MCT Transportation Trucking School Review – Company Paid CDL Training

Based out of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Midwest Coast Transportation, or MCT for short, started out in 1949 with only four leased trucks. Now, more than 50 years later, MCT Transportation has grown to become one of the nation’s leading trucking companies in both dry van hauling and refrigerated carrier transport, boasting over 600 power units, and joining the multi-million dollar Comcar Industries corporation based out of Auburndale, Florida.

One of the great things about MCT’s paid CDL training program is that they leave the training up to the professionals and contract their program out to private truck driving schools located in Sioux Falls so, you can be sure you’re getting the best training that their money can buy. Not only will MCT Transportation cover all your tuition costs up-front, they’ll even pay you while you train, and then hire you upon graduation. It’s a win-win for both the students and MCT Transport.

With $500 a week during 3 weeks of driver training and $100 a day during the 9-day Advanced Driver Training Program, as well as $250 just for attending orientation, you will get paid for learning a skill set that will serve you for years to come.

Here’s how the paid CDL training program at MCT Transportation works. During the first week of the company paid CDL training program, you’ll spend most of your time in the classroom. You’ll be given lectures on truck components and truck systems, proper logging technique, South Dakota commercial driving laws and federal transportation regulations. This is all done to prepare you for the CDL General Knowledge exam so you can pass the exam and receive your commercial learner’s permit (CLP).

Once you obtain your commercial learner’s permit, you can then move onto the next phase of the program which is practicing backing maneuvers, turning, and gear shifting on the driving range. You’ll also practice driving with a trainer on rural roads, city streets and busy highways, giving you the feel of what it will be like as a full-time truck driver. You’ll learn important driver safety rules and various techniques for successfully operating an 18-wheeler in various driving situations.

During the second phase of your CDL training, you’ll also learn about how to properly maintain your vehicle and how to successfully pass the upcoming Pre-Trip Inspection so that you can obtain your commercial driver’s license (CDL).

Most students can expect the truck driving training training program to last 3 to 4 weeks but, because the program is personalized to meet your own needs, how well you perform will determine the actual length of the program.

Once you complete the 4-week training program and obtain your CDL, you’ll then be paired up, one-on-one, with a highly experienced personal trainer at MCT Transport who will ride with you and guide you along as you drive the minimum 10,000 miles required to complete the “driver training” phase of the program.

It’s during this driver training phase of the paid CDL training program that you’ll earn $500 for the first 3 weeks, and then $100 per day for the fourth and final week, which MCT Transportation calls the Advanced Driver Training Program or, ADTP, for short. Some of your meals will be paid for during this part of the training as well.

After you’ve completed your over-the-road driver training, you’ll then be hired by MCT Transport and accepted into the orientation program at either Sioux Falls, South Dakota or Atlanta, Georgia. You’ll be paid $250 for two and a half days plus an allowance to cover your meals. You’ll then be issued your own truck and will transition from training pay to mileage pay, starting at 30 cents per mile.

One thing to note about the training program. Although MCT Transport will cover your tuition costs, they will not pay for your meals, transportation, or lodging while you train. MCT recommends that you plan to spend at least $1000 to cover these costs during training. MCT Transportation has, however, partnered with local hotels to get you a discounted rate during your stay.

You’ll also need to bring approximately $100 to cover your licensing and permit fees, $130 to pay for your TWIC card fees, and $100 to cover your U.S. passport fees. All in all, you can expect to pay a total of $1330 to cover the fees associated with MCT’s paid CDL training program. My advice is to have at least $1500 saved up for expenses before you begin MCT’s paid CDL training program.

If you’d like, you do have the option of paying your own tuition costs up-front. This will run you $3500. Once hired by MCT Transport, you’ll then receive a tuition reimbursement over the course of 24 months of employment, making your training completely free.

It is important to note that, although MCT Transportation does not deduct any fees from your weekly paycheck to pay for the cost of tuition, once you are hired on as a driver with MCT Transport you are required to work for them for at least 1 year in order for your truck driver training to remain free.

Benefits:

• You’ll receive $3500 worth of training for free with no payroll deductions.
• You do not need your commercial learner’s permit (CLP) before starting school.
• You’ll get one-on-one training with a highly experienced instructor while training on the road.
• You are guaranteed at least 1 year of employment as a driver with MCT Transport.
• You can request a personal trainer who doesn’t smoke during your on-the-road training.
• You’ll get paid weekly during your on-the-road training at a rate of $500 per week.
• During the Advanced Driver Training Program (ADTP) you’ll get paid $100 each day.
• You’ll start out at 30 cents per mile with a 1cpm pay increase each year until you reach 41cpm.
• All drivers are eligible for a fuel bonus of 5cpm.
• All drivers receive an additional $10 stop pay for every stop between the first and last stops.
• Any driver that is available for a load longer than 24 hours will receive $75 layover pay.
• Any driver that is held more than 5 hours past the appointed time will accrue $15 every hour.
• If your truck breaks down, you’ll be paid $75 per day and lodging will be supplied.
• 90 days after hire, you’ll be eligible for medical, dental, vision, and life insurance.
• 90 days after hire, you’ll be eligible for the 401-K Success Sharing Plan.
• You’ll receive 1 week paid vacation after 1 year, 2 weeks after 5 years & 4 weeks after 10 years.
• Expect to be home 1 day for every week you’re out. Most drivers are home weekly or bi-weekly.
• Maximum home time is 4 days while minimum time OTR is 3 weeks.
• If you live near a major city, you’ll likely be eligible for regional or dedicated runs.
• You’ll drive Kenworth, Freightliner, Volvo, or Peterbilt trucks. The condition of each truck varies.
• All of MCT’s trucks are equipped with electronic logs & power inverters but, no APU units.
• You can have 1 dog or 1 cat under 40 lbs. in their truck. A $1000 deposit is required.
• You can have 1 rider as long as they are at least 12 years of age.

Requirements:

• You must be at least 21 years old to apply.
• You must be a U.S. citizen or legally allowed to work in the United States (Green Card).
• You must have a valid driver’s license from the state that you declare as your current residence.
• You must have a stable work history with verifiable employers/references the past 3 years.
• You must not have any reckless driving convictions in the last 3 years on your driving record.
• You must not have more than 4 moving violations in the last 3 years on your driving record.
• You must not have more than 2 moving violations on your driving record during the last year.
• You cannot have any license suspensions due to points on your driving record in the last 3 years.
• You cannot have refused or failed any drug/alcohol tests in the last 4 years, including DUI/BAC.
• You must pass a DOT medical examination and a DOT drug test.
• You must pay for your own transportation, lodging, and meals during training. About $1000.
• You must pay for your own licensing, permit, passport, and TWIC card fees. A total of $330.
• You must drive for MCT Transport for at least 24 months in order for your company paid CDL training to remain free.
• If you decide to pay your own tuition up-front, it will cost you $3500 out-of-pocket.
• You must be physically and mentally able to stay away from home for at least 7 days at a time.

MCT Transportation Trucking School Location:

Midwest Coast Transport, LLC
1600 E. Benson Road
Sioux Falls, SD 57104

Get Paid While You Train and Make $45,000 or More Your First Year with Paid CDL Training!

Are you ready to take the next step and begin your career as a well-paid professional truck driver? We’ve partnered with some of the best trucking companies in the nation and have helped thousands of people just like you get into a high quality paid CDL training program. You can get your CDL in as little as 3 weeks and start making good money as a professional truck driver. Plus, you can make up to $500 per week while you train!

Here’s what you can expect from the paid CDL training programs in our network:

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