Which companies are the best

There r those who say pay for your own school and u will be free to find a better job at a better company. Nobody has gone beyound saying this.

My question, should you choose to answer it is, how does this play out? What companies will take on a new driver, out of school with no experiance? And tell us how these companies r better, what their pay is to begin with and what kind of miles one can get in a week, etc.

Thanks

 

It has to do with choice. When you go through company sponsored training you are legally bound to pay them for the training. You either do this through staying for the full term of the contract you signed or paying them off after you leave.

Having the contract hanging over their head is the biggest fear for most new drivers. They feel like they are locked into a bad deal especially when they are not getting home or making as much money as they were promised.

When you have paid for the schooling privately you have more choices as to which company to work for. Granted there are many companies that will not take student drivers and therefore you will still have to join up with a training company but at least you have a "choice."

As for miles per week figure on 1500 to 2500 per week as a beginner. The company will start you slow to see how you handle the work. Can you get the job done on time? Safely? HOS Compliant? Paperwork done correctly?
If you can and do then they will start giving you more miles. The companies want to strike a balance with you earning as much as possible, making a decent profit for them, and getting you home to keep you happy. Figure on somewhere between $35,000.00 to $40,000.00 for your first years earnings.

Every time a driver quits, the company will spend around $5,000.00 to replace that driver. This amount is from advertising, orientation costs, lodging, meals, and transportation not to mention lost revenue from the driver that quit.

With that in mind you should see companies trying to appease their drivers in an effort to retain them.

Once you get 1 to 3 years safe, verifiable experience you can leverage that experience into a much better paying job with better benefits, equipment, and home time.

 

You need to understand the turnover rate is 60% or better and those that fall into this % are new drivers with less then 1 year and as low as 3 months.
As jlkklj said you are obligated to pay any balance due.
Now lets look at it as if you have your cld there are company's that will take you as long as your dmv and work history are good and work with you. TWT out of WASH. runs west coast only and they hire new drivers they also do tuition reimbursement and there are others that do the same.
Watkins/Shepard not only has a school they also take new drivers.
I never said do school on your own only look into it as you may be able to enjoy your new job longer W/S re pays $ 3600.00 if you pay $ 4200.00
over 2 years it cost you $600.00 if you have read any of there post you will see more positive then negative.

Big company's make money off new drivers due to the fact that 1 out of 5 will make it when it comes to trucking there is a no return policy no money back and no turn'n back the hands of time.

It's worth the research to try to make the best choice you can after all aren't you worth it go online pull up every co. you can and call or fill out an app. and see what happens if all else fails call Swift.

CFI dose something worth your time to.

Good luck and take your time.

 

Crete, Watkins and Shepard, or Marten (if refer van is your cup of tea). Don't pick a company based on tuition reimbursement alone. Pay, home time, mileage, equipment are all things to consider. The three companies I mentioned have very low turnover for trucking companies and for good reason: they aren't perfect but they DO treat their drivers better than most other companies. You also have to pick a company that does business in the state that you live so you can get home.

 

All the more for one to do his/hers homework

 

Mannmk -

I'll pm you the URL of a web site that has a list, not only of trucking companies, but whether those companies hire newbies (such as myself).

Generally speaking - if a company will teach you to get your CDL, they'll hire you if you get your CDL elsewhere.

 

It's great to hear why new drivers get less miles. This is very important for a new guy to know. And I can appreciate a companies expenses to train a driver. This suggests that they are concerned about their drivers but have certian needs themselves. (Maybe they should be more honest with their new drivers rather than make promises).

Now if you or someone else might mention names of decent companies that hire people just out of school it would be helpful. Because if all new guys have available is, Swift, Werner, England, Steven's, or Schneider to go to work for then one may as well start with one of them and their school.

Thanks for your help.

 

Thanks to all of u who have responded to my request for companies that hire guys just out of CDL school. It's helpful to me and it should be helpful to all those who are reading your comments.

I look forward to anymore feedback you can offer. If I can get an idea as to what companies are best to work for right out of school I can look into them and decide if I will go to the local private school, Sage.

As for companies that offer CDL training, after going through so many good and bad comments, (both being helpful), I've come to decide that Schneider would be best for me. The problem with them is they aren't hiring out of AZ, so I will have to move, and this is OK,it will take a little while. This is a problem in that jobs may disappear do to the high cost of fuel,(oil hit $129.00 a barrel today).

If I can find a good company that doesn't care that I live here in AZ, and they will hire me I will be ready to go.

Thanks again

 

Dosen't Watkin/Shepard have a terminal in AZ. Check CFI as well
both have a school.
May trucking I think also has a terminal in AZ. Hire new drivers as well.

 

One mans terrible story about a company does not necessarily equate to a poor company overall.

I can only use my own personal experience to relate this. I began as a trainee for JB Hunt in February of 1992. The company had a poor reputation back then and was ridiculed and ragged on just as much as Swift is today.

The point I want to make is I had not heard anything bad about JB prior to going through school and did not have a computer or even the idea of researching trucking companies on line.

I was naive to say the least. I listened. I learned. I adapted. I became one of the best drivers they had. I was promoted to a training position and trained new drivers for about 3 years total. I received many awards and patches for my service, service jackets, free uniforms, etc. While other drivers were struggling to make 50 grand a year at JB Hunt I was making over 60 grand. The last 2 years as a solo dedicated route driver I made over 61 grand per year and was home each weekend plus a couple times during the week.

I listened to the JB Hunt jokes and actually told a few as well. I did not let it affect me personally. I even carried my pay sheets with me after I had drivers accuse me of being a liar about my earnings. Needless to say a few were eating crow and even applied themselves to work there, for which I got referral bonuses.

The point of the story? It does not matter which company you begin with. Do the best you can. Listen. Learn. Adapt. YOU control your destiny and with a good attitude and hard work you can make it at just about any company.

The training companies are using you. Use them to get some training and experience. Keep your eyes and ears open for better opportunities coming down the pike.