I’m changing careers, headed toward trucking. I’ve had my own business for some time and want to simply let someone else do the thinking for awhile! I’ve been researching a lot of trucking companies and have narrowed it down to four. I do not have a CDL, so I’m needing advice on selecting a trucking company that will provide the necessary CDL training. I’m single, the kids are long gone, so I’ll be running solo, a company driver, running long-haul, all 48-states. I have several places around the country where I can take down time.

The four trucking companies I’m leaning towards are Prime, Central Refrigeration, Swift, and CR England. I’ve read some of the posts and several of these choices are probably not the best companies out there. I know there is good and bad apples in every bag. Any other suggestions along with experiences would be appreciated.

What are your experiences with any of these companies? The training, pay, equipment, etc. What other company should I be looking at.

Thanks ahead of time for your input! I tend

Why o why would you possibly even have it narrowed down to those companies?

They are the bottom of the barrel and not worth your time. You seem like a smart enough person and I would urge you to look beyond those companies you have mentioned. I would not recommend any of those to even my worst enemy .

Not sure where you live but off the top of my head I would recommend looking into schneider national. They are a very fine training company and they have been heralded for years as far as their schooling/training goes.

I worked for schneider and it sucked. I lived in atlanta and was always sent to new england only made .22 cents a mile and didnt get many miles from one side of conn. to the other. waited forever for toll reimbursement and had a hard time getting home. I could have made more working at mcdonalds and I told them that before I quit. Went to work for a mixer truck co. and made at least double or more than what I made there. Only thing good I can say about them is that there training was good and put you in a nice hotel and this was back in 1999 so mayber things have changed. I have had drivers talk good about them recently. I suggst you hang out at a local truck stop and just ask drivers how they feel about their companys that is the best way to find out.

Frago, you say not those but not offer any others? While the truck lot is full of truckers, not all will train and or have a 'good' training system. I've been in the construction business, and have a finance degree, and don't really like alot of rules. Give me a job to do and I'll do it, just don't micro-manage me while I'm doing it. I've been out on the road six or seven times with a couple of different O/O to get a feel for what's needed to do the job. And trucking seems to fill most of my needs. I picked those four because they hire with no CDl or experience, their cost of training is low or none, require a short term contract, drive all 48. Everyone of those companies at the Petro have good and bad drivers, with good and bad dispatchers, brokers and experiences. That's just part of life. I'm looking for the best 'training', where I can best learn the ropes and gain the necessary experience. Later, I can always change companies once I have some real driving experience. While I live in Phx, AZ, I have family in OK and could live there is necessary.

i cut my teeth, so to speak, with USA Truck. i have been pretty happy here so far. thier trucks are kinda slow (63) but their main office is in Ft. Smith/ vVan Buren AR. right on the OK state line on I-40

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tip for new truckers: to err is human, to forgive is not D.O.T. policy.

contact schneider. they have home run progrms that can't be beat. and they train also with a one year contract i believe it still is. they are a great starter company for newbs to get some exp and when the year is over you can go to a better company that pays better. there training is top notch. those four companies you chose are bottom feeders and should be avoided at all costs.

Of the choices you have mentioned Prime is the best. some say its bottom of the barrel but the reality is any company you choose on here someone will call it the bottom of the barrel. Prime offers excellent training and has some of the best equipment going as safety has really become #1. They have the VORAD anti collision system, the anti roll system and the lane diversion on their tractors. All trailers are being equipment with tire pressure leveling devices. The trucks have APU's which are a must in California these days (unless you want to pay for IdleAire until they go out of business). They are also putting the RightWeigh system on all trailers which helps the driver know load weight while the trailer is loaded (saves trips back to the shipper). On the reefer side they are now interlocking the doors so the reefer cannot run while the doors are open (saves fuel) and they are putting Intellisets on their reefers which also save reefer fuel. They are beginning to use air brake cuff locks which prevent the truck from being stolen. Intoday's economy with rapidly increasing fuel prices, freight theft is going to increase. All those helpful things from a "bottom of the barrel company."

dbook, another company you might look at is Watkins-Sheppard. Their program does not sound to bad. It seems that their training is pretty good.

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Being retired is cool if you're ready for it ... I'm not

I don't know how great they are. There are threads on here of how they "screw" drivers, just like other companies. On top of that, they seem to be having an increasingly smaller hiring area. For a long time they would hire out west, then it went to teams, at least here in NM. Now they don't even hire in NM. I know this because years back I was approved for solo but wasn't sure I was ready to make the leap. Six months later they said I would have to run team. Now they say they don't hire here.

Often times when someone lists the companies they have narrowed it to it is because they have researched the companies that hire in THEIR area and they must choose between them. They may not be what others see as "cream of the crop" but that is what they have to choose from. Sort of like the elections this year. What a great bunch of choices we have!

PawPaw - When did you start on your own? Who do you drive for now and are you a Co driver, L/O or O/O? Did you drive for Prime at some point? I don't know if I want to start with running refers right out of school. Seems like just one more MAJOR thing to worry about getting right. I'm sure it's not that big a deal if you're properly trained but....
thanks for the input.