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Review content:
Two things that bothered me, but not enough to take a star away. Watch out for Frank Trujillo. He likes to give you the Grandfather talk...it's annoying and boring to hear, aside from that Frank is a good guy, he's trying to help but more often than not his "talk" doesn't help, it just makes things worse.
They had a new guy named Mike. He's not been an instructor very long, and so he struggles with teaching backing maneuvers. Mike is a GREAT and FRIENDLY guy, easy to get along with, loves to get to know people and make good conversation, but he's still inexperienced when it comes to teach backing maneuvers. I actually learned my backing maneuvers from one of the other students, because Mike wasn't teaching in a way I could understand. THIS IS NOT a knock on Mike...he just didn't know how to teach me in a way I could understand. If anything, this falls on the school for not having someone out there to help Mike as he is learning how to instruct others.
Aside from those 2 things, I had a great time at USTDS, I learned quite well, I experienced some failures, but I overcame them and turned them into successes and I passed my Pre-Trip, my backing maneuvers and my road test and I graduated.
They built up my confidence and they eased my fears in regards to driving a Commercial Motor Vehicle for a living.
The class is intense, it will wear you out mentally and physically, as it's 10 hours a day, 5 days a week and one week with a Saturday. Don't plan on working a part time job after class is over, because YOU WILL BE TIRED by the end of the day. Expect LOTS and LOTS of repetition. Even when you are doing it perfectly over and over, you'll keep doing it over and over all day long. 10 hours is a LONG DAY to be doing the same things repeatedly.
The instructors are disciplined, they demand you to memorize things for your Pre-Trip Test, your In Class Tests so you can pass your CDL Permit Tests and your backing and CDL road test. They will push you to your limits and demand more. When you mess up, they will correct you, but they're there to HELP you, not hurt you or see you fail. Expect to have a bad day, get over it, put it out of your mind and continue FORWARD. Don't give up. One day things will be tough, nothing goes right, you can't figure out how to do it, you think you'll never get it, then the next day, you're like an ace driver, the light bulb goes on and you laugh at yourself for acting silly the previous day. Take the good with the bad, and move FORWARD.
USTDS is a great school, they also work with some of the finer trucking companies in the nation, because I had a job offer before I even graduated.
Their facilities are nice, some of their trucks need some repairs but they are yard trucks after all. They have diagrams to explain charging systems, airbrakes, and more. They have a very informative textbook, practice tests and quizzes. They make sure you know everything you need to know to pass, graduate and get your CDL.
If you're planning on going here, study and go get your DOT Physical and CDL PERMIT BEFORE you start class, that way you're not running around during class time trying to get it.
The office staff is very nice and friendly, and helpful. I would go here again in a heartbeat! 9.9/10 rating.
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