First let me give some background. I own and operate several small businesses that my son is going to take over. I am 50
The reason I'm thinking about trucking is back in the early 80's when I was in sales I traveled all over the country and the thing I enjoyed most was the driving and secondly not being around for him to lean on. The only reason I didn't get into trucking sooner was my parents became disabled and I was needed near home at the time.
Suddenly the oportunity presents itself again.
The wife and family are ok with the commitment that must be made the frist year or so. In fact we all agree it would be best if I weren't around much the first year for the transition . I can't honestly say that at this age I would even like the trucking lifestyle but if I commit I will at the very least give it a year full fledge and perhaps find myself in a new career that I love,stranger things have happend in my life
The reason for the background is over the last few months I have read with amusment how replys can quickly get off subject and how easy it is to offend readers , this is not my intention I am only seeking honest answer to my questions so that I can make an informed decision
Not options on weather this is the right decision so I left no room for elaborations. I have zero experence and am new to all this
I have looked at Sage trucking schools ,
Roadmaster,and Drivers Soluations.
Sage is by far the cheapest but that is money out of pocket which could be put to better use but I am willing to listen to an honest debate. The money that would be taken out of check for training elsewhere is really a non issue provided I could net somewhere between 28,000- 30,000 to justify the commitment.
Is that realistic ?
Roadmasters told me that I am a 10% er (don't know what that means) and never answered my questions nor got back with me , Drivers Soluations at least did a follow up and has kept in touch and not pressured for a commitment.
Any feedback on your experences with these companies would be helpful. Are there any other CLD schools that I should look at ?
Is my age a hinderence?
Any feedback on Pam or USA Trucking .
Is it a handicap for the future to start with a company that has only auto tramission?
What companies do you'all recommend for a newbie starting out?
Who has the shortest training available I would like to go solo as fast as possible
Are there any companies that don't experence a slow down during January and February or is this just industry wide
Who has the best % of drop and hook that would hire a newbie ?
Any other insight would be helpful
I welcome your commits and suggestions and any links that you think might be helpful.
Other questions will be forthcomming

I thought Roadmaster would help you out more than they did when i reccomended them to you. did you talk to joy? anyway i am still going to school there starting on 5/5 and my application has already been accepted with TMC and will go to orientation as soon as I finish school in late May. It only took 2 days to get approved with that company and they were by far my first choice to work for. they have a terminal in columbus and des moines for orientation. check out there website and reed all the threads on them at this site. they guarantee you at least 46 of 52 weekends home have really nice equipment, and a 2 week orientation. as for as going solo soon i believe they will have me with a trainer for 5 weeks and then i will have the choice of %pay or cpm when i get my own truck. good luck.

I also am 50 and just made the plunge. I went to a Sage school in Yadkinville NC. There is a very good one not too far from you in upstate SC at Isothermal Community College. I got hired by Superior Carriers and trained to drive Tankers right out of school. Its been great so far.

IMHO, RoadMaster sucks. All they did was give me the run around and kept me at it when they knew they couldn't hire me. I had Megan in recruiting. She was really nice but they should have been able to tell me once they got my app that they couldn't take me instead of wasting time money and gas running back and forth across town to fax them a bunch more BS.

With the way thing's sound, Prime sound's like it would be a great place for you to get your CDL sense you want to stay away for a good while. You could be gone at least 6 month's before going home. The more time you take going to the house the longer training will take. Check them out. It's worth a look. Good luck!

__________________
"I'm not a truck driver. I'm a non refrigerated load relocation engineer".

Thanks I looked into Isothermal
If I decide to pay up front I will go with them
They seem to do a fine job and are well respected in the industry

At Roadmasters I haven't any luck contacting Joy
got a guy by the name of Steve then David that put on the hard sell and after qualifing me seem to back off
Perhaps if I could contact Joy it would be different

Thanks I will take a closer look at Prime

Is there a communty college where you could go and get your training? I ask this because you're a prime candidate to go out and find the company that you might want to stay with. Here's my line of thought. If a company needs recruiters then there's a reason they can not keep drivers. Why sign up with a company that can do with you what they please? Sure there's plenty of people that need a company to pay for their school and they're kind of stuck that way. But you have income so you can afford to look for a decent company.

Why not pay for your own school then go out and find a company that fits your needs? Look for a company that does not make their revenue from the truck. Seek out companies that have drivers that have been there for awhile and have drivers that retire from that company. Again stay away from companies that have recruiters.

Set some goals for yourself. Do you want to just live in the truck and make hardly nothing? If you do then you can go with recruiters. Or would you rather make another career and have some extra money when you do retire?

You can go out and do your own job seeking. You might have to go to many companies but the best jobs do not come to you.

I would say get your CDL from a seperate source then from your future employer. That way you are not endebted to that company. And learn to drive a shift truck, its not that hard once you get the hang of it. Just takes a little practice. Besides, it makes driving more fun.
And don't let them push you into a lease (you will be screwed) deal.

I'VE BEEN OUT HERE OVER 12 YEARS AND MY BEST ADVISE ON THE SCHOOL SIDE IS GO TO A STATE RUN SCHOOL AND YOU'LL GET A FAIRER DEAL. IN 96 I WENT THRU THE TRUCKING PROGRAM AT SOUTH GEORGIA TECH IN AMERICUS GEORGIA. THEY WILL NOT PASS YOU IF YOU CAN'NT DO THE JOB....SOME PEOPLE JUST CAN'NT HACK IT. NOT TO MENTION THEY WANT RIP YOU OFF.
NEXT....YOU MIGHT AS WELL DEVELOPE A VERY THICK SKIN BECAUSE ALOT OF THE OLD TIMERS WHO STARTED IN THE 60s AND 70s AND EVEN IN THE 80s REALY DON'T MUCH CARE FOR SCHOOL TAUGHT DRIVERS.REMEMBER THIS THOUGH ,THEY STARTED OUT WITH 30 AND 40 FOOT TRAILERS AND WORKED THEIR WAY UP TO 53 FOOTERS.
NEXT... COMPANIES THAT WANT SCREW YOU....OH BOY DOES SUCH A THING EXIST I'M NOT SURE I BEGAN WITH A SMALL FLEET OWNER WHO ONLY HAD 10 TRUCKS. MY ADVISE IS DO YOUR HOME WORK AND TALK TO ALOT OF NEW DRIVERS FROM ANY TRUCKING COMPANY YOUR CONSIDERING.THEY WILL BE THE ONES WHO'LL SHOOT STRAIGHT WITH YOU. REMEMBER THIS RECRUITERS ARE PAID TO RECRUIT SO DO YOUR HOME WORK.
ONE MORE THING IF IT IS YOUR DREAM TO DRIVE A TRUCK NEVER, EVER, EVER GIVE UP. TRUCKING IS A TOUGH DEMANDING JOB BUT IT HAS IT'S REWARDS. HANG TOUGH.

Thanks for the great advice,
It appears that you more experenced drivers confirmed what I have really have known all along to just bite the bullett an pay for the schooling then find a company. Your expertice in the business has helped push me in the right direction Thanks
One question for gashauler : please define what you meant by find a company that doesn't make their money by the truck( I am paraphrasing )
It has been many many years since I have looked for a job and never at at a Trucking Co.
Any helpful hints would be appreciated