I am currently enrolled in the October 31st - November 30th classroom. This school is not worth $6500. The classroom setting of it was great, Don the classroom instructor did a great job teaching and helping us pass to get our Class A permit. Now moving onto the second half of the month long program we were at the range for 2 weeks before we changed locations. At the first location during my time behind the wheel with instructor Cook they pulled us out the truck to allow them to interview new instructors for the school which took time away from our learning. This happened 2 days in a row.
Currently the dates from November 21st-23rd and November 28th-30th at the new location the organization and set-up of the range was terrible. The first day moving here nothing was set up. (Cones, trailers, trucks). Wayne the manger of the “yard” was completely unorganized and stayed in the office all day while us students were waiting around for instructions. We were never taught how to ally dock the tractor, trailer. We learned how to straight back and offset for 1 week and that’s it. Now talking about the trucks and trailers, they are terrible. The trailers lights and connectors are all broken or not working, the trucks have air leaks, broken shifter, broken pigtails and took forever to have a proper mechanic come and fix them.
I DO NOT RECOMMEND THIS SCHOOL FOR LEARNING TO ACHIEVE YOUR CDL
Alumni here; for Aug 2022, passed the dmv written test with flying colors, and took behind the wheels test three times (retested). Don, our classroom teacher for first two weeks is the man, the guy knows his stuff; so be ready to ask a lot, and absorb as much as possible. Wayne, Gus, and Charles are our yard teachers for the last two week; they took care of our skills behind the wheel.
The negative. Now, anyone reading this need to know; we came into this school at their worst teaching month period. Our third week, Gus and Wayne were the ONLY instructors in the yard teaching six students. Every yard teacher you've read before in this review column had already left. According to my peer(s), and I would agree that it was disorganized-like there was a day when cones weren't set up by the time we got there at 6am is just an example.
The positive. Gus has the patience of a saint when he teaches; and if you disrespect him or any of his students, you will be called out no hesitation. The man stays overtime to give you more time, if he sees you're serious. Let's be real here; overtime is optional, the man can choose not stay-and there is nothing the school can do to make a teacher stay after class's over. It would be in your best interest to be genuinely positive. Here is a fact; after I failed my first dmv behind the wheel test, I went back to United yard for some training and got the whole truck to myself for 2 hours; wild.
Wayne will yell at you with valid reason(s); on the road practice is dangerous, so he will scream at the top of his lungs to get your attention-for safety. Although I took it personally; it was not his fault, and I mean this.
Charles is a good man, supportive and gave me real world unscripted advice about the truck industry. Cleary saw how overwhelmed I was behind the wheel on the road.
As of right now.. out of six students, only three passed the dmv test (including myself). I cannot write what my peers could be thinking, so I can only write on my experience; Everyone learn at different levels. Yard teachers did all they can to help me, and I struggled immensely behind the wheel. Not faulting them no; knew myself enough that if and when I am falling behind in learning, I BETTER put in extra work into studying on my own time. Even with the extra work, I failed twice at Phoenix Arizona; only to pass on my third retest. Some people just have it hard than others; and I've accepted my shortcomings by persisting. Don't give up, even when it feels unfair as hell srs.
Lastly, I would like to thank you Monty for being superb at first impression. This man will get you in the door and work out all your paperwork admissions.
Overall experience is still five stars.
Fun fact: Had zero experience with trucks and EVERYTHING about it; Opening a driver side truck door from the inside was like trying to solve a puzzle.
I just completed school Friday June 3. Was always early and learned a lot. Don’s teaching in the classroom gave me the confidence to hop in the cab and drive. Gus and Eugene taught me some skills but Rose was the person who taught me the inside and outside of the rig. Literally.
I was sent to Phoenix,AZ to test at 3am in a truck I’ve never driven. I only had 5 minutes of backing to get acquainted with a truck that’s mirrors would not adjust unless I put the truck in neutral, set the parking brakes and jumped into the passenger seat and manually adjusted. Then I had to hop back into the driver seat and hopefully it was set right for me but it wasn’t so I had to do this two or three times. I was told by my tester that I was trained wrong if I rely on the west coast mirrors. I don’t know what west coast mirrors are. All I know is I require working mirrors to perform my backup skills.
Parallel parking at 3am killed me. I cannot see in the dark. I was never trained in the dark and I was never allowed to practice in the dark but they made me test in the dark. A new student with literally 0 experience was expected to perform in conditions never prepared for. And now I’m made to feel like it’s my fault that I failed. Wayne wouldn’t even look at the papers I brought back for him. But why would he since they’ve already been paid and are too busy with the next batch.
I’ve found another school in Las Vegas that offers private lessons and will rent me the same truck I take my lessons in to take my driving test. And they won’t expect me to perform in the dark unless they teach/train me in the dark.
It doesn’t matter to United Truck Driving School cause they’ve already been paid regardless if you pass.
I wanna start by saying Monty is a great admissions counselor. I learned alot in the classroom from armando and don. At the yard i picked up a little bit from everyone. Rose, armando and eugene are good trainers too!
Great school if your looking to get your CDL license, I was able to pass my test 1st try with no issues. I have to give a big shout out to Don, Gustavo, Rose, Armando, Wayne, Eugene and Monty for making this process easy and helping me start my journey as a truck driver!!