Profile For Jscagg

No worries about getting me mixed up with someone else Steve, lol it happens to us all at some point. I really appreciate the links you posted, I went through all of the company sponsored training programs, and narrowed the field down to 4 out of that list. Swift, TMC, Roehl, and Knight Transportation. There were a few others with incredible benefits and training, but they only hire in specific area's, and mine isn't one of them. I'm going to use the other link you posted to look up those companies in more depth, and some other companies that I see posting for drivers here in my area.

Its good to know that a companies HQ location doesn't affect if you can get hired on, or how much potential hometime you can get, thank you for your response OS. I really appreciate all the help from everyone, if I'm looking into a career that's going to take me away from my family for a couple months due to training, and then keep me away for days on end for work, I want to be as well informed about what I'm getting into, as well as who I'm joining up with, as possible.

I want to thank both of you for responding to my post, I really appreciate it. Thank you so much for all of the insight Steve, its very helpful to have a better idea of how the industry functions and what I should expect. For those still viewing this topic, does anyone have any suggestions as far as what are good companies to go with for NE training? I found a few lists that name a lot of companies that do paid training, but not all of them are in the north east. Maverick for instance is one company that offers great benefits both in and out of training, but with where their HQ is located, I'm not sure I could do a NE Regional position with weekly home time. (Granted I won't know until I speak to someone there, I plan on contacting them tomorrow) CRST seems to be alright, nothing overly spectacular about them from what I've read, and I can't even find US Express on anyones list of companies.

What lists are you referring to?

Take a look at these:

Paid CDL Training Programs

Trucking Company Reviews

Aren't you in Allentown Pa?

Swift is in Jonestown Pa has NE Regional and Dedicated Regional out of that terminal. Prime is in Pittston Pa, might have NE Regional assignments. I am on a Swift Dedicated Walmart account out of the DC in Gordon PA.

You have options.

I'll definitely check out those links, thank you! I was looking up general (Or perhaps generic) lists along the lines of "Best trucking companies to work for in the Northeast/New England" and a number of lists popped up from different sites, all giving what they think is the best 10 or 20 companies to work for. I'm actually located in West Haven, CT, which is in the southern most part of the state right on the Long Island sound. How does home time work with a company based out of another state? Say I were to join up with Swift out of Jonestown PA and I was due home for the weekends for my reset, would I just bring the truck back to Jonestown, and then from there travel home? Or would I bring the truck to a Swift terminal that's closest to my home? (Assuming there's one closer than Jonestown, that is.)

I want to thank both of you for responding to my post, I really appreciate it. Thank you so much for all of the insight Steve, its very helpful to have a better idea of how the industry functions and what I should expect. For those still viewing this topic, does anyone have any suggestions as far as what are good companies to go with for NE training? I found a few lists that name a lot of companies that do paid training, but not all of them are in the north east. Maverick for instance is one company that offers great benefits both in and out of training, but with where their HQ is located, I'm not sure I could do a NE Regional position with weekly home time. (Granted I won't know until I speak to someone there, I plan on contacting them tomorrow) CRST seems to be alright, nothing overly spectacular about them from what I've read, and I can't even find US Express on anyones list of companies.

Hello all, I found this forum through a bit of searching and it seems like a good place to come and ask some questions and get some advice. That being said, much like the title states, I'm looking to earn my CDL A and start driving; but I'm not entirely sure the best way to go about it. Do I try and find a school in my area? (The closest one to me is NETTTS, which is a 10K tuition and a 22 week program, and from the reviews I've read, not that great to go to for the money spent.) Or do I try and get paid training through a company like US Express?

That also leads me to my next question: Is there a "best" company to go with for paid training? US Express sounds very, very good, but I've read a lot of mixed reviews about them. There are seemingly dozens of companies out there willing to train you to get you a CDL and on the road, but I don't know which ones are actually good to be with, and reliable.

That's also another question, the recruiter for US that I spoke with, said that after my training was done (Schooling, and OTR training for 3-5 weeks) I could get a regional position with home time every weekend. From everyone's personal experience, how likely is this to be true? Should "promises" like that be trusted? I don't want to take a company up on a training offer, just to be forced into OTR work after training is done because I'm not "experienced" enough to land regional. As much as I wouldn't mind OTR stuff, I have a Fiance and a 5 year old at home, so I can't be gone for weeks on end. Regional at least lets me come home at some point every week.

One last question: I see a lot of companies offering X CPM and X amount of miles per week, so it averages out to be a decent amount of money made. But what am I realistically looking at as a new CDL A holder? Part of what made me want to get into this field, other than the fact that I like driving, is the money. It seemingly provides me with the opportunity to make a decent wage, to support my family. Fresh out of school though, am I only looking at what amounts to a minimum wage job?

I apologize for so many questions, but I just want to get as much information about the industry as possible before making a definite decision as to what I'm going to do, and who I'm going to try and work with. I really appreciate any and all advice that could be given!