Question:
I've heard alot bad things about some of the companies that will train you, (Swift, Schneider). I'm comming up on 20yrs with the Air Force and looking for my next career. I got my cdl about 2yrs ago. It was a 2 week course through the Army. It didn't cover much, just the pretrip inspection, driving and backing. We didn't drive in traffic, only back roads of the base. When I did the road test, it was close to 4pm. The examiner never took me out on the road. I went around the course twice and showed that I could backup and drive without running into any of the imaginary obstacles. I know I have to get more training, but what company has the best training program? Thanks

Answer:
First off more than likely your current CDL is not going to mean anything out in the civillian world. So this means you will more than likely will need to attend a civillian CDL school. The reason behind this has more to do with insurance comapneis than the trucking companies themselves.
As far as to which company would be best. This is really a highly relevent concept in that there really is no best. The reason being is that it really depends more on how good your training is depends on how good your trainer is and how receptive you are to that training than it does on any given company.
What I suggest you do is determine where exactly you are going to reside when you retire from active duty and then look for companies that take student drivers and hire from that area. Then out of those companies do some careful research. Ask lots of questions of the companies themselves. Try talking to drivers for those comapnies. Ask about anything and everything that is or may be important to you and then decide which company comes closest to meeting your desires and needs.
For an example as to what you might ask of a company follow this link: Questions to ask a recruiter
I will always be a mutter trucker at heart.
Answer:
If those are what you have narrow down for future employment, go with Schneider. I've heard too many complaints with Swift. There are other carriers' that do alot of business in NJ. Look into Wenrer, P.A.M. Transport, US Express are just a few.

Answer:
I have been researching companies for some time now. The ONLY over the road company that I would go with is Roehl.
Roehl Thread I started
Read into what some of the drivers say. Some of the things that caught my eye were; never cheated my pay, I have driven a truck for 30 years, and so on.
I don't much care what you do being that I am not in your situation, but it is hard to beat what is coming out of the horses (read: drivers) mouth. In the many times that I have been to Gateway Truckstop in E. St. Louis where they fuel up, I have YET to meet anything but content driver.
Out of all the training companies Roehl would be where I would go. I hear Millis Transfer is OK as well but you have to go through there training program.
Hope that helped. What did you do in the Air Force?
Tim
WWJBD - What Would Jimmy Buffett Do??? This is USAF 2T2 and I approve this message.

Answer:
I'm still in. This March will be 18yrs. I'm a C141 mechanic. Judging from your name, I would guess your a 2T2?

Answer:
With a military work history you could a lot better than the usual dweller trash companies, but if you would rather go with a company training program instead of wasting your GI Bill money on a CDL school, and I would recommend you not using it for CDL training because you don't yet if trucking is what you are going to like to do and then you wil still be able to use it later, is look up the safety ratings on Safer system of those companies who do their own training; this will tell you more than driver hearsay or somebody's 'research' who's never been out there yet and going by internet posts and BS'ers.
Driver talk doesn't count for squat, but safety records can give you some clues to how good the training companies really are at training and enforcing safety rules. As someone mentioned, where you decide to live will be a big factor, and once you decide that then look around and ask around at smaller companies in your area that will hire a school grad before you decide on an independent school or a company school.
you could be looking at a smaller, better managed and better paying company where you can have a real carreer as opposed to answering the permanent cattle calls of the big dweller carriers; there is a reason they hire thousands and thousands of drivers every year, and it ain't because driving a truck is hard.
Some retired military guy posted here a while back and got on with a really decent tanker company out of Georgia, others have done well and avoided the big training carriers; you should look into your options very carefully, and not just assume you have to work for the Swifts and Schneiders your first job.
___________________________
Humans are amazing creatures. "With all the things you can train them to do, I've been considering getting one."-StoneyJay Gould
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This post coming to you live, from Jesus Land !!!

Answer:
I am a 2T2 out of Scott.
I had letter written by my supervisors saying that I have driven tractor/trailers. That was all I needed to get me a local gig. Just get some letters together from people that have seen you drive and put approximate miles. I put 125,000 miles and that was good enough for the company I am going with.
Are you gonna stay 141 or are they having you learn everything on the 17? When I was at Pope I hated 141s but loved the 17. But if that is the only plane you know I guess you get kinda close to it.
Tim
WWJBD - What Would Jimmy Buffett Do??? This is USAF 2T2 and I approve this message.

Answer:
After just concluding my search for a company to drive for I can honestly say that Roehl is as upstanding as a company out there that will take students or put you thru school. Being unemployed and realizing that obtaining my CDL was the best way to stay away from the unemployment office I spent many hours searching for the best company and Roehl was it. Even though I went thru a local cdl mill school I have read that Roehl sends their students to a highly recognized school in Wisconsin at a local JC. Skid pad training is also located at that school. Good Luck!!!

Answer:
The last time I drove a truck was when I got my license. In my job we take care of all aircraft mishaps (crashes, running off the runway, etc..). Normally we call motorpool and they supply us with a driver. On the off shifts we can't get a driver, so they put 2 of us through school. Since we don't get alot of mishaps, we don't get to use the truck. They won't even let us sign it out to practice. Makes sense huh? I problaby have a total of 50 miles in the truck, again I need more training.
AHH Pope. It was my 2nd home for awhile. I was going there for a week every year for almost 1 and 1/2 years. All those fun JAATS mission. I've worked every cargo plane the AF has except the C17. We are supposed to get the 17 (god knows when) and retire the 141. Started my career with them, now I can't get away from them.

Answer:
I would think Roehl to be a good choice if Truck Driving is something you have to try. I'm not sure why you have crossed the Pumpkin (Schneider) off your list. The color is fitting. Besides that they also have as good a starting program as any and better than some. I agree with Dominoes 100% don't spend your VA money on a driving school. It might not be long before you realize there are much better ways to use it and much better careers to go into.
"There is just something about fresh winter snow and a river. The day is bright even if it is cloudy, the water is friendly even if it is cold and the fish are there even if they are not biting."

Answer:
I couldn't tell if he was asking about Swift and Schneider, but Schneider is the better choice between the two; they run a little tighter ship afterwards, too. I don't, of course, think any of them are 'good', some just do some things a little better than the others.
___________________________
Humans are amazing creatures. "With all the things you can train them to do, I've been considering getting one."-Stoney Jay Gould
__________________________
This post coming to you live, from Jesus Land !!!

Answer:
When I attended Army Trans school at Ft Leonard Wood,MO it was a seven week course.Of course when I changed my MOS 55D to 64C (now 88M Transportation) it was a long time ago so maybe its shorter now but two weeks???????? Maybe what you took was some basic drive a four wheeler around the base course.Plus the military doesnt issue CDLs
QUOTE:I got my cdl about 2yrs ago. It was a 2 week course through the Army.
END QUOTE
Take care and be safe
To be safe you must be aware
US ARMY

Answer:
I attended it. I had my CDL and drove local for a few years before. I did not have any "OTR Training". This class is a must have. I think all drivers should have to go through it. Many would fail. They get a lot of drivers (edited) about the, but they do have one of the best programs going. They are also the only carrier with a skid pad. Wife applied with them and was turned down. She has a class A and was turned down. No accidents. Tickets and so on. They still turned her down. Been a full time passanger for the last two years. They want 1.5 years employment in 3 years. For the amount of trucks they have you see few in the ditch. See a ton of Prims though. Check them out. Do your research.202 N Main Street
Summerfield Il 62289
TRUCK PARKING AVAILABLE!

Answer:
This course is offered on Fort Dix given by DOD civilians. Cost $500, but my squadron paid for it. Anyone that has anything to do with the DOD can take it. They get you through the written test and when your ready, you take the test in an Army truck (GMC with a 40 ft flatbed)at the DMV. I have a cdl with hazmat, doubles, triples, and a tanker endorsment issued by the state of New Jersey.

Answer:
Originally posted by daytrader:
For the amount of trucks they have you see few in the ditch. See a ton of Primes though.
I saw one just this afternnon about 5:30 while coming home on Hwy 6, just west of Greenwood, Ne.
Looked like he was trying to back off the road 90 degrees into the dock and forgot to watch where his front end was in relation to the side of the road.
That's what's known as a "Homer moment": D'OH!!!
I've always been crazy, but it's kept me from going insane.
Waylon Jennings