can anyone help????

You are asking the same question that gets asked every day here...... I am fairly new and I am exhausted from typing ......

You should be able to find answers to all your questions if you go up to the top and do a search of the site......

You can also just read the recent posts in this area......... they are basically all the same as yours....... how do I get started, what should I do, what is the best choice, who should I go with.........

You do say you don't want to go with one of the newbie companies but you don't have the money to pay for a private school...... you will probably have a real difficult time finding one of the "better" companies to take you in, train you and give you a job...... all without knowing anything about your aptitude...... that would be my opinion......

As for recommendations........ I would say Schneider without a doubt...... if they will take you then go!

I will try to find a few other threads that might help you.........

Btw........ Welcome!!
TST


Click on each of these to see similiar threads..........

http://www.thetruckersreport.com/tr...rs/45732-newbie-needs-help-with-decision.html

http://www.thetruckersreport.com/tr...least-out-of-pocket-expenditure-training.html

http://www.thetruckersreport.com/tr...ons-from-new-drivers/45690-werner-claims.html

http://www.thetruckersreport.com/tr...8824-need-some-advice-newb-at-crossroads.html

http://www.thetruckersreport.com/tr...chneider-training-march-15th-carlisle-pa.html

http://www.thetruckersreport.com/tr...m-new-drivers/44709-what-the-best-option.html

Happy Reading!

 

I know ur struggle i walked that road of undecided about which company. i decided to go with Swift i have heard alot about them good and bad...but i have to go with my gut instinct. i would suggest just going with ur gut feeling on which company would suit u best. A start is never easy but u have to make that first step in order to start. wish u all the best of luck

 

As storyteller said - this is a common question. Even I, the magnificent, asked it recently.

1) School. Most of us here will recommend that you use an independent, PTDI certified school. When you graduate, you are not beholden to any one company and can farm the whole available list.

Funding is frequently an issue. See what grants and loans are available from the local unemployment office. I used Workforce Investment Act (WIA) grant for my school.

2) Company. This is the hard one, really. You have to look around. Talk to drivers at the local truck stops (if you have any). Read a LOT (yeah, it can be a pain, but it's worth it. Trust me) onilne. Read up using this - and other trucker sites. See what the truckers have to say. Go to the company web sites - read what THEY have to say.

Think long and hard about your priorities. What aspects of the job are important to you, and which are not. *WRITE THEM DOWN* Look at companies again. See which companies match your priorities the best. WRITE THEM DOWN. Look at the list again. Maybe shuffle some of your priorities - do a what if operation on each of them. "What if I don't like <this option>? Does this company offer alternatives?"

Check them out at safesite/dot. what's their safety record?

Once you have a list refined to maybe 10-15 companies that look to suit your needs best, THEN start sending applications.

My personal recommendation is to avoid the newbie mills (Swift, Werner, etc) and look, instead, at the mid-sized companies (and smaller - possibly local companies) who hire newbies. But, that's MY preference. may not suite you at all.

3) Recruiters. Never let them get away with generalities. If you have questions, demand precise answers. If you ask "how many miles am I likely to run as a new driver" don't settle for "our drivers average 3400 miles a week". Don't fall for pie in the sky vague promises of $50k/year. Face it. $30K is much more likely. Less if you work for some companies.

In fact, if it were possible, I'd say never talk to a recruiter at all.

4) applications. Send your applications directly to the company you are interested in. If you fill out an application on line, make sure it's a secure form (URL will start with "https://" and the key/lock icon will appear in the bottom of your browser window.) If those indicators are missing, go ahead and fill the application out - but do NOT include your DL number, or your SSN. They will understand and will get that info when they call you.

5) questions. Ask them. Lots of them. any of them. Many will answer, on this board. There's also a relatively small core of posters who have (I think) little better to do than to help newbies. For this, I bless them, as they helped me make MY decisions. You'l quickly come to recognize them, and pay attention to them. They are occasionally incorrect, but they never deliberately steer you wrong. The fact that you are female will never cause an emotional slant to their replies - and some can probably even forgive the fact that you are from Misssouri

6) Welcome aboard. Hope to see you on the road soon.

 

Good advice Lurchgs.....I had considered before choosing Swift on going to MTC school..they were trying to get me with Warner, but they kept getting different dates and such a runaround so i left them alone and holding onto my July date with Swift.

 

If a carrier school is your only option, have you talked to other carriers? In particular, I mention Schneider. I don't know anything directly about them, but I've never heard anything bad about their training. Quite the opposite, in fact.

 

Nothing wrong with Missouri.. I just wish the ladies would take the state motto more to heart!