questions

I will try and answer, but I have yet to go to school, but have read many a post.

No experience, no problem. However in most all cases your gonna sign a contract that you will drive for them for X amount of time. In most cases if you leave before the amount of time they will want there money from day one, lots of it.

Where ever you go there would be recruiters looking for newbies. You can also research on the net for companies that hire newbies, you just need to watch out which school you go to, cause some are pricey, I plan on going to the Technical College for mine.

You can go to companies that are more regional to the area you live, there are some that travel smaller areas of the country.

As a newbie most companies are gonna want 1yr experience, however you may be able to get a local job, its gonna depend on the need in your area.

 

I, too, am completely new to the industry. Here, for what it's worth, is what I've learned so far:
A lot of those ads that you read in papers and online aren't exactly scams, but they're placed by companies (many of which you'll read volumes about in this forum) that have less than stellar reputations and can't attract or keep good, experienced drivers. Those companies, from what I've read, are to be avoided at all cost. Unless, of course, you have no other options in life.
My Class A cost me just over $3000 with tanker endorsement. Still waiting on the background check (a whole 'nother story) so I can complete my HazMat. I'm guessing that's about average. I understand you can get one cheaper than that, but I'd seriously question the quality of training. If you're a displaced worker, as in my case, you can usually get tuition assistance from your state or other agencies.
I've also found, through filling out many applications, that most of the local companies here are required by their insurance carriers to hire only drivers with a certain level of experience. The average here being two years. You can find those that don't live under those restrictions, but they're rare around here (Vermont), and they're also not currently hiring. I'd imagine in a more "freight heavy" area you'll find more of them.
As an aside, I'll say I understand the insurance thing to a large extent. I wouldn't give me a job hauling tanker loads of, say, gasoline at this point in my career. On the other hand...
It looks to me as though I'm going to have to try hooking up with one of the larger "will train" carriers to get my seat time and experience. That may involve going out for a week at a time for a couple of years. If that's the worst that it gets, so be it. Gotta start somewhere. It could be much worse, I'm thinking.
Again, read what there is to be read on this website. It's fantastic. If it isn't here somewhere, it probably hasn't been experienced, and these guys are more than willing to share what they know. By the time you've spent a couple of hours here, you'll know who to go to and who to avoid as far as trucking companies go, and you'll have a pretty good idea of what you stand to earn starting out. Be warned, though; that part can get pretty confusing. Just keep reading and asking questions. Good luck to you.

 

Whistler, I'm in New England also looking for a school to get a CDL Class A. Where did you get yours? (I'm in Mass).

 

Let's see if my experience can shed some light for you.

Hope this book I wrote helps you figure it all out a little better. Just so you know, I left Swift because of some crap the night time dispatchers would always pull. The daytime people were great. But they're not so bad to get a start. You just probably won't want to stay there long. If able look at paying up front and getting your money back in 6 months so you have the option to go elsewhere. Melton runs flatbed and they require 6 months experience but they were an excellent company to run for. Minimum two weeks out at a time. But this lets you get exp. so you can get a local gig if you want it.

 

It's nice that some people will be so kind to respond to 3 1/2 year old posts. It's probably very helpful.

 

Yes, actually it may be. Someone else may have the same question and read this getting their question answered. After all, YOU read it although apparently only so that you could make some stupid comment to attempt to make yourself look better somehow.