Company sponsored CDL training

hi, I'm brand new to this site and I posted a question in the "Welcome Wagon" thread and I was advised to repost here. I'm currently looking for a reputable firm that offers company sponsored CDL training. I drove all sorts of vehicles in the military, including an 18 wheeler. More recently, I've driven local delivery trucks that didn't require me to have a CDL. I'm hoping to hear some advice from those of you in the know. Just to narrow it down, I currently live in Portland, Oregon, so I'm thinking it would be nice to find a company in the Northwest, but it's not imperative. I've been told that Swift and CR England are the only companies out west that offer CDL training for entry-level drivers and I've been advised that Swift is the better of the two. Unfortunately, I don't have GI BIll benefits to pay for the school. I joined the Air Force under a different program. Any advice that anyone has to offer will be appreciated. Thanks. Eric

 

Believe me, if I could pay for training myself, I certainly would. I tried to get the Veterans Administration to pay for it as Voc Rehab, but the Portland VA Regional Office is difficult to deal with. More than one person I know has had their paperwork mysteriously lost and in my case, my counselor just started coming up with excuses.

 

I'm not sure what CRE is, unless you mean Central Refrigerated.

 

I was told by a few people that Swift is better than CR England and Swift is much closer to me than Utah. I appreciate all of the advice.

 

Do you think Central Refrigerated is better than Swift? I don't have a problem with driving there, if they will reimburse for gas.