Please advise - I'm being terribly indecisive

I suggest you reconsider your choices for a job because this isn't about you, it is about the work.

YOU come up with all kinds of excuses of why you won't want to work for a company while you never drove a truck before, no cameras, no reefers, no this or that, please - why do you think you can choose these things in the first place. Our industry is this way because of the easy ways to get a license.

SO if you don't like what I wrote, here is what you do, fill out the applications, meet with the companies and see which one will fit your needs.

Because outside of the demands you have based on a lack of knowledge, it seems you won't ever be happy.

 

Since you want to take the wife, get that out of the way first. The two of you see the country, then go local later.
You don't know if Danny Herman will hire you unless you apply. At least there you'll see the west coast often.
You don't want reefers, so that really limits you as to seeing the west coast.
Britton Transport has dry van and flatbed plus rider program.
Navajo Express is reefers, but lets solo drivers run west coast and pacific northwest. Take the wife along.
Halvor Lines; don't know how their freight lanes are, but they hire from everywhere and have rider program. They have a dry van division.
Titan Transfer is dry van with rider program. I think their teams get most of the west coast runs.
Roehl Transport or Werner dry van probably ok to get the career started. Do the OTR national fleet though.
The fastest trucks are Danny Herman @67 mph and Abilene Motor Express @68 mph.
Abilene has rider program, but also cameras which the drivers cover when the truck isn't rolling. Not a lot of west coast at Abilene though, but some mostly with a trainer, from what's been posted.

 

Melton pays well and allows riders not sure how long you have to be with them would be something you would have to ask recruiter... Similar outfit to maverick

 

Contract Freighters Inc. runs west and can take the wife. Dry van company.

 

If I were you, I'd go with Werner and flatbed division. At least you'd learn how to work flatbed. I started with Werner myself. I liked it there except money. But it was 2002. If your wife can do CDL too, then the money as a team should be good even there.

 

Seriously your true talents are being wasted as a truck driver, try taking up short story writing or an autobiography you'll do very well!

 

Ok.

You still are going to be a city driver. In NYC I took out a ATF car once. 2000 dollars in damage ty. I took out two cars in DC one was a lawsuit and the other simply burned on the spot. You are going to find yourself in the city somewhere in the USA. So give it up. Settle down and do your best.

There are a thousand ways to get into trouble in trucking. Your first year is the most dangerous. If you make it that far without a preventable anywhere you can write a golden ticket for yourself. Especially if you stayed with one employer. You might actually like that first employer, the devil you know is way better than satan you don't savvy?

Enjoy this time in life. It's a journey. Not to be rushed making bad choices.