Company Choice?

Hello everyone, The names David, I've been actively browsing this forum for a while now and figured I'd sign up and construct a quick post to see if I could possibly acquire some helpful feedback, I'm looking for advice on which company to possibly pursue that would fit my personal lifestyle, here's some brief background.....

I'm 25/clean record.
Worked from 2007-Jan of 2013 with my father, I co-owned a business with him until we sold, now I'm looking to drive the rigs I aspired to get behind the wheel of as a kid.

MVR should be clean, the couple of tickets I've acquired over the years were so far apart that I was able to take DD to get them off my record.
My Grandpa made a living driving trucks, actually lost his life in a semi wreck when a tanker pulled out in front of him, after that my fathers step dad was also a trucker, O/O to be exact, I never knew either of them because I wasn't even in existence, however...my father learned a lot and taught me what he absorbed from being around that lifestyle, so I'm not a complete "newb"

My location is in Texas, Temple to be exact which is about 45 minutes North of Austin on I-35. (in case location helps with what companies are active in certain areas)

My goal is to one day be a successful O/O, (certainly no easy task) I'd like to start at a company who's sole concern isn't just getting "meat in the seat".

I'd like to start out with flat bedding, and eventually get into tanker/hazmat loads. I'd like to avoid reffer hauling

I do enjoy being home, If possible I'd like to bypass the only being home once a month scenario that I see a lot of people doing, I've also thought about doing "local" work but as we all know it's not exactly a piece of cake acquiring a local job right out of the gate, UNLESS you apply at a company like Pepsi/coke/or any beer company, I've actually worked at Budweiser before locally but only as an assistant on the truck, while hard work does not bother me I would like to do a little more driving then just a couple hours out of a 12 hour day...

I've looked at various big companies but in a very apprehensive light, the 2 that sort of has my interest are Schneider and Maverick, Schneider for the tanker opportunities and Maverick for the flatbed, if possible I'd prefer a small company that's within 60 miles of my home that possibly does Texas runs that would allow me home every night or at least every other night, but finding a company like that willing to train seems bleak....

I've also thought about checking out the local companies that involve driving cement mixers and hauling gravel but I'd prefer to stick to semis, but once again there's that same issue with finding someone willing to train....Obviously I'd like to avoid shelling out 6 grand for a private school with no guarantee of a job immediately following my graduation, and I certainly would like to avoid signing a contact with some big company saying they basically own me for a year, none the less I'll cut it short here and see what kind of feedback I get, Thanks to all who participate, I really appreciate it...

Dave

 

lol, I appreciate the slight sarcasm I understand the gut check, but in reality I do not intend to start anywhere near the top, but if there's alterante ways to get into the industry without doing the dreaded route then I'll surely take it. To the other posters I highly appreciate it !

 

Hey thanks for the info King