Read the forum, still have couple of questions?

Let's do some math with a boat load of assumptions. It will give an idea though of why paying for training is a good idea.
Swift, when I worked there the average pay over the year was .30 a mile. They fleet averaged 2100 miles a week per driver. So in a year you mage, on average $32, 760 working 53 weeks a year.
Here is where the assumptions come in...
Take a job anywhere and you will have an average pay of say .35 a mile, and we'll use the same 2100 miles, although smaller outfits tend to do more miles. $38,200 would be for the same 52 weeks. That's a pay difference of $5,500. About the cost of a CDL school.

So since they end of the year, the costs are the same why do the out of pocket thing? Well, you can move to another job without having to repay that loan to Swift if things don't work out. Just way less stress.
Heck, some companies will even repay that out of pocket CDL school on a per-week basis...

 

We carried human chemical toilet in one corner of the sleeper with the necessary items to go with it. It was reserved for extreme situations where it's really difficult to dispose of human waste when it nature is calling like right now.

In my time alot of truckers paid through the nose for the satellite in motion domes and I think it was a fad. However it was progressing in it's time. You can now get Dish or similar direct to your hand tablet these days. No dome needed provided you are a customer at home.

It is way better to pay yourself. If you are service you should use the GI bill for that.

Yes we did our own cooking in cab, it was worth not paying retail several times a day for two people in meals. Although we had a exclusive date night to sit and eat a proper meal once a week.

You do not want to sign notes or contracts with companies to get schooling, your first year is so dangerous towards being able to endure the problems, accidents and incidents that will come up, get you fired and then there you are stuck for the full payment demanded of that contract to your unemployed butt. That's a form of slavery.

As far as experiences, there are many posts I have here that detail some of mine.

 

You read this forum and concluded all companies are the same. What color is the sky in your universe?

There is a world of difference between companies and it's your job to pick one that matches what you want. This job is hard, but eorking for a crummy company makes it terrible. Start with companies that have facilities near you so you can more easily get home. If you are only going to wait for Google or us to pick a company for you, you will be miserable.

Use the "inside story" forum and research companies. When you ask about a company, be sure to have a reason why you picked them over another. Please don't act like a bored teenager waiting to be handed everything. Only you can pick what works for you. BTW, stay away from CR England, IMO.

 

So much hate for CR Englad. Did you ever work for them?

I did about five years ago, was not bad. They did a good job in training me, gave me extra driving practice wherever I needed it before getting my cdl. Went out of their way to give me what I needed.

CR England probably has the shortest required contract period out of all starter companies. Six months for anyone with military service and nine months for the rest.

Pay was 30 cpm after I was done with my two training phases. Could have been better, but there are companies out there a lot worse.

I admit I left after my six months was up. Was only averaging around $500-$600 net each week. But with that experince the very week after my half year commitment with them I have been making about three times that in my current job.

 

Living in Colorado and being retired, in my opinion, those 3 companies I listed would be satisfactory for you. Very nice trucks to drive and get to see the whole country.