Please help with deciding company to work/train for

Here's a job in Council Bluffs with a 'dock-to-driver' program.
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YRC Freight
3219 Nebraska Ave, Council Bluffs, IA 51501

$17.50 an hour
The Yellow Corporation, along with all subsidiary companies,*dock to driver program starts on our dock where you work and learn dock operations, forklift training, and loading and unloading trailers. Then, Yellow trains individuals at the Yellow Truck Driving Academies. Yellow's training programs are a US Department of Labor Registered Apprenticeship Program. Academy classes meet 8-hours a day, 5-days a week for 4 weeks. While at the Driving Academy,students earn a wage for their training time and may be eligible for paid travel based on location*.After successful completion of the Driving Academy, students test for a Class A CDL with Hazmat, Tanker, and Doubles/Triples endorsements.
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McLane Company reimburses cdl school tuition if you attend a private cdl school.
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McLane Company
Omaha, NE 68197
$75,000 - $80,000 a year
Driver trainee:
MUST have class A CDL
A teammate in this position learns the essential functions of the Driver job including the accurate and timely distribution of products to various customer locations. The Driver Trainee gains exposure to warehouse and other operational functions as part of the developmental process of becoming a McLane Driver.

• Pay Rate while in training: $25.00 per hour
• Pay Rate once training is completed: First year Drivers can make $75-80K annually
• Day 1 Benefits available: medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 

 

That was the best sales pitch in TTR history lol but you spoke some good words

 

That Schneider is a pretty sweet gig in my mind. That is really good money for a first year driver. I don't think you would be in terrible shape if you went with Werner and did the Dollar General account. You're in Nebraska and most DGs in that part of the country are newer looking and more spacious. It beats any of the clusters here in Tennessee where you'd have to back off the street, or try to show up there after hours.

 

And if it's manual labor you're looking for with really crappy hours, food service might be your bag. Sysco and McClain off the top of my head.
Or beer or soda delivery.

 

More money with Werner, but be super careful and don't take any risks in the Dollar parking lots.
I pulled out of a parking lot similar to Dollar and the trailer swing hooked a car and put the rear of the car into the next parking spot. I ignored that and kept going and got away with it. Rare to not get caught. Keep that in mind and take it slow and easy.

 

Based on everything you've said, I would avoid company training if I were you. It can be a great resource for some, but you sound like you would benefit most from keeping your options open. Being under contract with a company doesn't help with that. Even if they have a bunch of accounts in your area, they might not be so quick to switch you to another if you don't like the one you're on when they know you can't just walk if they don't.

If you can, go with a community college or private school. Look into the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act through your state's employment office to pay for it. Start off your career as a free agent if you can. Only go the indentured-servant route if there's no other way.

Since you really seem interested in DG accounts, I'm guessing hometime is probably important to you. Avoid OTR like the plague in that case. Try regional to test the waters if you decide against DG or it doesn't work out, but do NOT dive headfirst into the one part of the industry that chews up most new drivers and spits them out. You won't even make good money your first year. Companies push it on new drivers so they can use them as scab labor to drive down wages for veteran drivers.

Werner was my first company. They have their issues, but there's a lot worse out there, especially starting out. Their Omaha terminal, the HQ, is nice. They also have a variety of accounts, which can keep you from having to leave if you hate yours. I only left because I couldn't get off OTR, but that was because they didn't have a lot where I live. You might not have that problem. It's good to be able to swap accounts within the same company if you don't like the first one. Future employers won't consider you a job hopper for doing that.