Hello And Starting My Journey

10k is insane!! 3 weeks preparing for the permit is a waste of 20 days imo a day or two at most.

I paid $2,500 for my schooling they gave you everything you needed for the permit before you started class, infact you had to have your permit before you started because they didnt want to waste the time you where paying for on getting it.

I agree of you can get out of that deal do so.

Agreed!

In 3 weeks time I had graduated from Swift’s Richmond Academy and was practicing for my CDL test.

A week later I was on my trainer’s truck...another reason why Paid CDL Training Programs is arguably the preferred method of jump-starting a trucking career.

NTTS is a great school, but over priced. They extended their school length so the could get NY wia money, and scholarship / grant money as well. They push the longer program, and after applying the "free" money, the cost for me, would have been $300.

But I could not afford to take that long in school. I was tempted though, because TMC would have prehired me, from there. They have shorter programs, but the out of pocket cost goes up exponentially. Gtown and Errol were the biggest influence in deciding a different route.

Chris L wrote:

The first three weeks a NTTS is devoted to the permit exam and all the required endorsements.

Am I missing something here? Maybe. But 3 weeks of school to prepare for passing the CLP? Sounds like overkill to me...not money well spent.

Sorry Chris but you’ll achieve the exact same result, likely faster by using Trucking Truth’s High Road CDL Training Program. Your only cost is time.

I stand corrected!! The permit prep is only 52 hours! I'm not sure where I got the three weeks- maybe I should not try to post late night on New Years Eve lol. I have been working with the High Road CDL Training Program here on TT. I picked NTTS because they are the only outfit that has a satellite training facility at Ft. Drum which I live close to only problem is the nest course doesn't start till mid February. I decided to go to Syracuse because I could start sooner and I didn't want to take a slot from a active duty Soldier that wants to take the course (The course at Ft. Drum is structured around the soldiers duty day so evenings and weekend classes for them). I have my GI Bill to use to pay the tuition and I have family in Syracuse that I will stay with during the training.

I enrolled in their 7 week course I because even though I have some driving experience with large vehicles already (School bus) I know that I will be encountering an entire different class of vehicle so I am going to get the most out of the training provided!

Plus like I said in my other post NYS currently has a high first time failure rate for the CDL Road test so I'm not taking any chances! Besides I already give enough of my money to the Idiots in Albany they don't need any more....lol

Chris L wrote:

The first three weeks a NTTS is devoted to the permit exam and all the required endorsements.

Am I missing something here? Maybe. But 3 weeks of school to prepare for passing the CLP? Sounds like overkill to me...not money well spent.

Sorry Chris but you’ll achieve the exact same result, likely faster by using Trucking Truth’s High Road CDL Training Program. Your only cost is time.

I stand corrected!! The permit prep is only 52 hours! I'm not sure where I got the three weeks- maybe I should not try to post late night on New Years Eve lol. I have been working with the High Road CDL Training Program here on TT. I picked NTTS because they are the only outfit that has a satellite training facility at Ft. Drum which I live close to only problem is the nest course doesn't start till mid February. I decided to go to Syracuse because I could start sooner and I didn't want to take a slot from a active duty Soldier that wants to take the course (The course at Ft. Drum is structured around the soldiers duty day so evenings and weekend classes for them). I have my GI Bill to use to pay the tuition and I have family in Syracuse that I will stay with during the training.

I enrolled in their 7 week course I because even though I have some driving experience with large vehicles already (School bus) I know that I will be encountering an entire different class of vehicle so I am going to get the most out of the training provided!

Plus like I said in my other post NYS currently has a high first time failure rate for the CDL Road test so I'm not taking any chances! Besides I already give enough of my money to the Idiots in Albany they don't need any more....lol

You are closer to Sage in Rome, and they are WAY cheaper, and the drive time is one on one. Even with the administrative failures, I would choose them.

As far as failure rate, I only have the instructor's word to go on, but he was looking at his road test calendar and counting when he told me (as of Thanksgiving) they had not had a failure since the beginning of October. I don't know how many people graduated in that time frame, but he claimed they had a higher graduation rate than any other school around. And since my money was already in the bank, he didn't have to sell me. I do know that I saw at least 4 people come back the 2 days I was on the range, and all passed.

But you do need your permit and medical before you go to Sage, but no big deal, the permit and medical is the easy part. If you finish the High Road, read over the CDL NY manual once (probably don't even need that) you should pass the permit test with flying colors. I did the three required plus tanker and hazmat and only missed 2 to 4 questions on each.

Unless you have signed a contract, I would take a step back, and think about it. And I can't stress enough, if you can at all, company paid CDL is a WAY better option.

As a matter of fact, CDLB to CDL A should be a really fast class. The only training either school is going to give you is what you need to get your license. Your real training will be at whatever company you work for, and that will most likely be one of the major companies who would have put you through their school anyway.

And no matter what anyone tells you, run from anyone who says Dollar Store, in any form.

Chris, any updates?

at Sage, with all 140 hours driven by the student, one on one with the instructor.

I would be shocked if you actually drove for 140 hours one on one with an instructor. That's the equivalent of 3 1/2 weeks of full time work 8 hours a day. That much time behind the wheel one on one would cost the school a fortune.

But I could not afford to take that long in school. I was tempted though, because TMC would have prehired me, from there

TMC has their own paid CDL training program: TMC Paid CDL Training

at Sage, with all 140 hours driven by the student, one on one with the instructor.

I would be shocked if you actually drove for 140 hours one on one with an instructor. That's the equivalent of 3 1/2 weeks of full time work 8 hours a day. That much time behind the wheel one on one would cost the school a fortune.

But I could not afford to take that long in school. I was tempted though, because TMC would have prehired me, from there

TMC has their own paid CDL training program: TMC Paid CDL Training

I don't know why I keep doing that. I think because the course is 140 (or is it 150) hours, the driving time is 44 hours, 11 drives 4 hours each.

Almost finished with my first full week at NTTS. I took and passed my combination endorsement permit test for my Class "A" CDL today. Since I already had my Class "B" CDL I didn't have to retake the General, Safety, Air Brakes tests. The first couple of days was just straight New York state CDL Permit prep (Most of my classmates are starting out at square one So General Knowledge, Safety, Cargo, Air Breaks, and Combination) it was good review for me and I was able to provide some insight to my fellow classmates.

I still haven't decided on what additional endorsements I want but I'm leaning towards Hazmat , tanker, and metal coil.

The rest of the week is Log books, Trip planning and starting the Pre trip practical exercises out in the training area.

Oh- And also the SWIFT Recruiter is coming by tomorrow.

Cheers everyone