Where to start?? Many questions..

I'm sure you'll get some responses and it seems there may be a few old threads here on who allows pets. In the mean time, I always recommend going to a truckstop and picking up one each of all of the free driver employment publications near the main driver entrance. These often mention "Company Training", "New CDL Grads accepted", "Pet Policy", "Rider Policy", etc.

 

You are usually better off paying for your own training rather than going with a carrier that trains. When you go with a training carrier you will be required to sign a contract to work for them for a specific amount of time. Most require a 6-12 months time commitment. Should you leave for any reason, whether it is your idea or the company's, you are on the hook for the cost of training. That could be $5,000 or more. Many community colleges and state vocational schools offer commercial driver training. The course is usually longer than a private school, but the cost is considerably less. Some of the carrier who train inexperienced drivers are Swift, Millis, Roehl, CRST, Covenant and US Xpress. You will hear good and bad about any of them. Not all carriers hire from every geographic location. You should not have a problem where you live. Sorry, but I can't offer any recommendations based upon my personal experience.

Some carriers allow pets, others do not. I would advise against taking pets in the truck. From a carrier stand point, I don't allow pets in my trucks. There are a number of reasons. Pets will have accidents. I prefer that they not have them in my truck. No matter how well mannered the pet, they all shed and hair can get into filters inside the truck. The next driver that gets into the truck could be allergic to pet dander. It is expensive to have a truck cleaned after a pet has been present. Pets can also be a distraction in the truck. Some shippers don't allow pets on their property. It is also not fair to the pet to have them couped up in such a small space for days on end. Some travel well, others don't. Carrier's always take a chance on a pet doing considerable damage to the interior of their truck. There are some who look at having their pet in a truck as an entitlement. It isn't. There is a separate thread about having pets in the trucks. You should be able to use the search function to find it.

 

LilAce, since you are listed as living in Raleigh North Carolina, I suggest you start looking at North Carolina community colleges that offer CDL training. A simple google search [north carolina community college cdl training] should give you a starting point. As a state residence the cost is pretty low. I would be out of state and my cost would be approximately $3500.

 

the nc community college system will give you an outstanding training program for less than half the cost of a stand alone cdl mill....i paid $854 for 380 hours and had over 700 miles in the seat by the time i graduated and was hired before i left class. graduate on friday and start work on monday

you also won't do better than epes as a company to go with and they're based out of greensboro. no pets though....which really sucks because my biggest dog loves to travel and he would love it....but it wasn't a deal breaker for me. given the lack of issues i have to deal with at epes compared to what alot of guys out here deal with from their companies, i'll leave the child at home and enjoy being home every weekend, driving new and well maintained equipment, outstanding pay for newbies, mostly drop and hook and keeping the bills paid while the wife doesn't have to work and takes care of the house.......you could do alot worse that's for sure.....i think watkins shepard out of conover allows pets and they seem to have alot of satisfied drivers as well but they stay out longer.

alot of good choice here in nc. if you have any specific questions about epes or the nc community college training program pm me i'll be glad to answer them.....

 

Lil Ace,... I have seen both the school (grad from NETTTS New England Tractor Trailer Training School) and did a 'refresher' at C.R. England - which, if representative at all of any Company sponsored school, is bottom feeding to the max - and stealing your money).

The school is the way to go... they have to meet federal guidelines (not the Trucking Companies... they meet their own needs to ship and make money).

The pet is taboo with my company because we handle food products. You're best bet would be to find an O/O in your area that doesn't have a problem with animals sharing living spaces (I've smelled dog kennels that were an improvement over some of these trucks).

I'd like to have a pet too (they are a helluva lot better than a person AND more loyal).

 

You definitely don't want to bring a pet your first year out.
You'll be too busy and too stressed to deal with caring for it.
It's also unprofessional and unsafe.

 

If you take your dog make sure to get it out of the truck whenever you can. Also bring other people in ur truck with the pet and make sure u train it well. A lot of dogs become extremely territorial if no one but you is in the truck.