Murfreesboro, TN Starter Companies

I have been debating on becoming a truck driver for a good while (and almost did a year ago), and am finally getting started at a local trucking school as soon as the grant paperwork gets together and approved. I have a large list of companies that will hire new drivers, but I would like some more personal recommendations that would fit my needs.

Type of trucking: regional or dedicated van/reefer/non hazmat tanker. Or perhaps some OTR program with a unique hometime plan.

Things wanted in the trucking company:
Safety
No prolonged forced teaming like Prime does for 40k miles.
Weekly hometime, roughly speaking. Preferably for more than a 34, but I am realistic.
Rider program for the fiance.
Good training program, but preferably no more than 4-6 weeks with a trainer, tops
The ability to be comfortable in the truck, temperature wise at minimum.
The ability to switch from regional or dedicated to OTR (for if/when the fiance and I want to be gone for a while). Or if I tire of regional.
The best pay that will include the most of that above.

I know I will be going through a lot of crap as a new driver. I don't expect the world handed to me, but I do intend to do my best at both obtaining the best job I can for me and then doing the best job I can at said job.

I have a spotless record and the only bad thing about me is about a 6 month employment gap in 2014 from when I was in Mexico or seeking employment when I came back.

I plan to work for A&R, Cardinal Logistics, Big G Express, or perhaps SE Carriers or some other long haul company if I go that route after 6 months to a year, unless I have a really great starter company.

Whatcha got, TTR?
@Chinatown

 

I will certainly consider trans-am, especially if I go straight OTR.

I contacted Maverick for their school a while back, and they wouldn't take me because I hadn't had the same employer for a year. I will contact them again, though, to see if that applies if I get my own CDL since I like their options.

I was seriously looking into RE West. I can deal with low pay and manually unloading water heaters, but I have read how they basically will let you go if you don't catch on quickly to their training and that they like to report things to the CSA (more than the average company?). I am afraid of shooting myself in the foot and hurting my trucking career before I even start. Is this a logical fear?

 

I haven't even looked into them since it seems like such a garbage company. I just can't bring myself to. I...I suppose I can do some googling.

 

The owner of the school that I plan on attending has ties to Star and recommended him for my needs. They're owned my Covenant, unfortunately, but have both otr and SE regional for Nissan. Gonna look into them.

I have a list of 40+ companies I created mostly from here, a few offering regional. I'll be contacting more of them soon.

How do most OTR companies view multi state regional or dedicated experience, especially when the ask for OTR?