Anyone Work/currently Trainning For/Under Knight?

I'm considering getting into trucking, my mother did it, my step dad did it, and I love to drive... I used to go along with my mom all the time when she worked for North American Van Lines (electronics & exibits, not their moving/furniture dept). I've been looking around for driving jobs for a while now and don't see anything too interesting out there.... Taxi driver? Nah, too local (and I want to drive alone, mostly.... Or with a partner like my parents had), auto repair places, etc.... I didn't like anything out there. Plus Some want a CDL.

I want to travel, I love, LOVE driving across states, I'm always thinking if I could get paid to drive it'd be a perfect job. ATM I am in Arizona working for my step father's company unloading and loading tires and etc.

So here I am, considering getting this career going. One place I used to drive by all the time was Knight Transportation. If anyone knows someone who is, or has worked for them and taken their school: can you tell me about your experience with them? I'm eager to sign up. Other schools I'm looking at are FFE, and Swift, though my step dad worked for swift and promptly quite... Let's just say they weren't his cup of tea and leave it at that. Lol.

I'd be interested in other companies as well in Arizona, but would want to find a sponsored school as I don't make a lot of money ATM. I have bad eyes as well, but I do have glasses. Also I have a flawless driving record.

I am currently in the Knight training program in Olive Branch, MS. This program was started this summer and should be similar to the Phoenix program.

The company seems to be very good. The first week is company orientation, which seems to be designed to give them time to complete all the background and driving history checks before officially hiring you and starting your training (see my entries in the CDL Training page).

Your DOT physical requires your vision to be at least 20/40 with both eyes, this can be with your glasses or contacts on.

Welcome aboard Tony!

I would apply at all of the schools you can't completely rule out and get a dialogue going with all of the recruiters. See what each company offers and see who's willing to hire you. Then you know exactly what choices you have.

And I wouldn't worry about your Dad not working long for Swift. Ignore that. You may love it there. They're a great company to get your career started off with and we get a lot of feedback on em.

Knight Transportation is a good company for Rookies, I recommend them before any other company. They provide real training on the road and none of this Team BS while your training unless you choose to. I graduated from England because they offered be the fastest way to get my CDL and then I went to Knight where I got the proper training. Even though I highly recommend them, I only do some just for Rookies and training purposes.

Once you have accomplished your training and have been driving for 6 months I don't recommend driving with them anymore. Look for better opportunities that pay more, give better home time, pay on time and don't have such crappy lounges. I always had a problem getting paid on time but never had any issues with getting miles.

and don't have such crappy lounges

I'm not sure I added "don't pick a company with crappy lounges" in our articles about How To Choose A Trucking Company. Also, make sure you don't work for a company who fails to scrape gum off their sidewalks or has the letter "J" in their name. Why? I don't know. If we're avoiding companies with crappy lounges I figured I'd throw some of my own arbitrary factors to consider which ultimately have nothing to do with the experience you'll have at a company.

I graduated from England because they offered be the fastest way to get my CDL and then I went to Knight where I got the proper training

So you wanted to hurry up and get your CDL so you could then go get the proper training? I'm not following. Why didn't you just go to Knight in the first place?

Sorry about giving you h*ll about your strategies, but they're a bit odd.

Welcome aboard Tony!

I would apply at all of the schools you can't completely rule out and get a dialogue going with all of the recruiters. See what each company offers and see who's willing to hire you. Then you know exactly what choices you have.

And I wouldn't worry about your Dad not working long for Swift. Ignore that. You may love it there. They're a great company to get your career started off with and we get a lot of feedback on em.

Thanks for the warm welcome! Yeah I know each person will have their own opinion, I'm not ruling them out completely. My mom did trucking for a few years until she was in a horrible wreck and had to quite, step dad only lasted a few wow trucking, Lol. If not for her wreck: mom might still be doing it. She is ok now, but still has fears about being on the road from it.

Thanks to everyone else for sharing their experiences as well. I do plan to go down there soon and get this going. Sorry for taking a while to reply!

After looking at several things Knight is my number one choice right now. I've been talking with them for a couple weeks, and have been excepted, but I'm waiting on a firm date to start. Hopefully I will get a date soon (they have a training center opening near me) or I may have to look at number two or three on my list.

Woody...plain and simple...the company you get your training from ( if its a company training type) should be the company you plan on spending a YEAR...not 6 months, not 8 months...A YEAR with. Why ?? cuz most other companies that you may want to go to would like to see you with a solid year with a company. It will mean more options, which will mean better pay...and maybe the company that is a great fit for you.I personally think Knight is a fine company...but its like any other company...it will only be as good as you, the driver will make it..... GOOD LUCK !!! and come on back and keep us informed...

Now....GO OUT THERE AND START YOUR ADVENTURE !!!!!!!

Thanks for the input Star. I understand that I need to spend at least a year with my first company, I hope it turns out to be much longer than that. That is why I'm trying to hold out. In the big picture waiting a few more weeks is nothing compared to the time I hope to be driving, now if I could just get my bills to see it that way lol.

Omg its been a while and i had to come on to set things right,look i work for knight now and have off and on for the past 4 yrs safe driver im srry but what a crock of **** ya said. here are the pros and cons of knight so ya can do the math and wiegh it out. reccomend them i do.

pros

ins- best ive heard of or seen training- they use smith system(its a defensive driving trainin thats helped me alot) they dnt allow team driving for first week of training rider policy-they now allow non family pet policy-yes 400 down 200 refunded dispatch-one on one trucks-1 to 2 yrs old shops-yes on yard fuel-yes

cons ins-expensive for some (wife and i smoke it costs me $100 for both) training-heard nor seen any issues rider policy-no problems pet policy-they advertise its for all terminals,its not it depends on the terminal ur dispatched out of dispatch-some trouble with communication (all companies do) trucks-no issues that arent normal shops-some are a bit unorganized fuel-had no issues

well hope this stays here and helps ya out,im leavin knight but for reasons of spreadin my wings.

ps.knight does have miles and with a good dispatche r ull get the

good miles. As i was sayin hole this helps all be safe and gl.

id like to stick around but im still not healed,read past posts from me ull see what i mean good bye all.ill lurk on this subject for a bit but no posts till i know where i am. ps starcar ty for the support on my facebook.