Looking for CONSTRUCTIVE opinions

I will be finishing my CDL in a while. The three companies I am seriously looking at are Crete, Watkins-Shepard and Grand Island. Crete seems to have a pretty good reputation for a mega carrier and they pay the best of the three.
W/S has a unique training program that, if you get through it, eliminates the driving with a trainer for 8 weeks thing. I know their 10 day deal is tough but the horror stories I read about the trainer thing makes this attractive.
Grand Island being considered mostly because they are smaller and maybe (and i say maybe) more personal. Don't see much about them but I know their recruiter is formerly from an outfit called Triple C which had a very bad reputation (the company, not necessarily the recruiter).

I'd be interested in any ACTUAL experiences people have and/or legitimate knowledge of any of the companies. I'm not looking to start a "I hate them" thread; just some real stuff that might help out. Thanks to all.

 

Congratulations on earning your CDL. I've no experience with any of the companies you listed, but have heard way more good than bad about all of them!

 

dont know anything about them companies but keep in mind when talking to any recruiter they are trying to pull in as many drivers as they can

 

Never been with any of them, and only really know what I do from my years on the road and talking and listening to drivers.

GI always struck me as a good outfit, but I really can't tell you why. Of Crete and WS, I can't see a real downside to choosing either one over many of the other traditional choices.

Keep readin' and listenin'..somethin' will come to ya! Good luck to you!

 

all three are great companies as far as i know from trucker talk.

on a kind of personal note im a werner driver and think what you might but i love it. for seven years i drove for a very small six truck company that even knew my name and it was nice but there are downsides to the small companies.

with the complete annonymity i recieve at my current employer i am pretty much a ghost and i love it, plus with the large carriers you never have trouble with getting that next load.

 

I am regularly around Crete and G.I. since I am in and out of Nebraska on a weekly basis. Just from what I know of these two, I would side with G.I. if I had to chose one. But that is just me. I have heard good and bad about Crete, but don't really think they are terrible by any stretch. I have just had better results with smaller carriers over the years.

You could find that you prefer it the other way around. There is no one size fits all in this business. Unfortunately for most, they may have to go thru a few companies before they really find one that fits them best. Occasionally, they make a good choice right out of the gate. They are the lucky ones.

You stand a better chance of making the right choice if you can determine if their customer base will allow you to run where you prefer and get you home in a timely manner. That may be difficult without talking to several drivers with the carrier you are considering. A lot of times it is not so much the name on the door of the truck as it is the customer base.

 

Have you called Crete because If I went with them I would have to go to their approved schools.

 

Might also want to check out FCC (Fremont Contract Carriers). They've just been named best company for company drivers. Saw that in Overdrive magazine I believe.

 

Baz/ I am in an approved school.

Gears/ thanks for the FCC tip. I'll check it out.

Cowpie/ I do like smaller companies which is why I am considering GI and Watkins/Shepard. WS also for the non trainer set up. From what I understand, GI hauls a lot of meat.