Yeah!! I have my CDL permit but nowhere to go

YRC and FFE are also both good choices.
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Here's two more that pay salary or hourly pay while attending their cdl training.
Western Dairy Transport (hourly pay while attending cdl school)
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CDL Training (Paid) & Truck Driving Schools | Roehl.Jobs
$616.00 weekly salary while attend their cdl school.

 

There are online tests, and often 10 different versions of each test for any endorsement, like doubles/triples, tanker, and HazMat. I use the ones at TruckerCountry.com, but Truckers Report also has free tests. I find Trucker Country has more practice tests than TTR. Your first employer will give you training on everything they do. CDL school will give you just enough info & practice to pass your state tests, not enough to do more than open a truck door & start the engine.

About 25% of trucking companies allow pets with certain conditions. Those conditions may be a size/weight or breed limitation or possibly a non- or a refundable deposit. A few companies, Prime?, don't allow pets during your first 30 or 90 days in your own truck. Virtually no company allows pets during the period you are in the trainers truck which could be a few weeks to 2-3 months.

Dogs are great co-drivers if they are behaved. It really helps stay sane, but there are minor hassles with bringing a pet.

Most companies have few women trainers so expect to be asked if you want to wait, for no pay, until they have a women trainer for you or will you accept a male trainer. You get to decide and companies have procedures for getting you another trainer if you don't get along or there are issues with your trainer. I'm sure women drivers here have more info about women newbies & trainers.

I don't have company recommendations for you but please don't consider CR England. They are the worst company of the mega carriers in many people's opinion.

 

Don’t know anything about Heartland Express but they do have a terminal in Jacksonville. Millis Transfer is doing their CDL training, trainees get paid $600 a week during school, trainees get paid for all miles while in truck with trainer it’s a walk a way CDL, can quit at any point after getting CDL and no payback or clawback is added. So I have been told.

 

That's interesting MIT. The last I seen Millis did require $500 to hold a spot in their class and then it was $2000 besides unless you drove for a year. You're driving for them now and are trainer right? I wish Millis home time was more flexible. It didn't seem that good for a guy who likes to take a couple vacations a year.

 

I don’t know why they changed it don’t know how long it will last. In the Cartersville location the people test for their CDL right after class. I know so far 2 of the 5 quit already with their CDLs. My guy is on the bubble give it 50/50 odds he comes back after Xmas.

 

Well I spoke to a Wil-Trans recruiter and she wanted to get me on the next bus in a week before I asked any questions. I am excited about the opportunity and yes the pet policy. After weeks of research, yes I consider TTR my go-to for research, I am still am searching for backup options. Thank you for providing them. I feel like I go down a rabbit hole when researching companies.

I'll look into YRC. I did briefly but I wanted to be able to gain that OTR experience.

 

That made me cringe. It's like watching a teenager decide between working at an amusement park for minimum wage or working at a factory for union wages then saying they were leaning towards the amusement park because they wanted to be able to gain that toilet cleaning experience.

There was a time, not that long ago, when starting your driving career at an LTL company wasn't an option. Most drivers had to go OTR to get experience out of the gate. If you wanted to go the LTL route you would have to start by working the docks for a few years. In some parts of the country it's still that way. In Houston they want you to have a CDL to apply for a dock position at LTL companies. In Portland they'll hire experienced drivers for linehaul but they want a couple of decades of driving experience.

 

Davis Express Stark Fla.

they run the Southeast.

Davis Express

 

Why did that make you cringe? Is it that inconceivable that people just might actually like OTR? I'm one that prefers OTR to local jobs. I also don't think it will hurt to get that experience if he so chooses, hell I think it could be beneficial. I don't think it's anything wrong with a new driver doing either sector. OP, if OTR is what you wanna do first, then go for it. While it's good hear other opinions on here, it only benefits you so much. Trucking companies, they're pretty much the same with minor differences one being the name on the door. Chinatown as always gave some good plentiful choices. The only thing that will sway a driver one way or another is who has the best sales pitch lol.