Whats the best company to start with?

I can only share my experience and I read all the same forums you have...I went to Con-Way Truckload. The reason was, I figured I needed to stay at my first job for a year. After evaluating all the outfits, I was way ahead in money during training and after training up to the one year point with CWTL. After a year, I could have changed companies for a penny or so. I decided to stay at CWTL because they did everything above board and became a finisher in order to boost the income. So far, so good.

Good luck to you.

 

I used to be a CDL instructor at 2 schools in Chicago and had all these guys come in to talk with the students. Roehl is a really good company, but can actually be hard to get in there. They pay on practical miles as opposed to household movers guide like most companies. ( comes out to about 5% more to you). I spent a bunch of years as an owner operator at Schneider. They are really good with newbies( nothin personal), they'll never stop training you. You'll be driving on your own faster with Schneider, I believe you only spend 1 1/2 or 2 weeks with a trainer, they decide if you're ready. They buy you new work boots every year, have nice facilities at operating centers, and I believe they will pay you for your schooling if you stay a year.(nice to get your money back) Swift, I don't know alot about. Just going by what I've seen on the hwy. (no!) Werner and Crst will run you ragged for no money.( I think you have to ride with a Werner trainer for 10 weeks or so with hardly any money.) CR England I don't know, they might try selling you a truck right away. I know Prime does that.( They own the Peterbilt dealer next door, I think) Don't fall for a lease purchase deal from one of these guys, some of them push pretty hard. One of my students went to Prime, he told me after orientation, they said they had no trucks....unless he wanted to buy one. Other than that, I heard Prime was a friendly place, if that matters. If it was me, I'd go either Schneider or Roehl.

 

Im also from Mi, i just finished up school and passed my road test so now i have my cdl with all endorsements, i have a phone interview tuesday with Schneider. The reason i chose them first is that thwy allow newbies drive tanker, and have plenty of freight, also getting over 3k new tractors, and they seem to be the company i wanna work for.

 

Hey Harley! I used to live in Wayland, but live out in Yankee Springs now. I'm currently in Ft. Worth at FFE's school. I'd add them to your list to check out. This forum was the main reason I picked them. No cost, 1 year commitment, $455/week when out with a trainer, then .29 cents/mile when solo. They deliver a ton to JBS (Murco) in Plainwell and Perigo in Allegan, so home time shouldn't be an issue.

~Steve

 

Yep, on Wildwood Rd. about 1/4 mile west of Norris/Yankee Springs Rd. I'm originally from GR, but moved south in like 2000/2001. If you couldn't tell by my profile pic, I was a driver for Hopkins Propane. Got laid off and decided to give OTR a shot.