1st year salary and a working for a new company?

There are literally hundreds of threads like this, but basically there is no blanket answer because there are too many variables.

My question to you would be why didn't you get the job you applied for and who was it with? If it was one of the mega starter company and they didn't hire you, whatever the reason was isn't going away by you paying for a school and getting a cdl on your own. Basically if you have a pulse, a decent mvr with no duis, and can pass a physical, you're hired. If that red flag is one of those, any job that will hire you will be terrible. You'll drive crap equipment and be asked to do it illegally and for a crappy paycheck.

I'd take a good look at these forums and figure out why you didn't get hired before you invest money in a career that may or may not suit you.

 

ok probably a stupid question here but...what are the "mega starter companies"?

 

Swift, Roehl, are the two I know around my area. But I just got my application approved for roehl and getting the ball rolling with them.

 

There are many others... Werner, Schneider, U.S. Xpress. I think Con-Way has a program that u can get started in w/out CDL. Be persistent if u want it.

 

http://www.thetruckersreport.com/jobs4newtruckers/

This is a pretty extensive list. Don't just pick the first one and run with it. Take your time and do some research as to what fits you best.

PS. No stupid LEGITIMATE questions here despite what you might read.