Fresh Meat Looking For A Starter

No matter where you go, you'll get decent training. Companies won't put you in their expensive equipment and then throw you to the wolves.
Lots more choices than what you've looked at so far.
Green Transportation - Holland,Michigan - specialize in west coast runs.
R.E. West Transportation - terminal near Detroit (Grand Rapids)
Calex Logistics - runs produce out of California
Schuster - nations largest ice cream hauler.
Britton Transport - smaller, excellent company.
Contract Freighters Inc. (www.cfidrive.com) coast to coast dry van.
NTB Trucking - big account is Meijers stores & distribution centers.
West Side Transport - guaranteed minimum weekly pay.
Stevens Transport - refrigerated coast to coast.

 

Green runs teams to the west coast.
All those companies I listed hire new cdl grads.
Abilene is a good choice also, that you are considering.

 

Running a local route as a recent grad is unlikely; most companies that hire new grads often have them running OTR. This way, new grads would have an ample opportunity to train and gain experience. If you are lucky, you may find a few companies that have regional routes for new grads. Regarding pay, there are many companies that pay new grads $40,000 - $50,000 in their first year. So, we can check off OTR/regional route, $40K/year, solo driving and good driver training program.

I'm not sure about shifting Vs automatic because most trucking companies are moving away from manual transmission. All late models are now fitted with automatic trans but I'm sure there may a few companies out there that are still receiving late truck models with manual trans.

So, take a look at roehl transport. The company has an extensive training program for student drivers and recent grads and their pay is reasonable. You may also take a look at Transport America. The company offers various driving options for new grads.

My 3rd recommendation is a job placement service called ceeberr dot com. The way the service works is simple. You tell them what you are looking for and their team will do the research and then use their findings to match you with the best offer you qualify for. The service is 100% free. Two of my friends have used the service and they speak highly of it. So, you may try it to see if it works for you. Good luck!

 

You can also try PTL (Paschall Truck Lines.) I drove there for awhile before they started a training program so I don't know how long you'd stay with a trainer..I didn't make a lot CPM wise but got a lot of miles and didn't have any problems with them , I left for a dedicated gig in my hometown..you'll eat good in orientatation there .. remember don't believe all the bad stuff you'll hear about some outfits . I heard or read bad things about PTL but talked to a few drivers at stops and they liked it there so I gave em a shot and never regretted it...try to talk to drivers from whatever company you think about ..hope it all works out for ya..

 

Crete/Shaffer has one of the best training programs, imo. It is 8 weeks long. A few of their trainers suck, but if you get the right one, you will learn a lot.

I have also heard good things about Prime.

 

The fact that you have the credit worthiness to fund yourself through a loan from a bank puts you light years ahead of the competition. If you are a common sensical person with a solid working background, then you don't need more than 4 weeks with a trainer to get a feel for the job. So if a company tells you they want to put you with a trainer for 6 weeks and then team you with another new driver for 6 months, you might not need all that. I knew I could do the job on my own after a couple weeks, even though I trained for four.

Two things I know about Abilene: very nice equipment and I believe they are an east coast outfit but I see their trucks out west quite a bit.

I wouldn't keep refering to myself as "fresh meat... lurking" around truck drivers though. It might get you chewed up and spit out. This is not a crowd that you want to sell yourself short with, especially since you have more on the ball than a lot if them. Don't show them a weak hand, it will be used without mercy against you.

 

Wherever you wind up, interview the guy that will be training you. How many years has he been driving? How long has he been training? Is he one of these guys that crawls in the sleeper and you never see him again, you do all of the work and he gets the pay? He is supposed to be training, not sleeping or jerking off in the sleeper. And, will you get along with him. If you get a nagative to any of these questions, request another trainer. There are one to many bone heads out here driving these trucks, don't let a bonehead train you.

 

I've heard a lot of good things about Schneider's training. If they paid better, I'd have gone there for the training as a tanker.

I ended up going to Superior. The classroom time is quality training with Superior. As far as the driver training itself, it is hit or miss. The training isn't standardized and is left up to each terminal and the individual trainer. I got lucky with an excellent first trainer. My second trainer is a good driver but an awful trainer.

As the poster above mentioned, my new trainer is in it for the money and incapable of actually training. He admitted as much our first day together. He sits there in the passenger seat counting his money. He has no business holding the title of trainer. A good driver with decades of experience, but it's just about the money for him. He's put me in a couple of dangerous situations which I won't go into detail on here about.

I'll write it all up for the head of our company training program once I'm released from training. Luckily for me, they guy at the delivery took over for him and fixed our last situation.

Definitely check into the trainer if you are able. Years of driving and being a trainer does not translate to being a good trainer. I've relieved better quality instructors for cause while in the military than the current trainer I have.

I love the company, but the training has a systemic flaw. I thought it was just my bad luck, but after discussing it with several others from my time in Greer, it is hit or miss across the board.

I'll definitely write up an example of a training outline along with my concerns to go up to our corporate guy. I have extensive training and experience as a trainer in different fields so I do understand how a program should be run. Yeah, I'm gripping a bit, and that should tell you all you need to know.
Lol

Anyway, best of luck. Looking for the best training is the right attitude. The money will come.