Looking For Company-sponsored Training

I can assist with that because that has been my biggest thing too....Here are the companies to check out that will allow her to go from day 1 after you get out of training, get your cdl and then get your own truck:

Central Refrigerated

Swift

Crete Carriers (dry vans)/Shaffer refers

Boyd Brothers (flatbeds)

Werner

USA Truck

Navajo Express

TMC (after 90 days, but they try to get you home 46 of the 52 weekends)

There are others, but I am drawing a mind blank. I am going with the 3rd one, but Werner isn't a bad choice either. Hope this helps. Good luck.

Thanks for that list (I hit the "Quote" button to get it line-separated because the text editor ran them all into one line as you can see)

Anyways, I'll check into them.

Is there a lot more work in flatbeds or something? I notice they pay more than "regular, enclosed trailers"

Is there a lot more work in flatbeds or something?

Yep...a LOT more work..You, the driver, are expected to secure all your loads and are responsible for that if something goes wrong..as well as tarping loads that require it, either by the type of material or by request of the customer/shipper..and you're expected to do it an whatever weather you're in at the time..rain, sleet, snow, 100 degree + temps..it's all on you..some people LOVE it and wouldn't do anything else...but it IS a lot more physical than just about any other type of freight..Old School and Starcar are skateboarders...they can tell you what it's all about..

Yeah there is. You have to tarp all your loads. No matter what the weather conditions are you have to drop or throw tarps on all your loads and make sure that they are tied down according to DOT/company/carrier specs. There is a lot of hard work in it from what I understand. I am still a student myself, but meeting with some of the flatbed companies out there, they generally pay more, but most companies pay extra for tarping.

One thing to keep in mind with flatbeds, is that if you want to see the country and run the whole country, TMC and Maverick are the best for that. If you are like me (and I think you are) because like you I love to drive and travel. If you have read my previous posts I collect roadmaps for each state I have been too and I dream about the states I have not been too. Anyways if you want to see all 48 states look into hauling refer units. Central Refrigerated, Warner, Shaffer, Stevens, and others will run all 48 and some in Canada. Just something to think about. Good luck. Refers pay more too because you have to keep the refer units in good working order and the temps regulated. God speed.

Very interesting. I'd be interested in doing that for more than likely one simple reason - I'd like to have the extra physical work to attempt to keep in a relatively decent shape.

I'm basically at rock bottom, as I mentioned earlier. I need to get this ball rolling but I am also stuck a bit because I am trying to be home for my 2nd year anniversary with my wife.. we've been through a lot and I don't want her to be alone on a day that means so much to us.. hell the holidays don't really matter compared to my anniversary lol. So, that makes me available for training around the 2nd-3rd week of September (anniv is Sep 10)

I know I need to work on getting these applications in right now, and I am slowly doing so. I feel like there really isnt a point in applying to a company that doesn't have what I prefer, but I am also saving them for a last resort in case for some odd reason none of my choice companies are interested in me.

All these companies that are being mentioned right now, I am assuming they allow riders and have relatively decent home time? I don't want to get too far off track from what my original post was, but I am more than open to all advice, recommendations, and criticism. Bring it on..

BuckeyeCowboy, I haven't checked the other threads you've posted in, but you do sound like me when it comes to driving and traveling. So, based on that, and the fact that you looked for a company that would let you bring your wife along sooner rather than later, leads me to check out some of your recommendations too :D

Everyone else, I am also checking into everything you're telling me. Unfortunately I have to focus on making this measly $200/wk from what I currently do online, but now I have something to actually work on (researching trucking etc) when I get bored of my regular work.

there's a lot more that I wanted to say, but I need to remember it :o

Jerry, I have been married five years. I have to take my wife as that was the only way that she was going to let me do this. :). If your wife would be willing to go to school too you could team drive and make a heck of a lot more money. Something to keep in mind. Once you put in your applications, wait 24 hours and call them companies and tell them you want to review your application and they will send a prehire letter. A prehire letter invites you to orientation and allows you to move forward with the company. It doesn't guarantee employment, but will get you to their orientation, which will let you get the job after you pass a physical and take a road test and attend their classes. etc.

I have spent numerous hours researching companies. Start with Brett's list on here Companies that hire inexperienced truck drivers. That will be a good starting block. I have 11 pre-hires , so just apply to as many or as few as you want, but the more that you do the more opportunities you create for yourself.

Melton is a flatbed company and if I remember right they will let you take your wife from day 1. They have good benefits too. TMC has nice black and chrome Peterbilts that they put your name on once you get assigned your truck. Maverick has all automatic transmissions, so that can be good or bad, depending on how you look at it.

Yeah, my wife is afraid to drive a regular passenger truck let alone try to drive a commercial truck. So that's definitely a no-go.

I'll definitely check into the companies you're mentioning, because some of what you're saying is sparking my interest.

There's this school here in Medina called Hamrick. I've read horrible reviews online about them but then again I have to take it with a grain of salt. They're expensive, too, almost $6k cash to take their schooling, but they have a hiring fair or whatever it's called where they claim "around 50 different companies show up to recruit the graduates of our program" as they told me on the phone.

If I can get WIA to cover this school, I might go, because even if I don't get hired right off the bat, I'll have a CDL and possibly have more of a chance to get with one of these other companies I am researching.

If anyone has info on Hamrick please let me know either here or in PM, because I need to know if going thru them is worth it or not. Thanks.

Can't say I don't know much about them. My schooling was like $4500.00 and WIA covered it. Not sure if there is a limit or not, but if they will take you on do it. See if they will let you go to the fair even if you are not a student yet. That will be neat if they could. Good luck in your quest. If you have any questions let me know or PM me. I will be checking here from time to time too.

I'll be more than glad to let ya know. Probably check back next week, I am headed out to the city tomorrow morning so I may stop at JFS and see who I can talk to about it all.

Alright, I found the Employment and Training Connection office for my county. I will be near it tomorrow morning.

BuckeyeCowboy, did you just walk into the office and talk to them or did you have to call and schedule an appointment first? I called just now and they open back up at 745am tomorrow (they closed their switchboard at 415)