Are all these "big" companies the same?

You still will most likely have to go with a "cookie cutter" company after the mom and pop school. Cant get hired without verifiable experience by most companies. That means riding with a trainer for x amount of time (at a very reduced rate of pay) untill they cut you loose.

 

Just remember, it's like any other part of life. Nobody has anything to say unless they're b****ing about something. Each big company has its own quirks, or as I like to say, brand of BS. There are sorry trainers and there are awesome trainers. I lucked out and got the latter. I was never "locked into" any company for any reason. I left Swift before my schooling was completely paid off. They did not burn my house down or take away my birthday. They only requested I pay the outstanding balance...and they accepted payments.

I am more comfortable under the umbrella of a large company until the dust settles regarding rules, regulations and recession. At that time, I will look at the climate of the industry and consider whether it is an option to go independent again. If you are "skeert" of big companies because of some b****ers here, then go to the mom n pop. But before you spend all that money, make sure their insurance company will cover a brand new driver.

Just a thought.

 

Make a list of all the carriers you will consider driving for once you've finished the mom and pop school. Ask those carriers if they accept students from your mom and pop school. Doesn't make sense to get your heart set on driving for Carrier A when Carrier A doesn't know your mom and pop school from Adam.

 

I would really think twice about trucking right now. Trucking sucks right now. Pay is down. Miles are down. Their are more drivers than jobs right now.( This may change soon do to the new CSA 2010 safety rules ) Trucking has become cut throat. Carriers keep cutting rates to get the work from other company's but in the long run they have to cut the drivers pay. Mileage pay has dropped over the last few years and benefits are being taken away. With so many drivers out their their is always someone waiting for your job. A small mistake that was nothing a few years ago very well may get you fired today. Yes you will be treated as a number and you will be expendable. At that point getting your next job in trucking will be very difficult. (Trucking company's use what is called a DAC report on your employment history and often lie or black list a driver that leaves under less than desirable circumstances).
If you still think its what you want to do than I wouldn't do the mom and pop school or the company paid training. Find a larger driving school that is" national accredited ". They will probably cost more money but alot of major company's will not hire you out of the mom and pop school. They want the accreditation of the larger schools.
Trucking is a tough way to earn a living right now. Do lots more research before spending the money on trucking school. Cut throat and hostile is the only way I can describe trucking right now. Beware!

 

Your going to pay for your training either way. Through lower mileage rates for that first year or paying a school. You need that one year OTR experience anyway then you become more marketable. I had a CDL but no OTR 10 years ago and still wasn't good enough to work for any of the big outfits without going through their training. I never went to truck school to get my CDL. I got it through my employer. I decided to go to work for Schnieder back then. At that time all you had to do was give them one year at a lower mailage rate then all was forgiven. I stayed for 2 years and moved on. It was alot easier to handle not making payments on a loan or coming up with cash for truck school. Good Luck

 

Maybe for the new driver, trucking sucks. But if you get in, you've GOT to remain accident free and not rock the boat. The freight is out there. The big companies have it. There are a few independants out there who'll brag they make $5 a mile, but what they wont tell ya, is its costing them $3-4 in insurance, overhead, etc. to make that rate. Yeah, when you start out, you'll be making like 10 cents a mile (haha) but if its what you want to do, go for it. Its a change in your lifestyle for sure. Just to be sure this is something you'll like, i recomend buying a tent, and live in it for a week. if you can't handle it with no extention cord from the house, you'll find it hard to live in a truck for week at a time.