I have heard schneider has discouraged a lot of truckers by keeping them away from home to long. Just got my cdl license and i am also looking for a good company to work for.

Have you looked at Roehl. Everything I found has been positive. Carrie is the recruiter I started working with there and she was awesome. I am working with Amanda now since i am considering getting my CDL at home base before going to work. As far as Schneider goes thats why i am looking at them. got bills so I wanna run hard for a year to 18 months.

1) school: any PTDI accredited independent school. If they even nudge you toward a carrier, they're not independent. (this is not the same as allowing a carrier's recruiters to come in and talk to your class). Except as a last resort, do not go to a carrier-sponsored school.

2) A different board has a list of carriers, along with various and sundry information - including whether or not the company hires newbies as a matter of policy.

2b) I'd kinda like to see something like that here.. I think I may suggest that to the powers that be...

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Keep the big doors at the back!

I have also been researching this for a few months and got the same recommendations (community college) from several members of this site.

Here's something I just learned. My local community college (the one I pay property taxes for) is affiliated with a local private driving school, but their program is not accredited. That in itself was not a concern for me, but I am working days and wanted a night program which they didn't offer, so I managed to get an authorization for another community college that runs their own accredited program at night, at their in-district rates. This is Illinois, not Kansas, so I don't know what your options would be.

Also, it appears to me that most companies will reimburse for tuition paid by you personally, so it should be possible to get back the investment in training in the end. The unaffiliated school leaves open any employer that works for you after training.

Finally, I suspect that the community college would help with contacting employment recruiters also.

i think Roehl is the best out of the three.

I called a few trucking company's and they suggested Sage or Roadmasters and the community college were all great places. The one advanatage with the community college is less expensive, but it does take longer. The one here in SLC will take 3 months and is during the days, and the others will take 4 weeks and I can take a night class so I can still work. I am in a little bit of a rush to get out of my current job and get out on the road. I would recommend reading the thread on Crete in a year under the favorite trucking companys. Its a good read on how life can be on the road with a good company. From what I have read so far I would stay away from Swift and CR England, but if you want to get going fast then thats the way. I will be starting Roadmasters Aug 18th and will probably apply for Andrus Transport or Watkins Shephards then when I get some experience I will will go with Crete. But the best of luck to you.

I've never heard anything bad about Roehl. Schneider? Prime? I've heard more bad than good. Especially Prime.

I'd also recommend a school. It's the lesser of two evils. Good luck n Good truckin.

Thanks guys. I would have loved to try Roehl but financially could not swing the cash. I have been brought on to Schneider and go to school in Green Bay on September 6th. I will do my 18 months and then decide on if I wil move on from there. I figure I have to cut my teeth somewhere. I believe my experiences will mostly be dictated by my attitude. The tough part is gonna be making the transition from 9-5 office career to living on the road. I am having military flash backs but in a good way.

Way i look at it if you go to school you hafta find a job... go with a company and you havea job..but like the post above you have to stay with them for a certaib amont of time or pay them back. BOL