narrowing down the list

This sounds like a job for Dut dut dut duh duh! @Chinatown. I would personally avoid reefer companies due to sit time. You may look at Star Transportation, Titan Transfer also. Hopefully more will chime in familiar with Kentucky.

 

And paschal truck lines, they hire students and are in Kentucky. You may google KY trucking companies that hire students, I know that Titan and Star can keep you busy, and also try the search feature here for personal reviews of these companies.

 

From personal experience informally speaking with a handful of drivers, have heard mostly good about Danny Herman (Mountain City,TN reefer) & Dillion (Mt.Juliet,TN dry van)

Drivers from both said they do California turns regularly as solos & seemed happy from demeanor.

As far as paid training, my GF & I both went through Prime's program & were happy enough to stay & get experience before landing a retirement job.

Would recommend on the condition that you do NOT get suckered into their lease, (always thank a lease driver since they pay for your company truck & their own, making almost the same money) keep your eyes/ears open-do not become a "OTR lifer" at Prime before you realize what is happening, & do your due diligence before job hopping-the grass is rarely as green as others make it seem.
If you do prime, make sure to do the 401k, it's a 4% match of free money with only a year vesting time which you would be there for anyway.

The quality of trainer will make the difference in any school, paid or not; we both got lucky.

Not a lot of good options for free CDL school but I CR England would be one of your worst options.


BTW, unlikely any CDL school company will keep you out west unless you have a dedicated, (rare in those companies) they have way too many contracts & the east generally pays better on shorter loads more suited for solos.

 

"I am a career changer, empty nester who is planning to embark on a solo, OTR trucking career."

Very similar situation going here. Good luck to you!

 

Have you looked into Millis? They are best paying training company out there. .42cpm while on trainers truck and paid for every mile the truck is dispatched on no matter if its you or the trainer driving