New driver need advice.

well stay away from CRST....seriously...from what I've seen and heard of them...no don't destroy yourself with their propaganda ......I'm not familiar with National...so I can give no opinion there......so that leaves Swift and Werner......go with Swift

 

OTR is not your only option as a new driver, so get that out of your head. I started at 19 fresh out of school with a local company in Florida making decent money. I would invest some time looking in to opportunities around where you live while still keeping OTR an option. I'm just saying don't sell yourself short with a local job, it can happen, I'm proof.

 

Werner reimburses your tuition $100 per month .My son had 2 veteran trainers,and is waiting for his truck assignment to make his first runs w/o trainer,then he can put in a voucher for $500,for no home time taken during training.Then 2 weeks of well deserved home time(he's been gone close to 3 months now)He's enjoying himself and is always happy when he calls.I don't know about the other co's ,just Werner.You mention home time is important fugettaboutit.lol

 

Just getting your CDL means that whatever company you sign on with, you'll have to go through their training program as well. You'll spend anywhere from 4-6 weeks on the road with a driver/trainer with no "home time", unless you're lucky enough to have said trainer living in your neighborhood.
After completing your training, most of these "Driver Mills" will keep you out anywhere from 2-3 weeks before letting you go home for a 34 hour re-set.
Your 1st year in this business is going to be tough. They'll run you hard because your at the bottom of the pay scale, which means a higher profit margin for them. If you can get through that 1st year, you can then start to take control of where to go (employment) and how hard you want to run.
Don't discount any opportunities in driving local. With no experience, it might be next to impossible but you'll never know unless you get out there and look. Unlike OTR positions, where you apply on-line, when applying for a local driving job, go in person and be politely persistent in your follow-ups.
Just remember this, driving a truck is not a 9-5 job. Even working local, you'll put in a lot of hours per day. OTR driving is a whole different ball game and life style. It takes a certain breed of person to be able to live this kind of lifestyle and able to drive the necessary miles and hours per day, along with the loading/unloading, paperwork, logs, inspections, DOT, scales and 4-wheelers.
I don't mean to sound discouraging, only being realistic. Truck driving schools and recruiters will paint you a pretty picture of just basically holding the steering wheel and seeing the country. I've been in this business for 33 years as a dispatcher, Director of Training at a T/T school and 28 years driving, so I know a little of what I'm talking about.
This business has changed dramatically in the last 20 years...for the worse but, I still love what I do and wouldn't have it any other way...unless I hit the Lottery, lol.
Good luck!

 

While tuition reimbursement is something to consider,

it should Not be a deal breaker.

 

try looking for local business who's main product is not trucking.
many of them will put you in a warehouse job and use you as a fill in driver until they have a opening.

i think you will find a lot of them will hire you with out any experience.

 

Not true,my son is driving 8 or 10 speed.no auto trans there that we know about.

 

Lots of great info on this site