Knight vs Stevens vs Prime for training...

I have been plugging along this board for about a year and I'm ready to take the plunge into the world of trucking. I have completed online applications for all the major training carriers and have been approved with Knight, Prime and Stevens. I'm wanting to get started ASAP and looking for advise on which one would be the best. I live in Oregon, but home time isn't really an issue as I plan on pretty much living on the road for the first year, but Knight is the only company of the three with a terminal in Oregon. Prime and Stevens say I do not need my permit before I attend the training, but Knight requires I have my permit. I'm not concerned about getting the permit, but I won't have the $ for the permit and physical until my next payday which is the 5th and then would need to call and set a date to start with Knight. The others I could get on the bus on the 6th. I also do have a dog, but if I need to I have someone that will take very good care of her either while in training or longer.

I have done a lot of research over the last year and I see pluses and minuses on each one. Here are some of them for me.

Knight: Terminal in Oregon, decent equipment, paid for all training, 0% interest on training $50/wk for 18 months, pets now allowed, training 4-6 weeks, sliding pay scale, many negative reviews and requires permit already, training in Phoenix which means 1 day on the bus from Oregon, seems to have blindly accepted application without checking anything information.

Stevens: Good equipment, don't need permit before arrive, claim to have more miles, good structured training program including all regions of the country, the school portion seems more like a typical driving school before hitting the road, more positive than negative reviews, no pets allowed, training is 0% if you stay for a year, but still spread out over 3 years, low starting pay, training in Dallas means 2 days on bus, seems to have blindly accepted application without checking anything.

Prime: Higher starting pay, pets allowed, no cost training if complete one year, have already checked driving and employment history, more positive than negative reviews, seems to be quick to let go from training, governed at 55mph even when states allow trucks to go 65, after two weeks on the road with trainer, small tractors, training in Springfield means 3 days on the bus.

Right now, it is more between Prime and Stevens and leaning more towards Stevens. My thoughts are that if I'm primarily going to be living out of the truck for the first year, the larger tractor would be a big benefit and the being able to go faster could counter act the lower starting wage for the most part over time. I have nothing to worry about as far as work history or driving record, but should I be concerned that Stevens did not check these before offering me a position?

Any comments are very welcome and encouraged, as I have not totally made up my mind yet and might have over looked something important.

 

Millis only hires east of Mississippi

 

Sorry, I was typing as I was thinking and sometimes my fingers go faster than my brain What I meant was the time in Mo before out with a trainer. Meaning you get your permit and your pretty much out on the road with not a lot of time to practice in the yard.