Potential Companies? In CDL School Right Now

Hey all, So I'm in my fourth week of CDL school. It's going alright, although it's challenging and fast paced. The future now looks a lot brighter than my worthless college degree in Spanish and French. *rolls eyes*

One week in the classroom, then you get your permit and learn to pre-trip/straight back in the second week, followed by a few weeks of learning to parallel, alley back, and offset first in the automatic then in the manual, and finally you go out on the road before getting your CDL in a six-speed manual, then back to school for another few weeks to learn how to operate an 8, 10, and 12 speed double clutch and a thorough review of the theory and regs.

I'm about halfway thru learning my maneuvers in automatic, so a few weeks and I'll go for my CDL if I'm ready and can learn them in manual too, by then. My instructor *refuses* to let us test if he isn't 99.9% sure we'll pass... so I'm confident I'll pass, I just have to keep dealing with the never ending frustration of figuring out the 99,000 ways you can screw up a basic maneuver, in order to find the 100 or so ways to do it right. I'm learning it's not an exact science, but a range of movements you can make depending on what you're trying to accomplish... no magic formulas. no precise grammar... just a... almost a sense with general guidelines...this is so, so totally unlike my training as a translator, but I'm loving it! and you actually get paid to travel to the client, to boot! (yes, local interpreting companies are *that* cheap they won't pay your mileage!)

It's a total challenge, I'm all mental, my mind never stops running, analyzing... but I want to learn to calm down mentally, and get into a groove. Driving is one of those situations where I can do that and start to mentally relax for once. I bought a Town Car precisely because I like cruising down the road, watching miles pass on the odometer, feeling the air suspension gently bounce up and down... occupying myself with my thoughts and on the blissful rare occasion: nothing.

But back to my question: The instructors have told us to start looking at companies, and a lot of students from our school go to work for Prime, a few for TMC, and even Fedex and Coca-Cola. Heck, many get hired within a week after getting their CDL. The school has a good reputation, apparently. So there's a lot of options, and I'm narrowing them... I looked at the reviews at the reviews on this site (this site convinced me to give trucking a try in the first place, seeing as I was stuck getting crap pay as a part-time medical interpreter), and several companies seem compelling, maybe some of you have suggestions? Here's what I'm looking for most of all:

-40k, 40 cpm , or a thousand a week in the first year, take your pick -employee stock options -401k matching -a company that'll keep me rolling w/ minimal un-paid HUAW (the instructor told me intermodal is the most point A to point B?) -shower, toll, and other passes -several days off a month, even if it's in Timbuktu, Utah -a damn good training program for rookie drivers (because physical things have never been my strong suit, so I want all the skills I can get)

I could care less about hospitality centers, a free sweater, a banquet for safe drivers, a good health plan... I'm young and healthy and perfectly willing to pay 100$ out of pocket for an annual dental cleaning.

I want to relax, drive, see the country, stay safe, and most of all have plenty of disposable income to pour into my margin account. I want to take advantage of long term capital gains and an annual 2.16% margin interest rate wayyyy more than I do the latest and "greatest" equipment. I drive a 20 year old car, after all. It suits me fine, and frees up more money to plow into other things.

Is wanting to get into a groove, learn to drive safe, and save up tons of money all at the same time possible in this industry? What are some names I should start looking into? I won't apply until I got my CDL, but it's always good to do research beforehand, right?

Oh, I should mention that flatbedding seems rather... daunting. Not only because I want to focus on driving and learning to drive really really well, but also because physical exertion is not my strong suit. I would rather walk 5 miles in two hours than run 1 mile in ten minutes. If that makes any sense?

Hi. You mentioned prime and they have all you seek...plus the great terminals and banquets and free stuff. Lol. The 401k with matching..etc.

Keep in mind that if you don't have medical, you will get hit with a tax penalty. And after the first year the insurance drops dramatically.

Ask any questions about prime you have and I'll try to answer. ;). I drive reefer cause I admit, I have no desire to sweat and freeze while tarping. I respect those guys!!!

BTW... Companies "invite" you to orientation, CDL or no CDL. You are not hired until you jump through the hoops. Attitude plays a huge part, so realize the entire application process, dealing with recruiting, and the orientation is the interview.