First of all, I want to preface this by saying the trainers at DDS were great... TJ, Carson, Derek, John, Ken, & Scott were the ones I worked with the most. I attended the 5-weekend course. For this class we had to have our Commercial Learner's Permit before attending, so the "bookwork" portion was done before even setting foot in class. Pretty quickly after taking care of drug tests and paperwork, we were out in the yard learning to straight line back. The first weekend we went out on the road in an automatic Freightliner with a 48-foot trailer behind it. Not a bad start. After that, the subsequent road time was in a manual unless - weeks down the road - the student decides they want to stick with an automatic. FWiW, I stayed in a manual. As the weekends progressed, we moved from straight line backing, to other simple maneuvers - stopping with the front/rear bumpers in a designated area, forward offset, & reverse offset. We did coupling & uncoupling once... yes, only once. Same with a 90° docking maneuver... only one time. Never saw or practiced a 45° docking maneuver at all. It was more of the same.... pull up, straight back, & forward/reverse offsets. Rinse & repeat... over & over. Each student got 1 driving session on the road each day which was 80 minutes long. The first few minutes were, as it should be, a quick pre-trip inspection including brake tug tests, so you had roughly 60-70 minutes on the road. A few of us thought we should have had more. Perhaps a morning & afternoon session each. I know it would have required more instructors time so I don't know how feasible that would be. Back to the maneuvers. The reason there was so much repetition is DDS basically teaches you only what you need to know to pass the CDL test - pre-trip inspections, yard skills (the maneuvers), and the road test. It really would have been nice to practice some of the real world skills like 45° & 90° docking and coupling/uncoupling so we're a little more prepared when applying for our first trucking jobs. But, I also understand the time limitations a 5-weekend course presents, so in the end I'm glad they taught us what we needed to know to pass. And yes I did! Read Less

Great group of instructors. Scott, Carson, TJ, Derrick and Steve were the instructors that I worked with but there are other ones who my classmates had that said great things about them too. From the on the road training to the yard work all of the instructors were super patient, took the extra time to explain things, always jumped to help if you asked them and were all just a great group of people. To anyone thinking about attending this school, do it!!! You will thank yourself later. I proudly passed all my skills test today because of this school and the instructors they have. Side note good luck ever looking at landing gear again on a trailer without thinking of Carson. I will forever remember how to parrell back because of him Read Less

Great school, I went here back in the mid 90's I never planed to be trucking this long, yet it has provided a great income over the years & has supported the family very well. So I say THANK YOU to the school for the time they take with you as a student. I have never gone back but one day I will I very much look forward to such a day. I highly recomend this school & what it stands for. Read Less

Attended the school in January 2010, and was immediately employed as a driver for WEL Companies out of DePere, WI. This school got me the start I needed to be successful in my career. I am still with WEL now, and after 7+ I now work as a driver trainer/recruiter for WEL. Give me a call if you have attended the school and are looking for driver employment! Read Less

I was accepted for finacial support for the 4 week diesel training and housing after applying online confirmed through Bryan Brabender. Im from out of state (Minnesota) after getting here and going to the first day of class I was asked to put 960.00 down instead of the original 100.00 requested through my confirmation email if I wanted housing/hotel assistance all for what they stated was because I wanted a single room!? It stated housing assistance was available for those who qualified *not only for those sharing double rooms like they claimed after my first day. Not to mention Jerry the owner wanted 960.00 down instead of only 100.00 because of a 480.00 increase in a single bedroom (not shared). 860.00 more dollars for a 480.00 increase out of what was originally 3800.00 totaling to 4,280.00 a overal 12% increase, and an increase from .026% down to .224% cash down ASKED/REQUESTED last second before signing the contracting after I already unpacked the night before. Makes zero sense and WOW how unprofessional! Why give the option of single or double bedroom in the application if you only fund double shared bedrooms. Would not recommend going here if your out of state and are serious in getting your Class A CDL. (Without access to wifi not to mention.) Had my time, effort, resources wasted on their word I was accepted/covered after 100 down and the owner did not take any responsibility even upon me providing my emails, paperwork of my approval. Stating it was my fault, while stating I came down HALF BAKED! They tried forcing me to bunk up even though I specifically requested a single room because one of the other students in a double room at it to himself and they did not want it to go to waste, even though we're paying them back at a 21% to 18% (depending on if you have direct payment or not) interest rate after completion and adds up to 1181.60 at a 21% and 1152.80 at a 18% interest rate for single bedroom and 580.80 at a 21% and 566.40 for 18% rate for a shared double room after payments which should not be a big enough reason to deny an ACCEPTED reliable well credited credit reported out of state traveler over a few hundred when your making a few hundred off just the interest for the housing and are already loaning out thousands so you can have 1 more room single room available, com'on dont offer the option on the form then. Kind of late to inform someone after 288 miles and 6 and 1/2 hours of traveling hour unloading, 60-80 worth of groceries full day of training! Wow amazed! Unfortunately for them they only hurt themselves, their reviews and their reputation. WARNING They do not respect out of staters while trying to hussle and hassle them for more resources than originally requested. I will just rent BTW training for $85.00 per 2 hour sessions and $100.00 for a road test fee and apply for my own jobs worth the savings without the hassle and unreliable, conniving word of Diesel Truck Driver Training School. Would rate 0 stars for a rating if possible. Read Less

So i recently went to DDS and i enjoyed every minute of it!! The instructors are great teachers and also great guys. They gave me key tips to becoming a professional driver and also helped me become a safe driver! i would recommend this school to anyone who wants to improve their life and get their CDL! Thanks for everything DDS! Read Less

Highly recommended to start your truck driving career. Instructors are super helpful and willing to teach!! I come from a family business where they don't have time to teach me everything, they sent me here and I absolutely love it! You get plenty of practicing backing up trailers, highway miles, in town miles, and going over your truck to learn more about it!! I recommend this school to anyone regardless of experience in trucking!! Read Less

I enrolled in the 3 week program at DDS after I completed my 6 weeks of heavy equipment training. And I have to say that the instructors are very helpful with helping you on your on road driving, to completing your backing exercises! Overall great school and I encourage anyone to come here! Read Less

My experience with this school has been definitely a life changing experience. The training staff as well as office staff has worked hard to deliver every aspect of how to drive and remain safe as a driver. I know that it can seem like its a lot all at one time but it well worth it Thank You Glenn Moore jr. Read Less

The instructor Mark Cook is absolutely terrible, he sits on his phone and doesn't teach you how to drive the rig, he honestly doesn't care about how you do he's collecting a paycheck and that's it. Don't waste your money Read Less