I would like to start out by saying thank you all. I have spent days and weeks reading probably every post. I am tired of corporate America and being stuck in a cubicle with some bad breath boss breathing down my neck. I have decided to buck up and pay for my own schooling thanks to the many that would agree that's best. So here goes my questions: (some have been answered in previous posts but fresh ideas and opinions are always welcome)

1. Best company for training?

2. Best company which allows pets(I can stand being away from the wife but not the child I mean Dog)

3. Best company for miles. (pay is great but if no miles i won't be able to make a living)

4. Is it better to go with a company with multiple divisions (Flatbed, Refer, etc. to get experience in many different areas to build a good trucking resume?)

5. Flatbed seems to pay a little more?

6. Does my credit history play a big role with getting a job? (good MVR and no criminal history but I owned a business that went Belly UP)

I thank everyone ahead of time for guiding me to a safe and prosperous new career.

PS I live in Central NJ.

1. sheneider

2. none,that offer traning, i don't beleave!

3. We are all trying to figure that out.....

4. Yes and No, it depends on you, you won't get enoug experince in any divison, if you keep switching....

5. Flatbed does pay more, it's alot harder work though!

6. No, most companies do to care about your credit history. They just want your rear in that seat........

Good luck, take the time to do the research, and make the best choice, for you and your family..............

it will be a major effort to take your baby with you at first. You really need all yur attention on the road and the new things you need to learn and pay strict attention too. You will be tired and will need to sleep witout distractions. get yourself a screaming meanie sleep alarm at the truck stop so you will not oversleep and be late,after the initial few weeks I would take my baby then. You have a major accident or your baby gets hurt somehow,that will mess up your new career as soon as you start it. Good luck to you.

Thanks Folks

I agree with you buck and a half, I just want to know that it will be an option down the "road" no pun intended.

redrocker1055 - is it better to gain experience driving a flatbed I am assuming that it's somewhat different hauling a flatbed as opposed to a refer, etc. I think I can suck up the extra work for extra pay... I am greedy like that; however is it the best as far as experience for a newbie?

I pulled flats for over 24 yrs off and on. They are the best to stay in shape but you must be real careful working around machinery cranes,forklifts and weather conditions. If you aren't a clumsy person go for it, there is ussually less waiting to load and unload,than reefers for sure and vans sometimes. You can make good money flatbedding and if your in the right area you can get hooked up with a local or regional carrier and be home daily or every other day and still make great money. let us know how you make out. In ma. and me. we have cardinal and they run regioal,drivers are home often during the week delivering building supplies to home depots,lowes etc. Great deal for a younger guy in good shape.

Well like many things it has it's drawback(flaterbeder's look away).
The bigest drawback i have seen,is the lack of skill in backing( not all),
Being expossed to the weather.....Tarping can realy suck!!
I have oulled every thing except reefer( which i refuse,but thats another stoty)I curently pull tanker, Tanker pays the most IE: hazmate, but you should not even think about that for at least 2-3 years, it's exstreamily nervracking, If i were ever to get out of it, i would go back to flatbeding..
I liked it for the shortime i did it, the best thing about it, is that you don't have to back into a dock, and waite for hours at a time....
If you have your heart set on flatbed,then here is a few companies to look at some others to stay away from, first the good ones, 1st. rohel(rail)
2nd.maverick(they recently bought schneider's specialty divison)
3rd.falcon transport
Now for the ones to stay away from. 1st.TMC transport,
I don't know if thesse companies have flatbed or not,but stay away from
regardles of what you want to pull, the copmanies are, Pam transport, JB.hunt, werner, us express, there are more, you need to look at THE BAD COMPANIES SECTION, on this site..... And like the other gentleman said,
what ever you decide, just use your head,there a million things that can go wrong and will go wrong on a daily basis, you have to take care of your self and others( there are alot of bad drivers out there,that don't understand how hard you have to work to keep them safe) people say alot of bad things about truckers, but if they realized how many times we have saved there lives, by being pro drivers. ther'd would be less insults. You probably don't know what i am talking about right now, but you will when you get out there....
GOOD LUCK, DRIVE SAFE, AND MIND THE TIGHT TURNS...........

1. Best company for training?
Doesn't matter. Since you said you are going to pay for your own training cheapest is best.....BUT....be sure you are getting a 240 hour school! For some reason that seemed to make a difference to companies I talked to.
2. Best company which allows pets(I can stand being away from the wife but not the child I mean Dog)
Don't know this one.
3. Best company for miles. (pay is great but if no miles i won't be able to make a living)
Think a little different here.....try to get paid for things other than driving, like unloading, layover, etc.
4. Is it better to go with a company with multiple divisions (Flatbed, Refer, etc. to get experience in many different areas to build a good trucking resume?)
I don't think so....what are you interested in?
5. Flatbed seems to pay a little more?
Maybe. I don't think so, though.
6. Does my credit history play a big role with getting a job? (good MVR and no criminal history but I owned a business that went Belly UP)
Nah, not really. Clean MVR, no drugs, no felonies, and you're in.

Be aware, when you sign with a company there is a form that you have to sign... It sounds like a credit check, but it's actually for employment verification and criminal background purposes. Credit should not matter, unless they are trying to convince you to buy right away that is...

If they want you to lease/purchase right out the gates, RUN!!! Run as fast as you can, you need to learn the biz before trying to own a truck, otherwise this will go south as well.

Hope you find a good one.

Thanks again!

They want to check and verify employment history? what about self employment? How would they verify that?
2003 business went under (9yrs in business)
2004 worked for a company that closed there doors
2004-2005 worked for another company that ended up closing there doors
2005-2006 yet another and then I moved. If it wasn't for bad luck I would have no luck at all. So finally this year I went out on my own again and have been self employed since. Unfortunately the industry I am in is slowly dying and thats why I want out (mortgage broker) I am also sick of taking peoples money having them sign there life away with no regard for there future. I can no longer make a living that way and feel good about myself. So for all the people out there who have been lied to by a mortgage broker, I am deeply sorry...I promise it wasn't me!

So my Employment record for the past 3 years is rough they are going to count it against me arent they?

Aligator- I have yet to find a school in NJ that does more than 160 hrs. however companies that do train after you pass your CDL do anywhere between 240 and 300 hrs before they give you your own truck.

"1. Best company for training?"

I am not talking about passing my CDL i am talking about real on the job training. I've heard of some companies that use a skid pad etc with real life situations so that I don't kill myself or others. I want to learn and earn not just wing it and from what I gather this is not just a give me the keys and tell me where to go type of job.