Running out of options...need help or aome advice

You have cdl, but why is driving a truck your only option? Do you have a spotty background? Most of those companies above are meat grinders, so Im surprised they wont take another sucker....errr I mean rookie.

 

The time on course training is important, Stevens is not a bad choice,get your experience with them then look again.

 

Whatever you do you'd better go with a company that will put you with a trainer for a while before you go solo. Considering buying your own truck and going it alone right now is a recipe for disaster at best, suicide at worst. You don't know ANYTHING right now fresh out of school. I can attest to that.

Your main goal right now should be to get 1 years experience and just bite the bullet while you do so. If you can't commit to this notion you shouldn't be in trucking, imho.

As far as the companies you mentioned, STEVENS wins by far over CRE from everything I've read and from a discussion with an ex-CRE driver who now drives for my company. Good luck.

 

First thing to do is relax its gonna be O.K. So you got your class a that was the big hurdle now all you need is the time behind the wheel. There is a lot of companies that will put a trainer with you or if not we can do it another way... O.K.

 

Your problem is that you didn't go through a school or the 150 hour course. Yes, most companies will not touch you if you do not go through an accredited school and this is dictated by the insurance companies.

In some ways its good that they won't hire you! This will force you to stay away from the mega-carriers and find work with a smaller company. On the down side though even the smaller companies insurance are starting to make it mandatory to go through a school.

An owner operator is most likely not going to hire you because it would make their insurance sky high! Not only because you are a new driver but once again, did not go through a school and receive some kind of formal training.

If it were that easy why would anyone pay thousands of dollars to go to a school? Avoid the shortcuts in life, they almost always don't pan out and end up costing you more time and money than if you did it the right way the first time.

Also avoid England and Stevens. If you are serious about being a professional driver than take the time to do things the right way and also take the time to find yourself a good smaller company to drive for.

 

Have you considered someplace like swift and take their training course? I just finished the first two weeks of swifts course which was on the driving range in Millington TN. It wasn't bad. I was given a week off and will be continuing my training on Monday in Ocala Fl. It cost me $4,400 for the motel for two weeks in Millington the two week course in Millington. That price includes the motel in Ocala for a week and the road training course in Ocala. Being from Florida I have to use 3rd party testing which cost me $200 out of pocket.

Swift does guaranteed in house financing with 0.00% interest. My monthly payments (13 months) are $300 but swift also does tuition reimbursement of $150 a month for 26 months. So my actual out of pocket is going to be $150 a month for 13 months and then they will give me back that money over the next 13 months provided I stay that long.

 

Maverick hires with no school. If you have a CDL, they will train you.

If this doesn't work, you will need some formal training.

Panther Expedite hires with no experience for cargo vans & straight trucks.

Looking over the list you have, a phone call won't do it, you must do an online application so they have something to physically look at. So, take the time to do it right. Start out first with Maverick, Prime Inc., and Central Refrigerated. I think your problem is you're taking shortcuts.

 

Companies sure do have stupid rules.I dont see why it matters.The ones the companies do accept,you would have never guessed they attended any school.No offence to you students.Im just saying the schools teach you just enough to get your cdl and leaves the real training with a trainer.

 

Keep your head up. You need to get the experience. I see you tried Knight. Did you look into their training program under Squire? Most of the mega companies do have training courses, for a fee of course. If I had to choose either of the two that will take you,..........Stevens would be it. I have read too many horror stories about CRE and their training and forcing leases on rookies. If I were you, go to Stevens, get your training and experience with them, then start looking for something better.