Looking for a decent school to start my career otr.

Training Provider Registry
This is the list of companies authorized by the FMCSA to provide cdl training.
Can also attend a trucking company cdl training.
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Community college cdl programs are highly recommeded. Most companies hire from those.

 

Roehl Transport has cdl school and pays the students $616.00 weekly while attending their cdl school.
My neighbor went through that program and said it's the real deal.
If you go with Roehl, I recommend going with the refrigerated division.
CDL Training (Paid) & Truck Driving Schools | Roehl.Jobs
This website doesn't show the $616.00 weekly pay, it shows less. But the $616.00 is accurate.

 

This one is dry van.
CDL-A School | Millis Transfer
6 Convenient School Locations:

• Hamilton, Ohio
• Cartersville, Georgia
• Richfield, Wisconsin
• Burleson, Texas
• Eden, North Carolina
• Carlisle, Pennsylvania

 

Call Dutch Maid Logistics in Williard, Ohio and ask about their cdl school.
It's not on the website.
This is a coast-to-coast refrigerated trucking outfit.
Dutch Maid Logistics | Now Hiring Drivers

 

Home | Maverick
This is a flatbed company. School in Arkansas.

• • HIRING MAP
  • FLATBED DIVISION
  • GLASS DIVISION
  • MARINE DIVISION
  • LOCAL/DEDICATED JOBS
  • STUDENT PROGRAM
  • CDL TRAINING PROGRAM

 

Wilson Logistics
This is a refrigerated outfit and cdl school is in Springfield, Missouri

 

Leonard's Express is in Farmington, NY which isn't too far from you. They're partnered with a school on their property. Check them out.

Canandaigua Driving School on Collett rd

 

The better approach is to find the company you want to work for AND THEN decide about CDL school. You wouldn't plan a wedding and then only after you have got all of those details worked out, and paid for, start looking for a wife. Make decisions for the long-term and work out the short term details as you go. IMO.

The CDL school just teaches you to pass the state exam. The real training comes from the trainer at your first employer. Decide what type of freight you want to pull, pull dry van if you don't have a string preference. Decide how often you must be home, how long you need to be home when you are home. Decide which of those is more important if you can't get both the way you want. Some trucking companies ave theor own CDL school or they only hire from certain CDL schools. Half of trucking companies that hire newbies have Tuition Reimbursement that will repay your CDL loan, if you need one. BTW, if you have the cash for school but your employer pays Tuition Reimbursement, take the student loan, in order to get the TR. They seldom pay TR unless you have a school loan.

 

You're already headed in the right direction by looking beyond the school and seeing what company would hire you. you're right about PAM... tossed in for mandatory teaming with another rookie for a period of time before heading out solo and getting Pennies A Mile (its truly no joke).

Definitely look into @Chinatown 's suggestions above. Getting paid to learn rather than paying to learn is what someone in your situation needs more than anything, even if it takes a few extra weeks before you can get started.