American Institute of Technology AIT Deceit-revolving door Phoenix, Arizona

As a former graduate from AIT Trucking school (now with over 6 years of Over the Road Experience and having reaped the financial goals that made me enter the Trucking industry to begin with), I find this report misleading to prospective students.

First, let me say that I was probably the toughest student AIT has probably had to train:  at age 45, I had less than 10 hours driving experience driving a car!  I had been a motorcycle commuter all my life!

While the road training I got from AIT was limited, it was sufficient to allow me to earn my CDL.  The Classroom training, by experienced professional truck drivers, was not only thorough but the type of practical training that proved useful in my years on the road driving nights and in extreme weather (which became my favorite type of driving).

   Companies like Swift, Werner and Covenant hired students right out of school.  These companies put the "neubie" driver with a Trainer and show you the ropes.  My first hire was with Swift-and a combination of a trainer that simply had no business trying to train and my basic inexperience lead to an accident a month into my training (training is usually 5 weeks).  I went back to AIT and they referred me to Covenant Transport.  Covenant took a chance with me and put me with a Top notch trainer who's patience and technique lead to my passing their own road test and launched my career.  From my trainer, I was put with another graduate for a few weeks as a solo driver before I earned through performance the right to my own truck.

I have not met Melissa-but recruiters are salespeople and some are not necessarily fully informed-it's your job as an applicant to do your research and make an informed decision before plunking down your time and money.

Additionally, although it is true that the training at AIT costs more than many of the other institutions that call themselves "trucking schools", their equipment is very well maintained, their facilities conducive to learning.   Most companies that hire students also have some kind of tuition reimbursement  program-both Swift and Covenant did at the time (in fact, Covenant paid for at least half my training, since i stayed with them a little over two years).

This person speaks of Swift's Lease Operators policy.  I do not know of any company that will lease to a neubie driver, then or now.  Insurance premiums alone, I'd think, makes this impractical:  this person did not do his reasearch.
 
 A mill?  Sure, tell me of any one school that isn't.   AIT, in my opinion, proved to be a quality mill, however.  I was a tough student and the school extended my road driving experience until I was qualified to pass the DOT road test; I cannot think of even 1 student at the time who's classroom or road tasks where glossed over when they fell short, but rather got the help they needed from the staff to come up to standards.  Our DOT road tester was not a rubber stamper, I can assure you.

Do your research, ask questions.  A recruiter (whether a school or a trucking company) might not be informed enough or might be less than honest:  but it is  your responsibility as a buyer to check their information.  Specially if you want to be an owner operator or a lease driver.