Think of getting a CDL

Hello all, I am new to this forum and have been considering getting a CDL from one of the companies that hire you on after training I'm in SoCal and this would be my 3rd career (20 years in food and beverage and 6+ construction). Swift and CR England are close by, not so close I could dive there every day, but they'll put you up for an extra $750. I don't know what Swift pays, but CR England said that the pay 0.23cpm after graduation.I figure at 48 I have maybe 10 good years of driving, and figure getting hazmat would be a must. What other schools would anyone recommend? I don't mind being on the road and away from friends, I actually moved from Pittsburgh to Mammoth Lakes, CA in 2010 to work for the Ski Resort and worked a summer in AK. I understand that as a new driver I'd have to pay my dues, but I'm willing to put in the time and hours. And I figure after a year, and if the oil fields in Texas are still in need, I could make some coin.
Thanks ahead of time.

 

Swift is probably the better choice.
Prime Inc. trains in Salt Lake City and pays pretty good.
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@VerifiedInsane can give details on CRST and the money to expect. This company can train you in Pomona. Dedicated accounts seem to be the best.

 

Thanks for the info Chinatown. I'll look into CRST I wasn't sure they had a school or where it was. I have to convert my Nevada DL to CA before I do anything and I'm not looking forward to that.

 

When I switched mine from Tennessee to Nevada, all I had to do was an eye exam at the DMV.

 

Anything but CREngland. I would pity you. Seriously...
Schneider, Werner...any of them is better.
I like Prime a lot. Came very close to working for them.
Magnum has a School now. Almost went with them too. Extremely honest.
EDIT: TW China... We both know Ca. Requires a full intrusive rectal exam for anything. Even a dog license.

 

Thanks WesternPlains. I've been using the forum to research the companies some more. I read some not so good stuff about CR England and recently about Swift as well. Seems Swift pays okay for new drivers, but you don't get many miles. Also I noticed some posters saying companies don't like to hire CA CDL holders because California forced the companies to pay differently than standard industry rates. Any thoughts or insight on that?

 

How about Crete.

 

I really don’t know about Ca and any forced rates?

 

No schooling at Crete - must have experience.

 

Thanks snowman. As to the CA CDL I guess if you drive out of a terminal in CA, and you have a CA CDL and most of your runs are intrastate not interstate, they have to pay you differently. At least that's what I've read so far. Not positive on it though.