I see now why I should have just went to a school

How do you know the other companies aren't good?
Carter Express has a good reputation and pays for school.
Titan Transfer in Shelbyville,TN has cdl training and trucks have APU.

 

Carter Express and Titan Transfer are much smaller companies than most that offer cdl training.
Titan school is in Shelbyville and Carter is in either Paragould,AR or Pine Bluff.AR.

 

I am not trying to say anything negative here, but working for a company that puts you in an APU truck right out of the gate is setting expectations a bit high. Sometimes you have to concentrate on getting things one step at a time. Some call it paying your dues. Find a place that will train and help get the CDL, get some experience, keep your record clean, then you won't have a problem moving to better companies that have better equipped trucks. Many of us old farts had to drive a whole lot less driver friendly equipment when we were 1st starting out, long before there was anything like apu's, cell phones or GPS's

 

APU are $12,000 options and not proven to be so cheap to run and repair. My 2017 Freightliner has Detroit Optimized Idle system. It back on trucks as an option they had in the 90s. The computers can start engine run heat or a/c or charge batteries or keep engine oil warm. The big thing for 2017 is now it can also do automatic parked regeneration on DPF.

I could see APUs not being needed again if the Detroit Optimized Idle system keeps working with new emissions stuff. The reason my company is getting the Detroit Optimized Idle system is because no more APU repairs to worry about. So far it working and the automatic parked Regen is working.

 

Except back then there weren't idle laws and automatic shutoffs on trucks, you just idled all night. I would definitely look for a company that has some kind of APU or other comfort feature to stay cool or warm.

 

A word about Pine Bluff.

It's no go. Do not, whatever you do in life go there. We talked about memphis etc but PB has it all and then some added on being surrounded by Corrections it makes a living from. It's not a good place for anyone.
I don't go but once every ten years and only for a specific activity related to our history. And It's going on 20 since I last visited the place with a big truck.

 

He lives in or near Memphis; he's a tough guy. He can handle those wusses in Pine Bluff!