Question:
First off, thanks everyone for the great forum. Im new to the Forum, and have spent the last few hours searching old posts that would help me out in my situation. Here is where Im coming from--
Im a 25 year old single guy from Dallas, Texas that wants to get into the trucking industry. I have no previous experience, and dont have the best credit in the world. (I doubt I can get financing for any of the schools) I dont have any commitments( ie-kids or family that I have to stay close to home or anything) and can drive 365 days a year if needed.
Ive searched the forums for good starter schools, and have come up with Stevens, Schneider, Swift, CR England, and US Xpress. Ive obtained my CDL permit, but dont have a truck to use to take the test at my local department of public safety, so ill have to find a company that will train me.
Ive called FFE here in Dallas, and they say I need to go to a training school for my CDL first before they would consider me. I then called Roehl, and they said Id have to attend their school first, and I cant afford that much out of pocket. (nor can i get approved for a loan that much) Crete isnt hiring no-experience drivers, nor is JBHunt. Ive talked to Covenant, but they had an attitude with me and I hung up with them. USXpress would take me, but Ive heard learning on Autos isnt the best way to start off. Ive also heard Stevens here in Dallas starts off their drivers at slave labor rates and that Schneider isnt the best company either. (these comments all came from other posts I read thru)
So, having said that, I doubt ill find the perfect company to start off with, but knowing my situation, and not minding if I have to go as far as main to get training, what company would you recommend a person like me to look in to? Ill drive for Swift, Schneider, Stevens, or USXpress, but Id like to hear everyone here's opinion first. Given my situation, what do company do you suggest?
Thanks everyone for your help......

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Oh, and any comments or suggestion on the companies ive already mentioned would be appreciated---good or bad. Im just stating what Ive read in other posts........

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The "perfect" company doesn't exist unless you start your own. However, the level of BS varies greatly from company to company.
Schneider does have a decent training program. Swift does as well. But they have much of the BS that you will find at any big company. You pretty much have to find one that will get you the training you need, then pay you a decent wage, and remember that you are human. You need to stick with that company for at least a year generally, before you have enough experience where the options open up for you.
Keep crusing the posts, and come here or on the roundtable and ask questions. This is a pretty good resource for you.
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Visit your Texas "one-stop", state unemployment office, you may qualify for a grant or education loan.
Education loans usually carry less credit restriictions.
Also, most "starter" companies have tuition reimbursement as long as you stay with them 'til the education (training) loan is paid off. It only works with the first employer you go with after completing driving school. BOL

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or Swift. I know Schneider training is good and you sign on to work for them for 1 year and you owe nothing.
A friend of mine drives for them. He's been with the company for 6 years and does well for himself. He was telling me that they have more freight than they know what to do with right now.
I'm in the same boat as you. I have no money to pay for school. Stevens starts you out less than any carrier I've found. USXpress is also a good company. If you leave after being taught on the autoshifts I've spoken to a few former Xpressers and they've had no problems going elsewhere.


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I'm in Houston and highly suggest you contact your local "Texas WORKFORCE Office" --- they can possibly qualify you for FREE TRAINING paid by the State for a reputable Truck Driving school!
BTW ... you'll see numerous posts on this forum that will tell you to STAY AWAY FROM STEVENS TRANSPORT!!!
"Don't sweat the petty stuff --- and don't pet the sweaty stuff"

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lattimer,
i went through to steps at the t.w.c. only to find out i made to much money.(lol) kept telling them they were wrong. give them a try.http://www.twc.state.tx.us/ bol.
hey pikes, what part of houston are you from and who do drive for?
in all thy ways acknowledge him

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You may be well served to go with Scneider National.
You live in Dallas and they have a major Operating Center as well as a training facility in your backyard. Give them a call and go visit them in person.
You hear a lot of things about any big company, but you hear a lot of satisfied, happy people working for Schneider.
They are very diverse and can offer you a lot of options such as van, bulk, OTR, dedicated, etc.
I'm considering getting back into trucking and I've had some contact with them. You could do a lot worse and you may even find that you like them alright. It's a big major plus to have a terminal in your home town.
Something to think about.

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Originally posted by heavenbound:
lattimer,
i went through to steps at the t.w.c. only to find out i made to much money.(lol) kept telling them they were wrong. give them a try.http://www.twc.state.tx.us/ bol.
hey pikes, what part of houston are you from and who do drive for?
in all thy ways acknowledge himheavenbound: I like your handle ... that tells me alot about you!!!
I'm around the intersection of I-10 and Hwy. 6 North --- not driving yet; but will be taking my PTDI class at the Houston Community College in about 3 weeks, providing Texas Workforce doesn't tell me I made too much money last year!
"Don't sweat the petty stuff --- and don't pet the sweaty stuff"

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Since your cash funds are low and credit is'nt the best, you would most likely benefit more from Schneider than Stevens. At Schneider they ask for a one year committment, at Stevens they ask for a two year committment along with a whole bunch of B.S. Good luck at which ever one you shall chose

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Your 25 so you dont have THAT much to worry about.You could get on with one of those big companies.
I've applied to them all and I'd have to say Schenider would be good.
Schneider - they were nice and polite to me. They were the only ones who would take me because of my age....but I had to have a team partner since I live in Colorado.
Swift - you have to be 23, but I know someone who worked for them and they treated him like a robot.
CR England - they were real jerks and made me 'think' I had a chance, then they shot me down.
US Xpress - I heard there trucks were automatics, blah.
FFE - They wanted me only as an O/O
Roehl - I didnt live on the east coast so they didnt want me.
Crete - you have to be 23, but I heard they were good to work for.
JBHunt - ummm...I dunno...I'd be kind of worried working for them, considering the things I've read written on the advertisements at truck stops and such. but they have some nice white century class freightliners :drool:
Covenant - they were bigger jerks to me then CRE and there webpage looks like crap.

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Pull up http://www.pumpkindriver.com. I've read some good stuff there.
Hey...you lookin' at me?-Arthur Spooner

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Work for anyone except Stevens Transport! I made that mistake, so please learn from my stupidity!

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1> Contact your local department of employment as a;ready posted many times and see if you can get some type of grant or state loan for job training.
2. If you get that grant then find a good school to attend that will provide you with a solid foundation to build on and that lots of companies will hire from so that you can have lots of choices and choose the one that you feel is right for you.
If you do not get that grant then you need to figure out which company that offers training (schooling)and decide which one will best meet your needs out of the few that are available.
3. Either way you go make up your mind that you will be with that first company for at least one year unless you truly feel your safety is going to sacrificed by staying with them.
While I fully agree that learning with an auto shift transmission is not the best way to go, if it comes down to your last option or turns out to be your overall best option then take it.
Swift is an OK starter company, especially if you are unable to go into Canada due to a criminal record (felonies and some misdemenors will disqualify you from entering Canada.)
Schnieder may also be OK for you to get your start with.
One often overlooked company is PAM. They have several divisions and I often see ads in the Sunday papers up here offering schooling and training.
Regardless of which company you go with (if you go the company school route) make sure you fully understand all the details. What if any money you will need to provide for books, liscenes, tests, living and eating while attending school, etc.
I have a name not a number. I am not cheap but I am resonable.
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First off as for funding your schooling ... check with your local job council ... my driver was considered a displaced worker and the job council paid for all his schooling, transportation to school, and cdl test and license. As for USXpress and their automatics ... my driver swears by them. He has driven every kind of truck imaginable and loves the automatic, makes it a breeze driving in heavy traffic. I also know that USXpress has standard transmissions and if you were to go with them, you could probably request one. Good luck!!