Hello guys and gals. I'm looking to get into the trucking industry. I'm totally new and don't have a CDL so I also need training. I live in Portage, IN so there are a lot of companies in this area. I'm not so much concerned with time at home, I just want to make the best money I can make with being new. I've read about a lot of bad companies. What is a good company to sign with without having to worry about getting into more dept and dealing with dishonesty?

The only thing I can say is get yourself a list going of the companies in your area or the ones that are hiring out of your area. You can read a lot about bad companies but a bad company to one person may be a good one to another. Then you have to decide if your going to go to a company paid training school or a independent school that you pay for and then you get reimbursed for. Also do you want to pull van, flatbed, reefer or tanker. What endorsments will you want to get.. ect ect ect.. As far as getting into more debt you have to understand that what ever you decide you will have a minimum of 3 weeks where you will not make any money then another 4 to 8 weeks where you will make just enough to eat. So if your behind now you will really be behind later which will make it next to impossible to adjust to this lifestye when your worrying about money problems. The biggest mistake newbies make is believing all the money they were told they would make. It is out there to be made but it is not the over night success story that the trucking companies will lead you to believe. As far as dishonesty.. Well unless your looking for advice from and talking to other drivers then take most of what you hear with a grain of salt. But if your looking for a list of specific companies then it is like I said one mans junk is another mans treasure. Research research research.

Starting out, you have only a couple of ways to get into it these days.

1. Go to and pay for a school that works with specific carriers that specialize in hiring their graduates and further training them on their fleet. (externship) Some of these training companies are: Werner, FFE, Swift, Schneider etc. All of these have horror stories that go with them, and yet, some people who go through them go on to have good careers, maybe not at THAT carrier, but it's a start. Unfortunately, there are not many companies that hire new graduates except them. Some of these have restarted their own internal training programs, or aren't hiring trainees anymore, and there are others that didn't used to, but who now do hire trainees. It's pretty much the same setup though, regardless.

2. Go to a carrier that hires trainees and puts them through their own school and on the road training.

3. Know someone local in the business, who is willing to help you learn, get your CDL, and drive with/for them a while, until they think you're ready to solo, and feel like taking the risk.

None of these will pay all that well at first, and you will not likely make the $40K in your first year they say you will. Your first year will not pay much, and choosing the company you go to on the basis of your perception of how much you will earn isn't necessarily the best criteria, and it probably means you are paying too much attention to the recruiter's noise. It will probably be less than he says, less than you expect, and in ANY case, good training is WAY more important than good money in your first year.

There is also the risk you will wash out on your own, due to hating the life, or making mistakes, and there are some companies that have a reputation for taking your money for training (which you will now owe them) and at some point, washing you out for any number of reasons, or for none. It's profitable. As you have been told, research, research research.

IMHO: Option 1 is probably your best bet, because you can get pre-hired and go to a company that will give you better training AFTER the school gets you your CDL, but it costs more. Your local community college will cost less if they offer it at all anymore, but not often placement/externships. There are threads here that deal with your questions in general, and some that deal with the training available at certain companies specifically. Search and read them. Don't believe everything you read, good OR bad, and don't believe much beyond the basics of what you read on company websites.

1. pay for your own school. companies that do sponsor paid, your still paying and locked into a 1yr contract with them. also, you paying for it, you will respect it more and protect it more.

2. any company your looking at, do a major back ground check on them, not just what you read on here from other drivers. anything they offer you or promiss, get in writting.

3. DO A SAFE STAT SCORE check on those companies. a company with a high score, is a company that tends to have high turn over rate, poor safety dept, and tend to also push drivers to run funny log books. remember, you get the ticket and pay the fine, not them.

now in a unbias answer, since you live in IN, look into Gordon Trucking Inc. they have a terminal in indy, they hire students, and for at least the first yr they will run you on miles. current safe stat is 24, they are leading the nation with that score and have been in a battle with wal mart for a few yrs going back and forth over the number 1 spot. but like i said, do your homework, dont just take anyone on heres word, alot are looking for that bonus if you sign on. find the company that works for you, offers what your looking for, and check that SAFE STAT SCORE. i put a link for it on here already, its in experinced drivers fourm. Good luck and hope you find the right company that works for you.

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You can't play with the Big Dogs when you pee like a Puppy!

Portage runs a lot of steel. With flatbed you would have some good choices.

I'm an O/O, but I did drive for Trans Am several years ago. I realy liked them, the people were great, the equipment was also great, just don't do a lease. If I was to get rid of my truck, I would go to Trans Am again, they would be MY first choice.

Trans Am is in Olathe, KS. If you have no experience I'm sure they'll put you on with a trainer for some time

If you live in Portage, IN. you can throw a rock and hit a trucking co. that will hire you and train you. You should have no trouble at all. Good luck and let us know what u find.

It all depends on what type of truck you want to drive and what your goals are. For example when I started I wanted to haul Gas, but no Gas Hauling Company's would hire in my area with out a year of Tractor Trailer experience so I went with a tanker outfit called Florida Rock and Tank Lines.

I just started on my own. I went to a CDL mill C1 in Indy. I drive for Decker which is a subsidary company for PAM. I paid for my school to ensure I was not in a contract. I spent 4 awesome weeks with a great trainer and after my 1st week behind the wheel of my own truck, I logged 2500 miles. Financially, I was not in a desparation status so the lack of cash was not a big issue. What I can say so far is I am glad I did what I did. I am sure I will run into some crappy situations, but from one newbie to another, you are in the right place for info. Keep researching and make an educated decision you can live with. like the other driver said, one mans trash is anothers treasure. Remember that with the major training companies, after 1 year you can pick and choose another company. Time flies. Good luck to you.