QUESTIONS ABOUT SELECTING THE RIGHT COMPANY TO SELECT.

If I were in your shoes. I'd consider a job in Alabama that you can transfer to Seattle once you're in. Those food jobs...Sysco, Reinhart, USfoods. There are more. That would be a good one.
That, or something like UPS, or FedEx. Local delivery of freight. Dedicated route regional?

Cents per mile doesn't spell it all out. Does give a good idea. You have to consider the job. Reefer is grueling. Waste alot of time at shippers/receivers. Go 24 hours. That is dictated by the job and what works out. Sleep when you're allowed. Other jobs drop and hook, or dedicated don't waste time. All these are not local jobs though.

I wouldn't worry too much about a company paying for your CDL school. You get a good driving job. You'll be making money. Included in the offer to pay for school. Well.. they make sure it's worth the company's paying. You most likely lose out more on them paying. It's because they pay you less the first year. You, in reality, still pay for the school.

EDIT: I apologize. I ignored school only in Alabama. Live in Oklahoma.

 

When do you plan to move to Bellevue,WA?
Where do you live now; in Oklahoma? Which city?
Local jobs with a full benefits package are available in most areas of the USA for new cdl grads, unless you're really out in the boonies.
i know Seaboard Transport is big in Oklahoma and has local/regional/OTR.
Let us know where you will live when you first graduate from cdl school and if you will have endorsements.

 

On the getting home. Depends on the company. Have to talk to them.
Often, they will put you on a run that brings you by your home. Find a place to park the truck or just the trailer. Then bobtail home. Many possibilities.
I live 400 miles from my terminal. They promised to get me by my home, 2 to 3 times a month to take my 34. It hasn't happened in 4 months. The industry is slow right now. I hadn't been home in two months. My truck broke. Mechanic wanted me out of the truck. Boss wanted a hotel room. I told him: I've haven't been home in two months. A rental car is cheaper than a hotel room. I was in a rental car within the hour. I'm still home over a week later. No money earned this week. My truck they decided has to go back to main office for repair. They don't want to pay. I was scheduled for a new truck. Boss said: "They said it would be here in April. Last time I looked, it's May." They're working hard to get my new truck outfitted quickly and to me. Boss is also making sure I get a good run next week. He doesn't care what I have to do it in. He knows I have to make money. Doesn't want to lose me. After that run. They may even fly me to the main office to pick up the new truck? Many possibilities.
On the not getting home. I have seen the run that could get me home. I rationalize, the dispatcher had a choice of getting me home. Or me making over twice that amount on a much longer run. He chose to give me the money. Or I would have been home in the past two months. They are keeping that in mind. They want to keep me. I slam those runs. I can make it from Denver to Portland in exactly two days of driving. I remember pulling into Jubitz truck stop in Portland...my screen came up saying I was out of drive time.... 11:02. big grin!

 

Trucking companies hire based on your domicile right now. The address on your cdl and your zip code. This is known as hiring area. Dozens of jobs are available in Bellevue,WA, but those local jobs won't hire you if you have a Oklahoma address on your cdl. One you move to Bellevue you'll have a new job within 48 hours.
There's not much local around where you live in OK. Most of those decent jobs are tankers and you need experience unless Seaboard has a tanker opening. They also pull reefers to the ports on the Gulf Coast.
You can be a bedbugger to start off, but the pay isn't too good. it's a start anyway if you want local work.
CDL Class A Driver 14.00 to 17.00 hr
Coleman Worldwide Moving - Lawton, OK

 

As you can see by the map above in Post # 15, Coleman is big about anywhere, including Washington. They're probably represented in every state, not just what's on the map. You can easily transfer to Bellevue from Oklahoma when you're ready. When you arrive in Washington you'll have to transfer your cdl from Oklahoma to Washington by visiting the local DMV in Bellevue or nearby.

 

You might also think about putting off moving to Wa. until after you have a year in. Concentrate on a decent driving job. Get that year in. Then consider the move. Perhaps too many things at once?
There are lots of OTR companies in Missouri and other close to you. I've seen ones in Oklahoma. They can get you home. It's good money. Those same companies getting you home to Bellevue? Not so easy.

 

I hope you have family in Bellevue or a sugar mamma. The cost of living there compared to anywhere in Oklahoma will be huge. Don’t bother moving if you aren’t doing local for good money. You will pay 1200+ for a place you hardly ever see. As far as choosing where to go my advice is this: If the company has a recruiter(s) on salary that is at the very least a red flag for you to do your homework on them. High paying jobs, with good equipment, dispatch and benefits don’t require a slick, silver tongued recruiter to get the seat filled.