No consumer class action is currently pending against 160 Driving Academy. The only significant lawsuit on the public record involving the company (which operates under the legal name Rock Gate Capital, LLC) is an employment discrimination case brought by a former instructor, and the company won it on summary judgment in December 2024. For students with tuition or training disputes, the company’s enrollment contract funnels every claim into individual arbitration and expressly waives the right to join a class action.
The Only Lawsuit on Record: Gustin v. Rock Gate Capital
The case is Matthew Gustin v. Rock Gate Capital LLC d/b/a 160 Driving Academy, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania (Case No. 23-2123). Gustin, a former Regional Lead Instructor, sued under 42 U.S.C. ยง 1981, alleging he was fired in retaliation for reporting race and sex discrimination by other instructors and students.1U.S. Government Publishing Office. Gustin v. Rock Gate Capital LLC, No. 23-2123
On December 10, 2024, the court granted summary judgment for Rock Gate Capital. The reasoning: because reporting discrimination was part of Gustin’s core duties as Regional Lead Instructor, doing so did not count as “protected activity” for a retaliation claim under the statute.1U.S. Government Publishing Office. Gustin v. Rock Gate Capital LLC, No. 23-2123 Former employees weighing similar claims should read that outcome carefully; when flagging misconduct is your job description, the law treats it differently from whistleblowing.
Why There Is No Student Class Action
The enrollment terms of service block the usual path to a group lawsuit. Students agree to binding individual arbitration and waive both jury trials and class actions. Before arbitration can begin, a student must first email the company, then send a formal written “Notice of Dispute” by certified mail to the company’s Evanston, Illinois address, and wait 60 days for a resolution attempt.2160 Driving Academy. Terms of Service
Two other terms narrow the window further. Any claim must be filed within one year of the issue, or it is permanently barred. And the company’s total liability is capped at whatever the student paid in the prior six months, or $100, whichever is greater.2160 Driving Academy. Terms of Service For a student disputing several thousand dollars in tuition, arbitration is the only formal route, and even a full win is capped.
What the Refund Policy Actually Says
The standard four-week, 160-hour CDL course costs $4,295, according to enrollment documents filed with the Wisconsin Educational Approval Board. That figure does not include DOT physicals, drug tests, license permits, or state testing fees, which can add roughly $270 to $370.3Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services. 160 Driving Academy Enrollment Agreement
Refunds work on a sliding scale tied to how much of the course you have completed:
- Within three business days of enrollment: 100% refund, regardless of attendance.
- Up to 10% of instruction completed: 90% refund.
- Between 10% and 60% completed: the refund drops by 10 percentage points for each additional 10% of attendance (80% at 20% attendance, down to 40% at 60%).
- More than 60% completed: no refund, unless withdrawal is due to circumstances beyond your control.
Refunds are supposed to be issued within 10 business days, and the school may keep up to $100 as an application fee. A full refund is required if the student was unqualified but the school failed to say so, or if enrollment was obtained through misrepresentation.3Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services. 160 Driving Academy Enrollment Agreement
How to Escalate a Complaint
Complaints are directed in writing to Jose Ochoa, Chief Operating Officer, at PO Box 36, Glencoe, Illinois 60022. If the school does not resolve the issue within 48 hours, Wisconsin students are told to escalate to the Wisconsin Educational Approval Board.4Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services. 160 Driving Academy School Catalog Students in other states should identify the equivalent state agency that licenses private vocational schools.
If your tuition was covered under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, the local WIOA office that authorized the grant is another place to raise the dispute, since it holds funding leverage over the school.5160 Driving Academy. How Much Does CDL Training Cost If those steps fail and you decide to pursue arbitration, remember the one-year deadline and the certified-mail Notice of Dispute requirement.
What the BBB and Student Complaints Show
160 Driving Academy holds a D- rating from the Better Business Bureau and is not BBB-accredited. The rating stems largely from the company’s failure to respond to 28 complaints filed against it.6Better Business Bureau. 160 Driving Academy HQ BBB Profile
Recurring themes in student complaints include refund disputes on tuition payments exceeding $5,000, scheduling delays, facility issues, and reliance on webcam-based instruction rather than in-person classes.6Better Business Bureau. 160 Driving Academy HQ BBB Profile One forum user reported that the Tucson, Arizona branch appeared “permanently closed” and that call-center representatives refused to disclose tuition costs over the phone.7The Truckers Report. 160 Driving Academy Tucson Forum Discussion Not every experience is negative: one BBB reviewer reported receiving a full refund after dropping out within the first week.
None of this has translated into court filings on behalf of students, and given the arbitration clause, it likely won’t. If you have a dispute, treat it as an individual claim from the start: document everything, send the Notice of Dispute by certified mail, and file with your state’s vocational school regulator in parallel.