Simulators For Training....Good?

I have been checking out various schools in my area for CDL training. Most do not have simulators but the one I visited last does. They claim they are a great way to learn before actually getting behind the wheel to learn the shifting of a truck. Have any of you been through training with a simulator or have you heard opinions from others who used simulators and whether or not they were helpful? The instructor claims they are very realistic and have worked very well for their students compared to before when they did not have the simulators. I have been comparing places for about 3 months and really want to narrow it down now and pick the place that I think will give me the best training so any advice on this would be appreciated. Thanks all!

I played a simulator or drove one... however you wanna say that. I think it's probably to save money on the transmissions in the trucks. Not everyone going to trucking school has driven a manual transmission and the rest probably haven't driven a manual transmission without a synchronizer in the transmission. As far as it being realistic I felt the sight distance to speed was off. What I mean is if your driving 35mph on a rural road you'll see a speed limt sign from quite a ways off where on the "stimulator" or simulator it comes and goes rather quickly. But the class I was in spent maybe 2-3 hours total in the simulator. I don't think this should really be a deal breaker for anyone because aside from the shift pattern the simulator isn't going to do an aweful lot that a little bouncing around in a real truck won't do better. But that's just my opinion. I noticed also while in the simulator learning to double clutch that alot of people were dropping the clutch and they then in turn brought that habbit into a real truck and when your riding in a bobtail with someone dumping the clutch, it's like going to the rodeo and not being in the stands.