My 21 yr-old Son Wants to Drive. Which Training/Rookie Company?

Sure you will. If you get off your butt and look hard enough.

I'm not sure why you are so in favor of training companies. It is the path of least resistance and yields the lowest potential reward. Why is it expected that a company needs to provide training for potential employees. I can think of almost no other industry where this is expected.

 

Swift is 21.. And to the OP, call some of the companies around your area and see if they will hire a rookie. If so, send him or help him to Community College to get his start. If he has to go with one of the Mega's, i hear alot of praise with Roehl...

 

He's a bit young. Do him a favor and talk him out of it. Have him enjoy life a little before you put him to work. I think 25 and over is an ok age to start a trucking career.

He's too young. Its dangerous out here.

When I was training, the younger guys had the hardest time adjusting to the road truckers lifestyle.

 

I would suggest that your son go to an independent trucking school on his own and get his CDL that way. Don't use the companies that supply you with the training because you will be stuck owing them the tuition and stuck working with them if you don't happen to like them. I went and got my CDL on my own at a good school 10 years ago and had my own choice of company to go work for when the time came for me to go work for someone. The schools even help you with job placement before you even graduate so look into going to a private commercial trucking school. They do finance too if you don't have the bucks upfront so shop around. There are more options than just getting on the hook through an employer training program. Good luck and happy trails!!!

 

per has just mentioned the 3 biggest thieves in the industry. STAY AWAY FROM CRST,CRE AND SWIFT.

millis is the best deal i heard of in company training programs. here are the specific questions to ask to compare the financial cost.

1.how long will i be contracted to work for the company upon graduation? (millis- 1 year)

2. how much per week/month will i be charged while contracted? (millis- $25 per week for 1 year. total $1300)

3. how much will i owe if i dont complete the contract (millis- im unclear as to actual cost. they also contribute an amount of money per week or month during that year. if you quit early, you owe the balance of the $1300 YOU have yet to pay, PLUS whatever amount they havent "paid" by contributions for the remainder of the 1 year contract. but if i were going to them for training, id find out EXACTLY how much they contribute, so id know what id owe if i did not complete the contract)

i hear good things about roehl, transam, maverick too. and im positive there are other fair,decent programs out there.

 

How is swift a thief? How swift can be lumped in with cre is beyond me.

 

Not trying to Hi-Jack this thread but that's an foolish opinion to have. Maybe he just want to be a truck driver like his dad and unfortunately do to laws and insurance regulations it isn't as easy to get his CDL now as maybe his old man did back in the day (assuming that he's been driving for a long period of time)

I'm 25 been driving for the last 4 years, as long as you got common sense and some one to ask advice to (his dad the OP) he'll be fine. Yes it's dangerous out here but I'm getting compensated for it, I don't know about you...

I wish his son the best of luck, it's going to be hard at first but as long as he hold on and be patient, he'll be fine

 

There are many quality companies that hire at age 21, such as Melton Truck Lines in Tulsa. If you can afford a private school or community college, ask which companies actively recruit from the school. If your son is interested in a specific company, call and ask which school they recommend.
A community college is good if you can afford it; if not there are many trucking companies with good quality schools such as Swift, Central Refrigerated, Millis, Prime. Your son doesn't have to stay at a company for a career after the training, just long enough to get the debt paid through payroll deduction while gaining experience to move on. The reason many don't recommend CR England for a new driver is because it basically a team operation that pushes drivers to lease their trucks, which means you now are an inexperienced driver with a truck payment to worry about.

In the meantime, get a passport, TWIC, and study for endorsements such as tanker/hazmat. These items will get your son into excellent paying jobs early into his new career.

 

X2 on Millis! I honestly have never heard a bad thing about them. Give them a call.

 

I think it is a wise opinion to have. Most young guys want a manly job like truck driver, race car driver, airplane pilot, lumberjack, etc. However those are not always the best lifelong career choices. As the experienced driver you are I don't have to tell you why trucking is not a good career choice.