United Truck Driving School

P.P.C.C. ( Pikes Peak Comm College) In Co Sprgs looked at doing it in the mid '90's but decided that the liability was to high.

 

I don't think it would matter to me. I'd find the best community college program around and rent a place then go to school. You'd still come out better than the pay for by the company schools or the ripoff ones that charge $4000 to $7000+ just to get your CDL. After all that's what the schools are for is to get your CDL. The more you learn to start off the better. But you sure won't learn much from a company that has a turnover rate that's out of this world.

You also need to know that recruiters are not there to find you a job. That's your responsibility. There's more than just recruiters out there but if you choose to use just them then don't complain, you take whatever they have. Or you use all your resources and plan it out. Hit the bricks and see for yourself what company is good or bad. You can use the computer but use it as a tool and not the sole source of your research.

When you do get hired that's when the real school starts. And it may not be by the trainer either. You may have to learn on your own. But if you go in with a good attitude and ask questions then you'll be ok. Take notes. You're going to be under a microscope when you start out so you do not want to make any enemies or burn any bridges. If you have problems with your driver trainer try to talk them out but by all means do not let safety items go by. If you need to talk with the higher ups include your driver trainer. After all he's going to have a final word about your driving before you're cut loose. Also, you can always come back here and ask anything.

 

i don't think that "United Truck Driving School" and "United States Trucking school" are the same organization.... I may be wrong....
I went to the Edd and they hooked me up with "United Truck Driving school." They told me a bout Werner filled out an app... and they sent me a letter saying they would hire me upon graduation....
Also checked into Central Refrigerated school... went to the school to check it out... instructor refused to give me his opinion... because he said he would get in trouble...
went to the lounge.... talked to the drivers... they complained about never being able to find a trailer when they needed one.... but I am still considering the place.... I really don't trust any of them.... United or central...
my question is... If I start school now... I will get my own truck when the snows begin to fall... would it be better to start school in February... so I have six months experience before winter....

 

What an awesome post. Thank you so much. They have re-opened Longmont and my wife and I start class on November 27th using Workforce Investment Act money to pay for school. We considered Sage also but this is much closer for us and I felt much more comfortable with Tim. I think we are getting the . I straight story. I will update when we have actual experience.

 

The original post mentioned United Truck Driving out of San Diego, CA, the school I went to back in 1995. I went through the school they had set up in Etiwanda (Riverside), CA.

Cost was $3,995.00, and the class was 4 weeks (1 classroom, 3 behind the wheel). Classroom focuses initially on passing the California written exams (except passenger and motorcycle endorsements), which all of us aced first time. Then, the classroom portion hammers away at safety, especially personal safety, and gave us the realistic expectations of the industry (they were spot on in every aspect). They also told us not to believe recruiters unless their pie-in-the-sky promises are put in writing.

The driving portion involved city, freeway, and mountain driving, as well as basic yard skills, crossing scales, fueling, etc, with a heavy focus on vehicle inspections and the ways a truck can kill us if we're not careful and thorough.

If the San Diego class is run the same as the one I went to, I highly recommend this particular school. This is NOT USTDS, this is a much smaller company.

Everyone in my class of 8 passed with flying colors, and all got jobs that started within a week of graduation.

This is not one of the "free" schools that carriers run or contract with, so the quality is better (IMHO). You are free to hire on with whomever you wish, the school gets no fee or bonus for steering you in a particular direction. To quote the classroom instructor, "We've taught you just enough to be dangerous. What you do with that is strictly up to you, as is your future in the industry."

 

Glad you clarified that "This is NOT USTDS". United Truck Diving School sounds like a great one though.... Just curious, do you happen to remember if the school is the one at drivetrucks.com? Thanks, either way.

 

You're correct in the distinction. UTDS=drivetrucks.com and USTDS=ustrucks.com.... Interestingly, their websites both have links to Werner(?)
I was interested in CRS also, but so far I've only been pokin' around here & their website. Looks like you went a little further by talking directly to them. Thanks for the info. (Curious to know which way you went,if you ever get back to this thread)

 

Checked Front Range CC and there was an ad-like box on page 9 in their Spring 2011 Continuing Education catalog for CDL training at the Center for Transportation Safety:
http://www.ushighwaysafety.com/Default.aspx

I also looked at CDL College in Aurora & they are very flexible (as are USTDS), offer a full-on certificate course for $3240 ($2831 CASH!) which would be reasonable. Especially if I can grab some WIA funding in June (start of the new fiscal year).

Code:

FRCC, USTDS, CDL College

 

Run as fast as you can away from United Truck Driving School in San Diego ca .@@@@@

Just finished my Class B & the instructor refused to talk to me the last 2 days yet I was driving their Bus. I begged their director "Bonnie" to assign me another instructor as this one drove talking on his cell phone & smoked like a chimney all 8 hours. Some previous student slashed his tires & keyed his truck . He felt his insurance company needed to pay to repaint his 15 year old truck.

When he did talk it was to tell us all about strip joints & whorehouses in Tijuana Mexico.

United had a student who was medically unfit to drive yet the got the unemployment office to pay for another week of training . She had 4 attacks of some kind , two 911 calls & taken to hospital on the last call ( I had to call 911 for the instructor as he was talking on his cell phone to his insurance company at the time. This poor girl would have caused a serious accident if she had been driving a big rig .

I passed on my own & was hired on a job in 2 days.

Plenty of schools in San Diego for you to learn with that the state will pay for

 

fhb, which San Diego schools do you recommend?