Who would be a good starter company???

Hello,
I am new to this forum and I am very interested in obtaining some insight from those who have been in the business for some time. I am concidering a job in the trucking business, and I don't have a CDL or any experience driving. I've noticed the main two companies that hire those like me are CR England and Swift. Now, I've heard both good and bad about each of them, and I understand that there are not "perfect" companines. With that said, can I get some advise on which company overall would be a good starting point for me to break into the industry? I am not saying which is good to stay with twenty years, but one to get me going and make some money while I get some needed experience. Thus far, I've really concidered CR England and I would like to make a decision within the next few weeks. Thank you!!

 

I have looked at many large companies as mentioned but most of them either require a CDL alrady or some sort of experience driving. I tried to check into some local companies here in Phoenix, but I still run into the same issue; no CDL and/or experience. Let me ask this; I understand every company has their issues, but as in any industry your treated like crap (atleast at the beginning), and have red tape and "BS"; what makes Swift and England so terrible? I'm sure some people get the "stick" at these companies, but doesn't everyone at some point in many other fields? I've read bad posts and good ones for many companies and the one thing that keeps comming up is the company not being truthful; well the company I work for now (non-trucking) does that to me now. So what is, in yours or someone else's opinion, is the real difference? Thanks!

 

What I am gathering in this short time is that no mater what I choose to do, I'm going to have to just bite the bullet and deal with it for awhile so that I can obtain my CDL and a bit of experience? I don't plan to work for England or Swift, (for example) for the rest of my life, but do you think it's atleast worth it to obtain CDL/experience at a minimum? This all sounds like when I was in the service; recruiters BAD! LOL

 

That is what I figured. Just choose one and get my CDL and experience and see how it goes. If it turns out to be a bad experience, then I can always go somewhere else. It's hard to find a company that can take your tuition out of your pay so you don't have to pay for it upfront, train you and give you a CDL and hire you with no experience. That is why I am between Swift and England; they are the only one's I've found that can do that for me. Just as in any industry, you have to take the good with the bad. There is no perfect company to work for, in any industry. The one thing for me is that England does offer a bit better training package for both school and OJT than Swift does, which I think is better for me anyway; I need good OJT and such before I would feel good about driving alone. Mountains and snow still make me quiver though! I suppose they will teach me to get through that and I'm hoping other drivers on the road can help too.