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Progressive Driving School Our extensive job placement assistance helps you achieve your goal of driving for one of the premier trucking companies in the country. We utilize a variety of late model conventional and cab-over tractors, day cabs and sleepers, with single and double axles and various transmissions, as well as different brands of vehicle, so you get an all-around training experience. Learn more about our equipment here. Both weighted & empty road trailers, so you get the experience of driving with a load, and taking a truck through scales.
Services
Progressive Truck Driving School Inc. offers a wide variety of truck driving programs to meet the needs of students and employers. To keep up to date with changing regulations in the trucking industry, our programs are continually improved and updated by our training advisors. Our courses are a combination of classroom instruction and hands-on training.
Progressive Truck Driving School meets or exceeds the standards required by the Secretary of State of Illinois. Our tractor-trailer driving programs are a combination of classroom instruction and hands-on training. These programs familiarize you with tractor-trailer systems and components. You will learn to conduct an efficient pre-trip inspection in accordance with CDL requirements and become proficient in troubleshooting minor mechanical problems.Students are also taught to couple/uncouple a tractor-trailer and develop the backing skills necessary to pass the Commercial Driver's License test.
We are the proud winners of the 2014 Torch Award for Marketplace Ethics from the Better Business Bureau (BBB). The BBB Torch Award is bestowed to businesses with exemplary ethics to hold these businesses up as examples for others in the marketplace. We have an A+ accreditation with the Better Business Bureau (BBB).
You must be at least 18 years of age to drive a commercial motor vehicle within the state lines & at least 21 years of age to drive a commercial motor vehicle across state lines, carry hazardous materials or transport any passengers. You cannot have more than one driver's license, and your driving privileges cannot be suspended, revoked, cancelled or disqualified.
Reviews (19)
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Desroy Maxwell
Aug 26, 2021
Very poorly ran program. Trucks are out of date and barley work, students are purposely being held back, way too many students not enough instructors, no structure within the program, favoritism is shown to students, etc. I could keep going for days. The entire program is a scam. Wouldn't recommend
Andrii Smolynets
May 22, 2021
Good school. Good instructors, each one has own different approach, but in combination you get great knowledge. Pretty flexible, you can select full days or part time days to fit different schedule. Enough learning materials and equipment, but you have to strive for knowledge. If you ask you will get answers. Instructors are very knowledgeable. Campus director Ewelina was very helpful and supportive. Big thanks to everyone that I had chance to learn from. Would recommend
Dj Dynomite
Apr 18, 2021
It s great training. I learned how to stick shift Thanks to Richard! My advance you have to be eager to learn. The School has alot of resources to use while down time from behind the wheeling training. You can register to get certified with T.A.T. Also Hazmat and Endorsements quiz for Your CDL.
Michael Belcher
Dec 12, 2020
5 stars I attended Lansing campus. My whole class graduate of 20 and we all was able to obtain a job. All testing is in house meaning the state examiner's come to the school which is a plus. I'll highly recommend progressive staff is awesome and you will definitely learn all skills needed to be successful!
Michael Janetzke
Mar 06, 2019
Great school to learn how to safely operate a tractor trailer properly and the instructors share their knowledge from classroom into the road and skills. I highly recommend attending this school for those interested in professionally acquiring their CDL class A license. 5/5 stars!
Cesar Jauridez
Dec 07, 2018
Progressive is one of the best CDL schools. My experience was very positive. The instructors are professional & top notch. The school has an excellent reputation for working with students from different backgrounds & getting them started on a solid career in truck driving.
Nick Mack
Jul 13, 2018
This was a great school! All the instructors and office staff are awesome. They really want everyone to succeed. Jerry at Belmont is great and Adam at Cicero is awesome! Everyone is helpful and they all helped me get my CDL. Thank you progressive for helping me with my new career!
Pedro Morales
Apr 26, 2018
From the min I walked in the door and met Maria I knew I was in the right place. Excellent customer service, professional instructors and all around excellent experience from start to graduation. Maria has been present throughout the whole journey with positive encouragement and her great smile. Jerry's awesome teaching techniques and style made it easy to comprehend all the information needed.

He is a VITAL part of my success in this program. The staff and instructors at Cicero are just as incredible and VITAL. Mr. Vito and his staff excel at providing top notch service to all the students. As a employed graduate, I know I made the perfect choice. Thank you Progressive family for everything.
A. P.
Feb 08, 2018
Finally I've gotten my CDL! My experience at Progressive was very positive! I consider my time spent at this school as very useful and effective. By the time of all of the exams needed for receiving a CDL I felt confident and prepared. I want to thank Maria who was very helpful and nice (actually, I decided to choose this school after her great presentation), instructor Jerry who helped a lot on the first phase of study, instructor Adam who was really effective in preparing me to the Pre-Trip inspection test. Thanks to all of the instructors who helped me in practical truck driving which had been a dark forest for me before!
Gerardo Solis
Oct 17, 2017
My overall experience was great at this school. The instructors were very knowledgable and understanding that I was a student driver and helped me very throughly every step of the way. I highly recommend this school to whomever wants to peruse a truck driving career, this is the place to start!
Rick R.
Sep 21, 2017
If you're looking to get your CDL definitely the right place to get it this school has a great staff and instructors that are motivated to see you succeed they prepare you very well for every step in the process of receiving your CDL they are professional courteous and motivated to see you succeed my experience here was great and receive my CDL in six weeks
Theresa S.
Oct 28, 2016
Just got my class A cdl. Best school ever. the staff and Instructors are the best. I recommend Progressive to anyone want to learn how to properly drive a semi.
Douglas H.
Oct 20, 2016
The school is okay! my only concern is the guide lines on the ground, they need to be painted and the pavement needs to be redone! also, make sure the air conditioning in the trucks are working!
Elmer H.
May 11, 2016
I've had to write this review a few times. The training institution has a great group of instructors and office staff. I really did learn a lot during my time here. The pre-trip instructor keeps you laughing while you learn, so you don't get so bored. There is no rhyme or reason to the road setup. Each instructor does their own thing. The problem is that after 16 years in the Army, I do not feel like being babysat by an old bitter lady that owns the place.

I got that you need cameras surrounding your property these days because there are thieves everywhere. But when you spend all day watching the cameras to see what the students are doing, it is ridiculous. If you have a problem with students on their phones throughout the day, schedule their training accordingly! I mean, if you have a student scheduled for 80 hours of pre-trip, then have them doing 80 hours of pre-trip, not observation or driving or skills time.

Once they pass the exam at the State for pre-trip, then focus on their skills time. If they are required 20 hours of skills, get them 20 hours of skills and no other area. Upon completion of this with the State, then move them to road time. Your scheduling is so unpredictable. You require students to take 10 exams on the $80 book they pay for, but only give out 1 a week.

If they are in the 5 week or 6 week programs. how do you expect them to get all 10 done in that time frame. These 10 exams have questions from the book, but thats not enough. Then you require the 36 end of chapter exams to be completed as well. Let's not talk about the trucks. All the skills trucks are day cabs and they have so many problems.

The trailer brakes went out on one of them 3 weeks in a row while I was there. Then you have you road trucks. THEY NEED WORK! Either buy newer trucks or truly put the money into the ones you have so that the students can learn properly. Employers do not use trucks this old and you should update the fleet. You really are a worthless owner and need to sell this company to someone that truly cares about the students.
Simo W.
Jan 13, 2016
This school remind me of the old Eastern Europe socialism. The owner of school acts like a dictator, with no respect for the student neither her employees. If I can give them 5 stars BELOW believe me I would. The whole Cicero facility is a big mess. 1/ over 60 student in one class, but wait for it. Here's the good part ( no instructions or teachers for most times) 2/one bathroom for all students both males and females including the stuff and the employees.

Sometimes you have to wait for 5 minutes to change your menstrual pads. 3/ old trucks, ooh let me rephrase it actually I mean antiques trucks. 4/ most instructors are mean, rude, just yelling most of the time. Wait for it, cause I'm not done yet ( most of them with big accent that we don't know what the hick they're talking about at all time) 5/ this is my favorite, are you ready?

Well the school have double standards, if WIA grant is paying for your training than you're Mom's Gina favorite boy, other ways if you're the 5% of student that paid cash with your hard working money, you'll pushed at the end of the training courses, Abundant just like a bastard. Then they start their famous scam sucking your blood and your hard working $$$$$$$ And the list goes on and on. PROGRESSIVE=== DEPRESSIVE
Ana F.
Jan 13, 2016
One star, but only to advice every one to please don't go there, they will not train you, they give you 15 minutes of skills class and they record in there computer 2 hours, every hour cost $150.00 so they are tift. they treat you like you are a begger, they are bad no customer service and no respect for the students. progressive is depressive and a total disaster.
Mickey G.
Jan 30, 2015
The Iraqi army is better organized than the staff at progressive and they treat you like your in middle school. They take on more students then their facility can hold and pack you in like rats. Look else where.
Alex R.
Jan 15, 2015
At first I was a little hesitant on going to get my CDL but after visiting the school, I rather looked forward to coming here. Let me tell you I wasn't disappointed great staff, awesome instructors. I especially want to send a shout out to Marcos the driving instructor at the Cicero location. An awesome experience overall
Snag S.
Jul 29, 2013
As a graduate of Progressive, who passed the CDL A exam, I recommend you not to patronize Progressive Driving School. Save yourself a giant headache and money by researching other schools and applying elsewhere. There are a number of reasons why I discourage anyone from signing up with Progressive and why I regret having taken their course; a student is not guaranteed a CDL after taking any of their courses; additional testing starts at $400; the curriculum is set up so students are almost certain to fail the CDL exam; there is no real instruction given in the classroom time; the school is constantly flip-flopping classroom instructors; students are required to buy a $70 book from Progressive that is not necessary for the course; students are required to sit through numerous recruiting sessions from Trucking companies like Schneider and Swift; a student will not be given a certificate of completion of the course until they apply to one of the recruiting companies; and the school performs random drug tests on their students while the student is enrolled in the program. This school is a business, first and foremost. Making money is their main objective. Find a school that guarantees a CDL at graduation. Progressive is not one of them.