160 Driving Academy of Oceanside

Fantastic experience: This is a very good place to go to learn and get educated about how to drive a big rig truck !

Negative experience: Bad service,many students,only two trucks working ,you don't get enough hands-on skills,driving ,you spend your whole day doing nothing,they don't fix their trucks ,they trucks fail DMV inspections,and students fail because they lack enough training,instructors are good specifically Winton . Corporations' lack of equipment and solving their problems,I had a bad experience there

Positive experience: Went here to get my CDL. The trainers here (Mark and Winton) are very experienced and will make sure that you learn the skills necessary. They're also very down to earth guys that you can joke around with so it's a casual learning environment (a positive). There were a few downsides (which were specific to the Oceanside location) but I want to emphasize that the trainers are not at any fault for them. The first downside was that practice is done in a dirt lot. When the wind picks up dust gets everywhere, and the trucks cause ruts over time and can spin the tires from losing traction. It would be much better if the area was paved. The second downside was that there's a lot more students for the automatic trucks so there was a quite a bit of downtime between taking turns to practice. Also, on days where a student was testing at the DMV (which was often) the "main" truck would be gone until lunch or later. During that time another truck was used to practice skills with but it had different handling characteristics and wasn't the truck that we would be using to take our DMV test. I personally found that it was a waste of time practicing with a truck that handled differently than the one we used the majority of the time and would be using for our test. These are all problems that are up to the higher-ups to fix though - everybody at the yard (Juan, Mark, Winton) have their hands tied and were just as annoyed by the issues as everyone else. Those downsides considered though, I still passed my test and got my CDL - and everyone else I went there with did too. That's all down to how good the trainers were - making sure we still got all the skills necessary for our test. So while it would be nice for corporate to spend more money on maintainence, more trucks, and a better lot (God knows they're making a ton of money) you will still pass your test by going here and that's what matters.

Positive experience: This is a very good school and the instructors that they have there are very good and informative. I have only one issue and that they laid off an instructor and there's a lot of students there. I feel like they really shouldn't of laid off there instructor. Cause there's a lack of them. And I paid good money to get my cdl license. Lack of instructors to me means lack of instruction. I feel if I don't pass my cdl test it's because of lack of training so why did lay off an Instructor? This is very concerning to me.

Fantastic experience: My experience was great. I called Sarah, she set up an appointment to meet with me right away and throughout my whole time in school answered all my BS emails instantly. (After I finished she emailed me a bunch of open job opportunities) The yard. Juan, Winton, and Mark... I never drove a semi with a trailer before. I started driving around Oceanside grinding gears and by the time i was done, i felt like an expert. They taught me all the techniques I needed and how to pass the DMV test on my first try. (One and done club) Thank you guys. I believe I learned something valuable from each one of you.

Fantastic experience: This school definitely prepared me. Mark is a great instructor and is very informative and calm. Winston know exactly how to simplify things to everyone learning abilities. If you listen to actually learn you will succeed. Remember you are not a pro they are and they want you to pass it doesn’t benefit them if you don’t. If you have a quest or a hard time learning something ask for help “make sense” they have many students and are short staffed closed mouths don’t get fed. This is not high school no one will hold your hand learn the information take the driving seriously and ace the test. Everyone here is amazing I always had a good time and you definitely get a feel of the trucker life with the examiners and students. Thanks again 160 for helping pass on the first try. 1 and done club.

Fantastic experience: Had a really bad experience with a school before I found 160, if you want your CDL go here. Mark has the patience of no other and very helpful. Winton will make sure your ready if you listen and want to learn, "make sense". Juan makes sure you have your needs met. Can't say enough about the staff great people who want you to succeed.

Fantastic experience: I got my cdl! The instructors are wonderful in Oceanside! They each have a different style of teaching and they did not give up on me!

Fantastic experience: Juan, Winton, Daniel, Richard, Jaime, and Paul all have their unique way of teaching. Having a variety instructors will help find the one that works best for your style of learning and work with you 1 on 1 so that you feel prepared come time for your test! Manual or automatic, no matter what you choose, they will have you covered and help you get it done over there. You won’t regret coming to 160 San Diego!!!

Fantastic experience: My experience from the beginning has been accommodating and pleasant.The online schooling was informative.The yard instructors are there every step of the way. Even when resources weren't available for them,they still made sure we got what we needed.The instructors also were encouraging, respectful ,and supportive of everyone's process.The only con about the experience was that some of the trucks were down too long.I saw that the trucks being down for so long became an inconvenience for some of the students.Other than that it was great.IT WORKS IF YOU PUT THE WORK IN!!!!!Thanks Ms.Amber,Mr.Henry,Mr.Winton,and Mr.Paul!

Fantastic experience: - Oceanside Location - Imagine showing up to class as the new guy. Filled with nervousness and anxiety, having zero to no knowledge of the curriculum that will be laid before you. GREEN is how I showed up to the Oceanside 160 truck driving school. My 1st day I was thrown so much information. The lead instructor Richard handed me 2 sheets of paper and told me to memorize everything that was on it both sides of each sheet to prepare for a test the following day (pre-trip). I shook my head and said to myself this is impossible, who can retain this much information. So I decided to talk to one of Richard’s instructors named Daniel. Daniel told me calm down and trust the process. He assured me that 160 would give me all the tools needed to pass DMV. However I would be responsible for reviewing and simulating all that I learned when not in class. He said that the 120 hrs of I had remaining would FLY BY and it’s my responsibility to study, study, study and study. Daniel would then take me on the road to an area they called the kiddie pool. There I would have my first shot behind the wheel of a 18 wheeler truck. I went from stalling the vehicle and grinding gears, to double clutching and downshifting. Once I complete the kiddie pool, I moved on to driving through the city and on the freeway. However, my instructor changed. It was a guy by the name of Winston. This guy took his time with me. it was with this instructor that I would learn to shift gears smoothly. I learned to maneuver through traffic. I would learn how to prepare my vehicle to make proper turns and control my speed. Every morning I would show up to class. He would always tell me Dontae what’s the word of the day and that word was consistency. I could hear him now “ Dontae why is my truck not running”, at every intersection “ left - right - left “ and while performing skills “ right to bend, left on bend “. But I can’t leave out the lead Richard. This man shows up every day ready to work, gray shorts, reflective shirt, and a trucker hat, sipping on a monster energy drink. This man was hard on me. 160’s policies and trainings was in-forced. He would tell me every time I’d mess up, “that not what I taught you, follow instructions and pass” - “spend more time on pre-trip, air-brakes and off the phone”. I knew then if I did what was taught, I would pass ( Consistency ). Short Staff these 3 men prepared me with what I needed to be 1 & DONE STUDENT! I know my review was long, but I think there’s so much that just needed to be said. Thank you Richard, Winston, Daniel, & Erica for using your skills to launch my new career.

Negative experience: The San Diego branch of this school is not it. I attended this school and trained in a number of tractor/trailer connections which wouldn’t be used at DMV. The one bright spot was Instructor Winton; as he is calm, knowledgeable and articulate in expressing both what one is doing right and wrong. The office person (Amber) can be obnoxious and vengeful. I completed school on the 4th of the month, my testing date was set for the 29th and I was not permitted on their grounds to even stay visibly abreast of the training.

Negative experience: Apparently these 160 schools go through "phases." Winton is still there, he is indeed great (make sense, cool beans!) but unfortunately they just need more instructors and trucks for the volume of students they have now. The branch managers get fat commissions on enrollments which is just bad because they are incentivized to be sales people more than managers. You never see them at the yard even when they are having problems like I and other students experienced. Many 160 students end up at the school I'm at now where you get an hour every day on skills compared to 10 minutes at 160. And with a lack of curriculum and a yard with too few trucks, half of which break down at DMV or fail pre-trip inspection in the yard you're really better off looking elsewhere if you're looking for a good trucking school. I don't like leaving bad reviews but for $5k this place will send you to fail and leave you hanging. Also they have contracts with certain companies which precludes you from getting hired 60 days after graduation. And their job search app and connections are non-existent so they won't do anything to help you find employment. Sorry 160 but you need to take better care of your responsibilities and your students because the whole experience was just rancid.

Negative experience: Instructors are great they just get to many students and not enough equipment for everyone winton and alex are the best instructors district manager shawna is the worst hope she stubs her toe!! And gets fired for being a karen.

Negative experience: I went there to speak to someone about the program and it was like the place was shut down

Negative experience: Bad place for training I never recommend anyone Office manager is very bad lady

Fantastic experience: I was here for a month and it was a great experience. The first week I thought to my self "wow, its not easy at all" but they make sure you get through it. My recommendation is to pay LOTS OF ATTENTION to the instructors and also DO AS THEY SAY and watch how things start to work out perfectly (it worked for me) ask A LOT OF QUESTIONS and slowly you will start to understand everything. Thank you for everything!

Fantastic experience: Richard is the best instructor and helped me get my license. Brandi knows what she is doing and gave me the necessary information to achieve my goal. They are great people, friendly and outgoing. I would recommend anyone trying to get a commercial license to come to this school!!

Fantastic experience: The staff here is very knowledgeable, and friendly. They worked with me to help me get in class, make sure I understood the material and real life applications.