New Driver Company Recommendations?

Greetings everyone. Although I'm not new to the trucking industry, I've never before engaged in pursuing a professional driving career before now. Recent events over the past couple of months have forced me to re-evaluate my career options and I find that I miss the trucking industry, something I was familiar with many years ago as it was in-house fleet maintenance where I began working.

Because of my past experience, I'm not coming into the driver's training camp completely blind and it's already begun to pay off with jump-start results right out of the gate. I'm getting A's on all my testing in the first week class we're just about done with this week. Likewise, we've been furiously filling out application after application to get them out there. Providing that things keep going as they are for me now, I expect to graduate at the very end of January, possibly picking up a HME and Tanker endorsement the following Monday/Tuesday.

I've been told I look very promising to many potential employers, several of whom have already sent me pre-approval notices or even called me in-person. Several others may still do so, but I've got my eyes on three in particular, and I am wondering if any of the veterans with first-hand experience might be able to offer me their two cents, for weal or woe, on the choices? I'd love to hear anything anyone has to say about them.

They are:

Werner Enterprises
TransAm
Stevens Transport


Again, positive or negative, I'd like to hear recommendations on who might be the best option for a Florida-grown student who needs experience and a bright future to grow into. I'd like very much to find a company I can retire with but, at this point, I'd settle for one I can just call a good home for a few.

Thoughts?

 

It's been a busy, study and action-packed three weeks, but I'm happy to share that I graduated this afternoon and should have my hardcopy CDL-A in hand as of Monday morning. As for the "big three", much has changed in two weeks, given the things I've found within the general trucking community as to opinions on the companies I was looking for. Wow, what a surprise TransAm has been. The forums here as well as Indeed and Glassdoor all seem to have consistent themes and commentary on what TA is up to these days, and correspondence with TA directly has only yielded very neutral, in-general commentary in response -- very weak-kneed responses too, I might add. Requests for detailed information about their programs for new drivers and their training programs have only yielded rather unprofessional and nothing of real substance on the matter that pertained to what I requested. Not only that, but two attempts resulted in the SAME form letter from two DIFFERENT recruiters at TA.

Perhaps the word to the wise is that TA acts like it very much has something to hide. Be careful out there if you're considering them. They're well-removed from my radar screen now.

My decision has come down to Swift and Werner. Both have very similar offerings, similar perks and benefits, and opportunities after the inital training to get setup on a more localized service run area based close to home. Of the two, I'm more comfortable with Swift, as I once worked for this terminal in their maintenance dept. many years ago. So while my leaning is Swift, I haven't quite ruled out Werner just yet. These two have been jockeying for 1st place in my head all week.

Going to make the attempt to acquire Hazmat and perhaps Tanker endorsements when I go to pick up my CDL-hardcopy next week. Hopefully the added flexibility will be worth it.

 

@ 77smartin: Ocala, Florida -- Along I-75 corridor, about 20 mins north of the Florida Turnpike's northern end.