Starting school soon, would appreciate feedback on a few topics

I recently applied to and have been accepted by AIT (American Institute of Technology) in Fontana, CA. I applied for financial aid, got a Pell Grant to cover half of it, and a couple other very small student loans to cover the other half of it. I'm currently scheduled to begin class on June 7th.

I've submitted a few applications, and already have offers for pre-hire from every company I've applied to so far. Those companies being...

Stevens Transport, Swift, Gordon Trucking, and Werner Enterprises.

I've also asked my admissions rep for applications for Schneider and Knight Transportation/Squire Transportation. To which she said, she'll work on coming up with those for me asap. However those first four companies I listed are the ones this school is currently primarily working with...well those along with CRST and Covenant Transport, which those companies on the other hand however, I have little to almost no interest at all whatsoever in working for, since I am not planning on teaming with anybody . I'll be sure to ask her for more applications to other good companies, as I think of them, but I'm trying to be careful to avoid the ones that I've heard nothing but bad things about, so long as it's not one that they're currently working closely with. The school director told me that they were partnering with Schneider not too long ago and are working on trying to get that deal back in place very soon.

I have done my homework, so far on these boards, at local truck stops, and every other means I can think of, for at least every company I've made mention of. The first four companies I listed are in my preliminary order of preference, based off of what I know about them so far. My admissions rep told me that during the 18 weeks of class and road range/local roads driving time while I'm in school, they do regularly have recruiters and other company reps, from nearly every major company that you can think of, stop in and offer presentations/make "sales pitches" from time to time. All of which I already know from what I've learned so far, that whatever I hear from these people, to take with a grain of salt...and if I'm hearing it from any recruiters, maybe not take it too seriously, at all whatsoever!

Right now as it is, I'm primarily looking at probably going to work as a company driver when I'm done with my training. If nothing else, just to be able to earn a good solid, steady paycheck, without having to worry about getting into the tangled messes I've heard so much about in the matter of leasing . But there is a small part of me that is at least curious about leasing, at least maybe with some of those first companies I mentioned. I could see how there could be certain advantages to leasing, versus working as a forced-dispatch company driver. Like such as being able to negotiate my routes, if I'm not comfortable driving in certain places...which I have the hunch that I'll be running into a lot of,...well okay at least a little bit of, particularly since after I finish up schooling in the first part of October, I'll be looking at probably wrapping up my OTR company training in late fall or maybe early winter, and I've heard more than enough horror stories about having to driver through snow and ice to make me nervous, particularly if I'll be in the truck on my own for the first time, taking it on. So that goes back to part of my consideration to leasing, since maybe it might be nice to be able to take an alternate route once in a while, at my discretion. Of course being able to go home when I want to go home would be nice too, although I do realize that if I'm signed to a lease, there won't be much time to kill doing anything other than driving. Like I said...I'm probably looking at going company right now, but I am at least considering the possible advantages to leasing.

One question I would like to pose to anybody who has knowledge on the topic of leasing...out of at least the first four companies I mentioned (Stevens/Swift/GTI/Werner). Generally speaking, are any of their lease programs even worth so much as taking a look at? Or are most of those companies lease programs generally bad news in most cases? Or what? What about the leasing programs for Schneider and Knight, anybody have knowledge of those companies' lease programs? Thank you!

Before I wrap up here, I'd like to leave a simple poll for anybody and everybody with knowledge of these companies or of the industry in general to vote on...

Supposing you were in my shoes, somebody brand new to the trucking industry (although a little bit educated so far), ready to start up school in a couple weeks, you've filled out applications to a few companies, and right now it's looking like you've got your pick of at least the first few companies that you've applied to........which one would you choose to or most want to go to work for? (See poll at top of page).

Thank you very much in advance, for participating in my poll, and for whatever information or feedback at all, that you can provide me with!

 

Huh? Who are you talking to? Or what are you talking about?

 

Thanks to everyone for your responses and votes in my poll thus far!

 

By the way, if you don't mind me asking, which company would that be? I understand the general jist of yours and others' posts is stay away from leasing, while getting to know the ins and outs of the industry for a little while, at first. Point taken very well on my end. However on that note, you can't just throw that out there then leave me hanging!