I guess this as good a place as any to start.

Oh. Great. If you can afford to pay for it yourself that is Positively the way to go. Shop around for the school that fits you best. Some schools are approved by some companies but not by others. If you know what company you want to work at, that will help you choose an approved school.

 

Not all mega's are bad experiences.
Those Tech schools are really good and also a cheap 160 hour school is ok.
CFI (www.cfidrive.com) is a large outfit, but the reputation is really good. Lots of Florida drivers work there and went through their in-house cdl school.
We can give you names of companies, then if you want, contact some companies and ask if they hire from those schools.
Abilene Motor Express - dry van & reefers (one of their trainers lives in Lake Wales)
Freymiller - www.drive4freymiller.com then click on "Recent Graduates" (tuition reimbursement)
CFI - www.cfidrive.com - dry van - tuition reimbursement
SRT - www.southernref.com - refrigerated coast to coast - up to $6K tuition reimbursement.
FFE (Frozen Food Express) - www.ffeinc.com terminals in Winterhaven & Miami - hires new cdl grads.
Want more names; let us know.

 

Prime Inc has a good training program.

 

CTL Transportation is based in Florida; Auburndale and Tampa.
ALL COMCAR CARRIERS OFFER THE FOLLOWING DRIVER BENEFITS:

• 401k retirement plan with company match for all company drivers
• Direct deposit
• Health, dental and vision insurance
• Short- and long-term disability
• Company-paid life insurance
• Flexible spending account for medical expense and dependent child care vacation
• 6 paid holidays
• Safety and service recognition with incentives
• Authorized passenger programs (excludes tanker drivers at CTL)
• Tuition reimbursement up to $6,000 paid within 25 months. We’ll even offer tuition reimbursement if we are the first or second company you work for within 6 months from your graduation date.
• 
  
• $6,000 military bonus for veterans and active reserves

 

Werner owns Roadmaster, so the push you to apply there.
That other school, Tampa Truck Driving School; between Stevens and US Express, I'd go with Stevens. Stevens lets solo drivers run coast to coast.
Either way, choose your first company carefully, so you can enjoy the road more.

 

Keep in mind; schools can push any companies they want to, but you make the final decision.

 

Indian River Transport has a good reputation, but need 2 yrs. experience.
Something to think about for the future.
Here's the website > Indian River Transport Company

 

I'm on the east side of Florida fort Lauderdale area.

If you don't care about OTR I would pick a mega and get the CDL at no cost.

Me I don't want OTR so I have been trying to find something around here.