Aspiring Missouri truck driver needing help

Hello,

I am currently looking into becoming a truck driver and live in Missouri. I am having trouble getting my CDL training. I know the best way is to pay for it myself to a school so I do not have a contract through a company. I have done a lot of research about companies and ways to get a CDL. I know there is company sponsored CDL classes such as PAM or USA and I have heard enough bad things about them that I do not want to go with them. I have a real interest in Schneider but they only offer reimbursement. I have horrible credit and can not get a loan. I also know about the WIA and have called about it but the only way I can get one is by being unemployed. I was just wondering if anyone had any advice or knew any decent companies around in or near Missouri that offered paid CDL classes. I also just filled out the FASFA to see if I can get the Pell Grant but I do not know if the Pell Grant covers CDL training. I just want to be a truck driver and make decent money starting out .25 cpm or above would be great (of course the higher the better.) If anyone could help I would greatly appreciate it and will be following this thread closely.
Thank you

 

Forgot to mention have clean driving record and a clean background. I am ex military but got f'ed out my GI bill and also can not get voc-reheab since I am not disabled. I also know if I break the contract I still have to pay them but what if I signed got my CDL with a company such as Pam USA or Swift and then got someone who hires newbies but pays better such as Schneider. Will they want the money in one lump sum or in payments like out of my account or something.

 

I think Scheinder would be a great first company I just can not get on there cause I dont have the money to get my cdl and they only offer reimbursement. I have looked at many sites and so far I think my decision is to get a cdl through a company and then get a job at Scheinder then quit the company that got my CDL or go with these companies I know they all have been told as a bad company but these are my choices I see around me. Swift, heard they were ok but the road time is small. CR England, heard that there pay is unreal something like .12 cpm but not sure, Knight Transport, hhave been trying to do some research but found nothing to much so far, PAM, heard it was team drives only and the pay was horriable if you do get any on the road time, USA, same as PAM, PRIME, hears horrer stories of people being forced to sign a lease to own or they would not be driving and that when they did do the lease to own when they got close to ownership they were let go and PRIME took the truck back to resale to a new person, FFE, heard both good and bad same as the others. I just do not know where to start I know it is hard to start out and want to get into the field but I wish Schnieder offered a paid CDL class I have not heard much bad about them. I just want to make sure that before I start this career that I would be able to recieve enough money to make my rent and bills otherwise it is no better than what I am doing now.

 

Lol a small town about 20 miles away from Sedalia called Warrensburg. I take it your from here or do I assume wrong and if you are got any advice, other than how to say our state name lol.