Best Company for new drivers? Please help!

You’re asking reasonable questions, and honestly a lot of the frustration you’re seeing online comes from mismatched expectations more than outright bad companies.

For brand new drivers, there really aren’t many places that “have it all” right away; good pay, great home time, perfect dispatch, and zero stress. Most starter companies trade higher structure and training for lower early pay.

Companies like TMC or Melton get mixed reviews, but they tend to be more consistent than places like Western Express, especially when it comes to equipment and safety culture. Flatbed programs are harder upfront, but many drivers come out better prepared and more marketable after the first year.

The downtime and $800/week complaints are real; but that usually hits drivers who don’t yet know how to manage trip planning, communication, or expectations with dispatch. That improves with experience.

The biggest thing I’d caution against is chasing “good pay” in the first year. The goal early on is clean experience, good habits, and staying out of trouble. After 9–12 months, options open up quickly.

It’s not glamorous at first, but starting with the right foundation makes a big difference later.

A few other companies that often get overlooked but are worth researching for new drivers:

• Roehl – very structured training, predictable freight, and generally fewer horror stories than some starter carriers.
• Schneider – not exciting pay; wise early on, but consistent miles and decent safety culture.
• Hirschbach – mostly reefer, but tends to be more organized than many entry-level outfits.
• Prime – polarizing, but usually better equipment and training than bottom-tier starters.
• Knight / Swift – mixed reviews, but wide freight network and lots of learning opportunities if dispatch is solid.

No matter the company, I’d recommend focusing less on advertised CPM and more on:
• how often drivers actually sit
• equipment condition
• communication with dispatch
• and how issues are handled when things go wrong

 

That makes a lot of sense, and honestly I don’t blame you for feeling uneasy. When you’re reading those stories and trying to protect someone you care about, it’s overwhelming.

A lot of what you’re describing is exactly why the first year feels so intimidating; you’re committing to something that you can’t fully control yet, and the bad experiences are always the loudest online.

From what you’ve shared, your husband actually sounds like the kind of driver companies don’t struggle with long term: realistic expectations, willing to work, focused on learning instead of shortcuts. That mindset alone avoids a lot of the early friction that people run into.

That said, I don’t want to pretend there’s zero risk. Some companies really are harder to deal with than others, and some dispatchers are better than others even within the same carrier.

I’d really encourage some of the more experienced drivers here especially anyone who’s been through their first year recently to chime in with what helped them avoid sitting, constant write ups, or pay surprises. Hearing how others navigated that first year is probably more helpful than any single recommendation.

You’re doing the right thing by asking questions now instead of after the fact.

 

You will get better suggestions if we know generally where you reside -- a zip code will work just great -- or a nearby city, state....

Also:

• any traffic tickets or accidents in the last 5 years?
• any criminal history in the last 7 years...or so?
• does he have any CDL endorsements yet (tanker, hazmat)?

-- L

 

So... the first thing I'd advise him to do is stop paying attention to reviews. I say that because if a new driver keeps reading and relying on reviews, it'll delay him getting started. He will forever be "chasing sizzle," which means looking for something that appears pretty. Trucking is about what a driver puts into it. If he or she can figure out a company's system, then they will figure out how to be successful there.

His bigger albatross will potentially the fact that he didn't get started right away. He needs to put in applications immediately so he can either get started, or get back on the path to get started.

Also, tell him to get this "doesn't want to be seen as just a number instead of a valuable employee" line out of his head. These folks are only concerned with butts to seats. That's a line of someone talking to the wrong type of driver, and could get him job hopping. He needs to get on with a company, work on getting some experience, and after about a year or so, the industry opens up with better opportunities.

 

Does he want flatbed, dry van, reefer, tanker? Or he is open to anything? The more open and flexible he is, the more likely it is he will succeed.