Which Company

I live in north eastern Kentucky and plan on going to ACTC (Ashland Community Technical College) which is a school close to me, to get my CDL and want to know which company would probably be better for me. Prime and CFI are the companies I'm looking at right now. I'm not sure which one would be better comparing pay and how they actually treat you. Anyone have any advice?

Hello, Preston. You've come to the right place at the right time - you are barely getting started and need information.

Here are some things that might help you:

Becoming A Truck Driver: The Raw Truth About Truck Driving (A short book by Brett)

The Truck Driver's Career Guide

High Road Training An excellent program to help you study for your CDL Permit.

Trucking Company Reviews

As for your question about "Which is the best company", no one else here is you - we might have similar needs (getting paid, travel, etc) but, again, we are not you.

There are some Prime and CFL drivers here that will probably post soon. A heads-up: if you look at "reviews" on other forums, you may find that all companies treat their drivers like poo-poo. Keep in mind, mostly driving losers post their whining. The happy drives are, well, happy, and don't feel motivated to post the good stuff.

Here you still get good stuff, and most of it is straight (as in Trucking Truth

The business is very competitive, and in a nutshell, most of the big companies are the same. Some policies (ride-alongs, pets, etc.) are different but we all move freight from here to there. Feel free to ask any questions here, you will get straight answers.

I got my start at Prime, and spent nearly 3 years there before moving on to bigger and better things. I have very little bad to say about them. They gave me a great start, treated me fairly, and provided all the tools I needed to be successful at this.

The main reason I chose them, aside from Kearsey's ringing endorsement, was the variety and availability of freight they seemed to have. With divisions in refrigerated, flatbed, and tanker, they offered the most flexibility in choosing whatever path I felt the most comfortable in, even though I ultimately stayed in flatbed the whole time. One of my friends who still works there switched seamlessly from flatbed to tanker when he wanted to change, and he still works there today. Our friend and moderator Kearsey is still there today after what like 8 or 9 years? Point is, they're a great company.

I don't know much about CFI, but people who work there also tell of how much they like it. So I guess you'll have to do your research and decide which suits you best.

I guess my question to you would be why would you pay for your CDL when both of those companies will not only train you for free, they'll also pay you while you're in training? If I were you, I'd apply to both and see who takes a bite. You may find that neither offer you a job for whatever reason, and you're stuck with the CDL that's getting stale. If they offer you a job, you're virtually guaranteed a job after training, and it's free.

Whichever path you decide, we wish you luck. Let us know how it works out.

There is a very good reason we here at TT push towards company sponsored training , vs our of pocket at a "driving school."

The issue is primarily finding a job once you have your CDL. With company sponsored training, once you pass the test, you are USUALLY hired. (There are always exceptions, of course)

What happens if you pay to get your CDL , and it takes you another 8 months to get hired? At that point your CDL is stale, and you will be put through "refresher training" or be passed by.

I am one of the Prime drivers on here. I am in year 3, and still mostly happy. I am still judging my happiness and success against myself. What do I need? Does it still work for me?

Just because YOU picked the companies on your list, doesn't mean they will choose you. By going through their training, your background has already been cleared, long before you ever set foot at their facility. This is an issue for some people, as they were all set to go, and something obscure popped on their checks, and suddenly they are out.

My advice, go to a training company, and fulfill the contract (many are one year long.) It takes that long to have even a snowballs chance to not be a menace on the road, and get settled into good habits, and starting to understand the job. The last thing you want in this freight market is job hopping.

But of course, as always, your mileage may vary.

I'm not sure which one would be better comparing pay and how they actually treat you. Anyone have any advice?

Hello Preston, and welcome to our forum!

You've already received excellent advice - especially the advice about saving your cash and letting the company you hire on with pay for your CDL training. That's almost always the best way to go.

I want to try and steer your thinking into a new direction when it comes to choosing your first trucking job. We have seen countless times when a newbie stressfully labored over this decision only to find everything they poured tons of anxiety into was merely wasted effort. They land their first job filled with excitement over the possibilities and end up fired within a couple of weeks.

As a new inexperienced driver, there's literally no way for you to see into your trucking future by basing your decision on how much a company pays or your perceptions of how they will treat you.

The one determining factor is how well you do at the job. Don't worry about what name is on the truck. Focus your attention on the person holding the wheel of the truck. That person (you) will determine both of the things you seem concerned with.

Your performance will dictate how much money is on your paycheck. Your ability and willingness to work well under constantly changing criteria and circumstances will determine how you are treated. That's how trucking works. Don't be fooled by the internet hype saying you have to be with the right company or you're screwed in this business. It's nonsense from people who are still looking for that perfect trucking job.

My advice? Go with one of the Paid CDL Training Programs, and fulfill your contract with them. The contract period flies by because you are still basically in the initial learning phases of your trucking career.

The job market is tough right now. If a company shows an interest in you, I'd say jump on board. You can always move on after you've learned to maximize your pay and learned what it takes to be treated well in this business. Those concerns place the ball in your court. Can you score with it?

Many community colleges offer CDL training. Some charge a fee for the equipment some don't. At any rate recruiters should come by to tell you how great their company is and this can help you decide.

But company sponsored training has this advantage: you are all but hired when you walk in the school door.

Most company schools actually charge you but you are expected to pay it back over a year or so. Some have special deals for veterans, either the tuition is forgiven after the first year (I did that with Swift) or vets get a higher starting pay rate.