Swift, Stevens, CR England or Werner?

From the research I've done, you really want to stay away from CRE. They do a lease program. Unless you want to lease a truck lol. I'm not sure which schools that the other two use, but from what i have read swift pays something like $400 a week for the first 4 weeks of training, and $500 the last 2. But don't quote me on that because i'm going by what i have read on this forum. I would check with those companies personally.

There really seems to be no great choice when it comes to so called COMPANY PAID SCHOOLING. But if your like me and short on time and money a local college isn't really an option. I have decided to go with Driver Solutions & USA Truck, there again not the greatest choice, but the terminal is close to my house and so is the school. I'm doing my year to get the exp. and moving on to a local company that i have spoken with.

Just do alot of research, then when your head starts hurting.... do some more. Then pick the one that best fits your situation. Good Luck & and hope everything works out for ya!

 

I've no personal experience with any of the companies you've listed, but of all of those, I'd look a bit closer at Stevens and Swift.

 

Like DontTreadOnMe said: Do your research. That's the only way you'll get first hand information.

Aside from that, all I can tell you is that when I worked for Swift (2003-2004) my driver manager treated me well, and I was comfortable with the company. I don't know how their training has changed, but in retrospect I'm disappointed with it. I ran teams with my "trainer" for 4 weeks. The dude literally sat with me for an hour and then said "Ok! Wake me up when we're there!" Pretty much the only time I saw him was when we were loading/unloading or fueling. To me, that wasn't training, but boy I'd like his job. Get paid for every mile the truck runs and sleep half the time? Good deal.

I can only repeat what I've heard about CRE. They're primarily a lease company. You wouldn't catch me dead in a leased truck right out of school. I don't know how they justify giving a brand new driver their own business to run.

All I know about Werner is they call it the "Blue Screw", lol. I've read a couple of accounts on here about Werner's training. Granted it's usually the negative stories that get posted, I'd be wary, and certainly ask a lot of questions of their recruiter and other Werner drivers.

 

Werner pays $350 week during training,if you don't take home time during your training you get $500 bonus paid after testing out.They also have a tuition reimbusement program,$100 per month,staring w/your 2nd month.

 

Really? They never even mentioned that! Is taht true? About the bonus mean!

 

Yes,my son is OTR,48 states, should be testing out soon,he's been w/ trainer , since 1/3/11.

 

Thats great news! How does he like Werner?

 

Loves it,he lucked out and got a great trainer,who had 6 years experience training drivers.Once he tests out and gets a rig,he's going to team drive on 48 states(after some much deserved hometime).You would be better off if you went to school and paid for your cdl than go to one of those companied that help you get it.Reason being that you are on the hook w/ that co till loan is paid off,and even if it doesn't work out they will make you pay them or ding your credit rating. My son's class cost 2,800,he paid for it w/ UE checks.Now if he stays w/ WErner 28 months he will get that $ back.But after he's got 1 year with them he's looking for greener pastures,they are a good Co to train w/,but long term you're better off elsewhere.

 

All those carriers are CDL "mills", production lines, newbie companies.... None of them are any good, just some are worse than others...

Steven's.. Decent trucks but castrated.., lower pay than some of the others mentioned, long process to go through to get to solo, they try and force you to lease a truck, home time is "discouraged" they require you to leave the truck in a secure area.. (Usually not at your house, more like a KW dealer or somthing.. & if you take too much time off you might loose your truck.. another driver might pick it up leaving you without a truck..)


CR England: I've head horror stories about them.... and rumors.. so I can't elaborate much on them. They're a lot smaller than they once were, their trucks maintaince has gone downhill over the years (dirty trucks, missmatched tires, old trailers and reefer units...)

Swift: Probably the best of the 4 you've mentioned.. far from perfect.. lots of waiting around for a trainer/ mentor... trainers with little experiance,

Werner.... Probably the worst in the truck repair dept.. They don't fix anything unless it directly effects safety.. a bent bumper... get used to looking at it.. bent cab extenders.. oh well They put newbies on their Dollar general account.. have you looked at the access to some of these stores ?They constantly bending up the trucks, running over curbs (maybe blowing a tire?)..

That's my 2 cents worth on those 4... Whatever you do DO NOT IN ANY WAY SIGN A LEASE! Stay a company driver and get some experiance before jumping into somthing you know nothing about. Good Luck..