Know a good school in Las Vegas?

Southwest Truck Driver Training is pretty popular. Research those below and go with the cheapest 160 hr. course. Dozens of companies will hire you with a 160 hr. course diploma. Many schools push certain companies, but you choose what you want and not what the school pushes.

AGS Consultants
501 S Rancho Dr C-18

AIT Truck Driver Training
4020 E. Lone Mountain Rd.


Southwest Truck Driver Training
4610 Vandenberg Dr

RTDS Trucking School
6149 S Rainbow Blvd

 

Any idea what type trucking you're interested in?
Watkins-Shepard has a terminal in Las Vegas and hires new cdl grads.
You don't really need a company with a terminal in your area though because home time is based on company policy, not where terminals are located.

 

KKW Trucking is "driver unload or assist unload" and Watkins-Shepard may be the same depending on the account.
Dry Van:
KKW Trucking
Watkins-Shepard
Flat is good for some exercise tarping and securing loads. I've done it and it's a rewarding in that you get job satisfaction from securing and delivering loads.
Flatbed:
System Transport
Pride Transport - flatbed division
Melton Truck Lines
Western Express

Refrigerated:
Abilene Motor Express
Freymiller
Magnum Ltd.
Navajo Express
Dynamic Transit

Keep in mind, many companies websites aren't up to date and may have "experience required" when they actually hire new cdl grads. All those I've listed do hire new cdl grads.

 

When I first started this crazy journey I went to AIT in North Vegas, they will see if your hireable, it will be an actual interview, or was 2 years ago. They gave me a tour and even sat me down in a truck. Only will train if you have a prehire, only company they had at the time was Werner that they were handing out apps for, I think I heard Werener bought them recently so be warned. I ended up going to what was still for the moment Central Refrigerated. AIT Seemed like a good school other than being shills for Werner. They at the time offered classes for endorsements too, something Central didnt ,and to my knowledge most company schools don't do.

It depends what you want out of it. If you aren't afraid to saddle up with a company awhile, they will get you on the road quicker. Another thing to consider, not many companies have terminals in Vegas. That can complicate hometime for some companies, its an important question to ask. Most of the companies with terminals in Vegas are going to want endorsements or experience (Estes,Sysco,etc) Only training company I know of with a terminal in Vegas is Knight.

Central/SWIFT always just ended up dead heading me out of LA, Southern Utah or Phoenix for hometime. Not every company will be as generous with thier Diesel. Some drivers have horror stories, but they never did me wrong.

Also if you want more physical work, flatbed would be better, but as a van driver you can always ask if they have a jack you can use and unload yourself someplaces. Did that once at McLane and they pointed me to a row of actual freaking forklifts. Figured out how to drive it by about the last pallet lol.

If you get your CDL free of a company there are a few that hire new CDLs for local work. One of the local flatbed outfits did but I don't rember who.

 

Alot of companies will not let you do it no. You may have to park your personal vehicle at a yard of thiers and drive home. Several companies on the other hand will let you drive home if you live far from a terminal. Since I was over 250 miles away from the nearest Central/Swift terminal they let me take truck and trailer both with me.

Point is there will be companies that will let you. But some won't do it unless they get you a load there and that can be a problem.

You will have to check with ones you are most interested in, ideally by talking to thier drivers. But if a company won't give you the details be wary.

The ones mentioned by @Chinatown are worth a look. Any Flatbed will keep you more active than most jobs. If you want to get into magnificiant shape, put in your time somewhere and get into food service, Sysco has a terminal in Vegas, that will keep you working hard. As well as some LTL companies like Estes, but most of these are going to require a year at least in Vegas.

 

All trucking companies have a home time policy and a parking policy for the truck.
Some say take the truck home with you and some say park in a safe area and some say park at a terminal if one is near. Really nothing to be concerned about.