Knight or Schneider ??

It may not seem like it to you, but "They both suck, flip a quarter" is actually a reasonable answer.

 

@Chinatown

 

Yeah me too I was out of the Evergreen,AL OC, Lol I thought they were very proactive on safety. They would let you report damage and burn your dac big time. If you go to Schneider National you will learn and overall was ok but now that it’s been almost 15yrs ago, I couldn’t see it being any better. Good luck

 

That's true and the whole mega outfit is under Knight "Penny Pincher" management.

 

If you can find a way, cash or finance, I recommend you pay for your own training. If you sign a contract with a megacarrier, they will have you by the ringdabs.

 

Did you try Jim Palmer Trucking or Jones Bros. Trucking in Missoula,Montana? They both have cdl school.

 

Frying pan or fire?

 

While it's true that Knight and Swift "merged" (actually, re-merged, they started out as Swift decades ago and then parted ways, see wikipedia), part of the merger agreement was to let both companies keep their brands and identity. Bottom line, Knight actually took over a MUCH larger company from the top at the executive level

I start training with Swift next month, then .37 cents per mile out of the box after 200 hours of team driving, which will also pay well. The training is basically free after completing the 13 month contract. Nothing upfront but paying for lunch and dinner, the hotel is included (and hot breakfast), and it's actually a decent one, La quinta..

Swift has an academy and hub not too far from home, but another reason I chose them was because it's an all inclusive deal. They even train and put you up at hotel for the CDL permit training and DOT physical, where most companies make you do that for yourself prior to even stepping foot on campus. They even pay for gas, up to the cost of a bus ticket, if you decide to drive in with your own vehicle. It was the little things that ultimately drew me to Swift. Some will say go with state funded grants, pay for independent training etc, and they are right in their own minds. Or you can make it simple and go "all-inclusive" with less variables and just drive vs. thinking about greener pastures constantly, even during the first year. Different personality types come into play here. I choose the simple path of least resistance and to concentrate on mastering my new trade vs. chasing a few extra pennies per mile the first year or two. Plus, I prefer driving newer rigs and not worrying about breaking down all of the time. Having the most terminals will also save a bit on hotels, and maybe allow you to use home time other places than home. Stay positive. That's what I am trying to do and for the most part even the hard ##### around here have been helpful and civil regarding my decision to go company training under contract.