Any advice

Call Arnold Transportation. They have a great training program, nice equipment, plenty of freight and a terminal in Grand Prairie near you. Hometime is 2 days in and two Wks out. I am posting my experiences in a thread called Arnold Orientation. Good luck. I talk, text and Skype with my wife and two kids all the time, so the seperation is not that bad. Have fun!

 

I see u have crengland on your list,cross that out out,they have one of the worst reputations in this industry.I would'nt be so quick saying recruiters lie.I think the company itself plays a major role in that.What they tell you is right there on their website.But once you get hired everything changes so blame that on the company and dispatchers.So hurry up and take the refreshers course and get out here.Oh far as freedom goes there's not of that out here.Qualcomm monitors every move you make and your dispatcher likes to bug you just to make sure you're still alive and kicken,lol.

 

there are local companies that will hire you without experience. Or if you start as a dock worker you can move up to a driving position

Con-Way freight and ABF freight both have a truck driver school and are both local companies. CWF will hire you but depending on the extra board it can vary how much you will get to work. If ABF does hire you thats a good job to have. Same with con-way about work wise but they are union and only will hire if a driver is needed.

 

Hey Dallastruker, Welcome to the forum!!!

Most companies nowadays are not going to hire you unless you have gone through an accredited school to get your CDL. Otherwise these schools would just rent trucks, it would be a lot easier.

The second thing you have going against you is a wife and family. Personally, I highly recommend (especially since you haven't paid for school) that you do something else.

When theses recruiters say 2-3 weeks that is more of a perk to get you to sign up rather than a reality. You are looking at more like 4-6 weeks minimum time out. Also, if you aren't willing to stay out for longer periods of time than you will find yourself not getting any miles. The guys willing to stay out get the miles. The ones that need to go home all the time stay close to home and deliver and pick up everyone else's loads!

So if you are willing to go about it the right way, go to school, get on with a decent company and put your time in over the road then a year or so later, god be willing, you will find a decent local job that pays enough to support you and your family.

Make sure you get something in writing about just taking a refresher course before heading off to orientation! These recruiters say anything just to get you to show up. As long as you show up they get paid and could care less if you get sent home! Cover your butt!

 

it might be worth checking out transam they have a yard in rockwall

 

You could call Prime, we have a Texas regional flatbed division. Best paying starter company out there. Check out the Prime threads.

 

Make a list of your wants and needs. Then make a list of companies that best fit those. Once you have narrowed your search down to a dozen or so start making phone calls to recruiters and get the finer details.

If you go through company schooling it will probably save you a lot of money upfront. Also you already have a job when you are done with your schooling provided you don't fail. Some don't like the fact of being tied into a company or on the hook but personally I would rather be on the hook with a trucking company then a bank. Boils down to personal preference.