Company Sponsored CDL - Insight requested

I've been posting here for a couple of weeks asking advice regarding Schneider Team Driving, however yesterday I discovered that they actually do not have company sponsored CDL training and we (my girlfriend and I) would have to have our CDL A with appropriate endorsements prior to company training. I don't have the money to put myself through trucking school at this time, so I did some research and found this Top 10 Company Sponsored CDL Training For You!

In the description it says: "What is meant by company sponsored CDL training is that a company volunteers to pay for your training to get your CDL license. What they need in return is for you to enter into a contract with them that you will work with them for a given period of time after getting your license which is usually around one year."

Companies on the list:
FFE Transportation
Prime Transport
Pam Transport
Knight Transportation
Swift Transportation
USA Truck
CRST
Roehl Transport
Stevens Trucking
C.R. England

I know I would have to commit to one year with most if not all of these companies should I choose their company sponsored CDL training, however things happen and may end up being bad enough so at that point I may want to leave. Especially if the pay isn't what was promised.

What do you guys know about the non-competitive agreements/clauses with these companies? If I left after 3-6 months how would it affect me aside from owing back the remaining amount of money? Are there options of payment plans? Would they withhold my certificate of completion making my CDL null and void until I paid them back? Can they blacklist me for leaving before completing a year? Recently I seen someone say that many go with Swift, and after the training they leave and go with a different company. Surely there has to be a downside? How's the pay with some of the listed companies? How's the home time?

My plan is to go team with my girlfriend after completing training, we've been OTR with a different company (non-CDL) for 3 years but would like to get our CDL's now. Unfortunately we don't have $3-$7k lying around, so we would have to get ours sponsored through one of these companies. We both will be attending online school while trucking (she's got a year left, I'm just getting started), so appropriate time off every week/every other week/every three weeks with 5 days off possibly is important.

I know it's always best to speak with a recruiter, but I hear horror stories from people who are being lied to and told one thing and it ends up being another once they've committed. Again I know everything will never be peaches and cream however, some insight for each company via word of mouth from drivers around you is very helpful.

Thank you all in advance!

 

Wow I had no idea this existed, that's very helpful. Thank you very much.