a time max. Their equipment seems pretty modern too but all I have seen are green century class rigs. That is basically what they said on their web site, your out for three days at a time, home twice a week, and you get one day off (Same Day) each week, which I am assuming that day is Sunday. So it sounds as though, they aren't blowing smoke. Thanks for the information Arcflash. sketch671
|
|
|
Post by Arcflash on Aug 14, 2003 10:54:57 GMT -5
That is basically what they said on their web site, your out for three days at a time, home twice a week, and you get one day off (Same Day) each week, which I am assuming that day is Sunday. So it sounds as though, they aren't blowing smoke. Thanks for the information Arcflash. sketch671 That would rock! Home every Sunday for football; goooood deal. I'm gonna be bummed missing football season this year.
|
|
|
Post by sketch671 on Aug 14, 2003 11:06:53 GMT -5
That would rock! Home every Sunday for football; goooood deal. I'm gonna be bummed missing football season this year. Well for me it's Racing - F1,CART,NASCAR you name it I watch it. sketch671
|
|
|
Post by Arcflash on Aug 14, 2003 11:34:21 GMT -5
I had to stop. I used to work for a top alcohol funnycar team. I watch racing and the next thing I know I am out looking for a chassis to buy.
|
|
|
Post by truckertom on Aug 14, 2003 15:50:26 GMT -5
In order to have a good driving school, you must have instructors that care about their students. All the accreditation in the world will never replace an instructor that cares about you the student. Unfortunatly, there are many schools that want instructors that will never protest when a student gets carried off by a recruiter to sign another stack of loan papers. There are many, many lousey schools out there that look good on the outside, but are staffed with slick talking crooks looking to make a fortune and get out before the TEA (or whatever your state has) walks in and shuts it down. Another thing to remember, YOU ARE THE CUSTOMER!!!!! You are the one that is paying for this! If you have a surly instructor treating you like cr@p after taking half your driving time away for breakfast, lunch and B.S. you need to gripe about it! They are getting paid to teach you how to drive! This is not the Marine Corp. It's close, but who is doing the favor for who? I have been an instructor at 3 schools now that have gone under, and it is always the men in the suits that do it. I am now at number 4 hoping this one will last til retirement! ha ha ha! Most of the time your instructor is going to be an ex-OTR driver with health issues that is just trying to make a living. Also remember this. An experienced driver can make $50,000 a year, why would he take a job for $29,000 a year to teach folks how to drive? So we instructors don't get paid that well, but you can bet the owner of the school gets paid a-plenty! Me? I just love teaching folks how to drive. I means alot to me to help someone get back to making money again. It is tough being broke and laid-off!
|
|
|
Post by snowmaniac1 on Aug 17, 2003 9:40:52 GMT -5
Be sure to get copy of course cirriculum so you know what your buying. School i WAS going to had me filling out forms til last hour of day then took me out to yard, showed me how to start truck up and shift, I was then told to spend the evening practicing and wed be out on the road 8 am next morning. Steep learning curve i think! And Toms right, your the customer, dont put up with some A hole that thinks hes drill sargeant, i bit my tounge and held on as long as i could, in retrospect i shoulda shoved my fist in his big mouth, Im looking for "real" school to start over with, dont think cheap is good, you get what you pay for.
|
|
|
Post by Christopher on Aug 17, 2003 19:39:02 GMT -5
I can't add anything good that hasn't already been said, so I'll say this: *particularly* since you're in MI, it would be *really* neat if whatever school you choose ran the students up to Marshall, MI for the Eaton skid course! The school I went to in Windsor, Ont., Canada did this - we hopped in a bus, crossed to border, and went 2-3 hours down the road. I'm very pleased that this was part of the curriculum - those people really know their stuff, and once the nerves wore off (mostly due to not know what was involved, and didn't wanna look bad in front of my cohorts!), it was a blast!
|
|