Trying to figure this out

FFE (Frozen Food Express) has a pretty good deal. They pay for cdl school at Prairie State College in Chicago then give you a job when you graduate. One good benefit to you is, FFE has a terminal in Chicago which means you have a safe place to park the truck when on hometime. Also, FFE has LTL and truckload to choose from.
If FFE isn't what you want, then go with 160 and have a dozen companies to choose from.

 

If you decide to go with 160, here's some companies to look at:
Freymiller - apply for "Restore Program" which is on the website. This program is for new cdl grads or drivers with less than 6 mos. experience. Fancy trucks set up for driver comfort and long haul trucking. 100% driver no-touch freight.
Magnum Ltd. - long haul refrigerated trucking.
Abilene Motor Express - coast to coast dry van & refrigerated trucking.
West Side Transport - dry van trucking with a guaranteed minimum weekly paycheck.
Green Transportation - teams running to West Coast & Pacific Northwest.
Navajo Express - coast to coast refrigerated trucking.
Butler Transport - Coast to coast refrigerated trucking.
Calex Logistics - haul lots of produce out of California.
Contract Freighters - www.cfidrive.com - coast to coast dry van trucking.
Plenty more to choose from that hire new cdl grads.

 

KLLM owns FFE. Not sure about unload policy, but most refrigerated companies don't want the driver to touch freight so they pay a "lumper service" to unload. Trucking companies prefer you log "sleeper berth" and get some rest while the truck is being unloaded.
If I had to choose between KLLM and FFE, it would be FFE for sure. The reason is, KLLM has too many meat contracts such as Tyson Foods that require long wait times at shippers and receivers.
If you decide to go with 160, submit a bunch of applictions to trucking companies during the first week of school. Don't wait until graduation.

 

If you want to apply to FFE, go to their website and apply there.

 

OK, get those application in during the first week of school. One driver that posts on here is in 160 and is going with Magnum ltd. Apply to as many companies as you want; the more the better.

 

Read your posts, I'd like to offer you some advice you can actually use. In trucking you have to know certain things: Checking the lugs nuts on your wheels, making absolutely sure your load is secure....those are things you have to make sure are correct before you move. Somethings are things you can "hope" for.....I hope they didn't put onions on my burger, I HOPE I don't get indigestion from my diet...etc. Trucking is a fact-based business. The truck either made the delivery on time, or it didn't...that is a true-false fact.

Kind of like those nice-to-have things we all wish for in life. You should enjoy your time trucking and make a reasonable living. There will be ups and downs, good days and bad days...maybe even some horrible days, as long as the bad days don't define your existence out here on the road. I absolutely love trucking. I've made wise choices and finally own my own tractor and trailer. I've never made decisions from what I've heard, yet, from what I've experienced. Hopefully your journey will be filled with fun adventures and sunny days.

 

I graduated from Midtown Academy.They pretty cheap $2300 and accept unemployment grants.$2300 is one good week of driving so I think it's much better deal than signing contract with the devil.
There is also Bulldog and Progressive I know of.