Help finding a company?

Religious statements on the truck don't mean anything. The company is in business to make a profit, just as with any trucking company.

 

Dock to Driver Training Program
1417 E. Richey Road
Houston, TX 77073-3508
At Lynden, we are looking for candidates who want to learn from the ground up by working our docks while going to school to get the training needed to earn your CDL class A license.

You'll have an assigned mentor and learn about Lynden too, so that when you get your license, you're ready to move into the driver's seat.

We even pay the tuition at an accredited school of your choice.

 

The vast majority of trucks the fleets are buying these days are automatics. IMO, difficulty learning to shift has always been GREATLY exaggerated by newbies. It's something you can be taught in 1 day and practice and pass the DMV test after 1 week. Having an auto-restriction obviously means the jobs/companies with manual trucks can't use you, but every year that's a smaller problem. I used to belong to the "if you can't shift, you're not a real truck driver" crowd but I now think that idea is outdated today. Unless you want to pull heavy haul (oversize, overweight), drive log trucks, or go work in the oil fields, you don't need the manual license.

Whatever you do stay away from CR England under no circumstance and no matter what "promise" you think they are making. There are no exceptions. You want to ONLY consider being a company driver, not leasing, not owning for 1-3 years. No Exceptions.

CDL school is just to pass the state license. Your first company will pair you with a trainer and that is where you learn 99% of this job. No school will know any customer procedures, company dispatch requirements and procedures. You wouldn't choose who to marry based on which venue had the cheapest wedding package price. Focus on the Company, not the school.

Community colleges may have waiting lists and a much longer period of training. A 3 week CDL school, if you pay attention, will do just as well getting you ready to test. No matter which school method you use you will not know anything until you start driving and moving freight. The school you choose is NOT like picking a university and hoping that sets you into this network of alumni that can make or break your future.

 

Among many other reasons, CR England has driver facing cams and is currently moving to 3 people to a truck for training. Now, I don't know if you've ever set foot in a truck, but 2 people in a truck is a pretty snug fit. 3 is just rediculous and honestly unsafe (the 3rd person's bunk is actually above the cab over the driver).

In regards to your winter driving concerns, think about it this way. Would you rather have to learn after your training is done and you're out on your own, or while you're training with an experienced driver?