If you’re considering a career as a truck driver, there are number of schools in both the US and Canada that can certainly help further your career. If you’re considering a career as a driver, there are certain things you’ll want to look for in a truck driving school to ensure you’re receiving the best training for your chosen career path:
Industry Experienced Instruction
There’s a difference between someone who has experience and someone who can teach. Many schools may have an industry experienced driver as an instructor, but it doesn’t mean they can teach. You want to ensure that the instructors at the school you’re looking at are experienced AND have experience with hands-on and theoretical teaching methods.
The expert instructors at CHET are all professionals in the field and specialize in different areas of the truck driving industry. Whether it’s an air brake instructor or a safety and compliance officer, you can rest assured our team knows how to teach the lessons they’ve learned working in the industry, and bring that valuable experience to our students in the CHET classroom.
Hands-On Training
You can’t learn how to be a truck driver from a textbook. To work in this industry, you need hands-on training in a real or simulated environment that provides the necessary on-the-job experience with the vehicles and trailers you’ll be driving when you graduate.
“There are many benefits for students choosing to study at CHET,” states Sandra Graham, CHET Operations Manager. “We use 53-foot trailers and a bunk truck throughout all lessons from day one of training. All our training takes place in a live trucking yard teaching yard safety, and we have a maintenance facility which allows the students to see real life scenarios by spending time with mechanics learning about preventative maintenance. The students have interactions with the drivers in the yard, and are able to meet city, regional, and long-haul drivers and discuss their career options.”
Employment Opportunities
One of the big plusses of any truck driving school is going to be the opportunity for employment upon graduation. When searching for a school, be sure to ask about the employment statistics for graduating students.
“The biggest benefit of CHET,” says Graham, “is that we have Musket Transport that employs most of our students right out of school.”
CHET has established relationships with a number of trucking companies and agencies throughout Canada. Musket Transport is one of Ontario’s biggest trucking companies and a parent company to CHET. Musket gives preferential treatment to CHET graduates, providing competitive rates and benefits.
Industry Accreditation
If you’re looking for a truck driving school in Ontario, make sure the institution is accredited with the TTSAO (Truck Training Schools Association of Ontario). Accredited schools hold a higher level of standard when it comes to training.
No matter which school you choose, it’s a good idea to attend a school that’s involved in an association that reflects the standards set forth in the industry and also make sure they use equipment that reflect today’s trucking and transportation needs.
CHET is proud to be a TTSAO accredited school and their relationship has been very proactive, aligning both the student values and the high standards of the association.
“Candidates should investigate schools based on the commitment they will have to student success,” advises Graham. “The school should teach classes based on the curriculum set by the ministry of colleges and universities and students must ensure the hours behind the wheel are one-to-one instruction time and not shared hours.”
A Proven Track Record of Success
If the truck driving school you’re looking at just opened yesterday, you may want to keep looking. A lot of truck driving schools have a short life span, so it’s important to find a school that stands the test of time. A school that has been around for a number of years is still in business for a reason.
CHET was formed in 1997, nearly 25 years ago. With numerous partnerships in place, expert instruction, the latest advancements in teaching equipment and techniques, and ample employment opportunities upon graduation—there’s a lot of reasons why CHET should be your truck driving school of choice.
If you’d like to learn more about CHET, email contact-us@chet.ca