I See Bottom 5 Companies To Work For List, WHAT ABOUT A TOP5

[wsclinger9869]

Drivers, I have for a number of years wanted to get out of the office environment and into a truck as a Professional Driver. I am 49 years old, not a spring chicken but with alot of tread left to burn yet, and don't really know anyone to talk to about companies or training...etc...

I have a new family, my Ex walked out on me after 22 yrs of marriage and my new wife and family is supportive of me following my desire to become a driver. That said, what are the Top 5 companies that you all would suggest to begin my driving career at? Yes, I need complete CDL training, or I could take it locally in Ohio and then go right into the road training. But how long does it realistically take to get a good dedicated run with say weekly or more than weekly hometime opportunities?

I greatly appreciate any information any of you wish to impart, as I am VERY serious about wanting to hit the open road, but at the same time, make sure my family is taken care of and that they don't forget who I am or what I look like...

Thanks..

[flatbedder]

Top 5 for training/newbies probly

Millis
Roehl
TMC
Maverick
Schneider

[wsclinger9869]

Ok, do others agree with the above list and what about AFTER the training, which of these would be the best to be a beginning driver for?

[flatbedder]

TMC and Maverick are probably the best out of the list, but that depends if you want to do flatbed. Schneider would probably be your last choice of the companies that are listed. The other four offer pretty good hometime options.

[ibamars]

I have to go with that list as well. Millis i think you have to have 1 year however if not mistaken.

[larryh31]

Millis Transfer actually has there own driving school. The training pay, starting cpm and hometime is alot better than most of the larger training companies.

http://www.millistransfer.com/index.html

[Pappa Jake]

Werner is also good for newbies, I can relate to I'm 46 starting out as a OTR driver, going with TMC. Good Luck

[wsclinger9869]

Thanks Larry and Pappa Jake....hopefully one day soon we'll meet up on the highway and I'll buy ya a cup of joe to show my appreiciation. Pappa Jake, we're not too far apart age-wise, so I wish you good fortune in your career change....

[Windwalker]

If you're interested in hometime, I believe Roehl seems to have the widest range of options for that. They'll even let you have one week on, and one week off, as I understand it.

[Skywalker]

I think, that despite the fact that the others named some pretty good companies....they missed one that deserves to be on that list, at the top according to my own particular "bias" : CFI.

Especially if you live in the Columbus, OH area. We have a secure yard there and have both regional and national fleets. Strictly 53' dry van. Do some searches on CFI and, see what you come up with here and drop over to http://www.cfidrivers.com if you're further interested.

[One]

Have you looked into local driving? I think the big training co.s might be asking you to be out too long and work for too little money to start. Then Id like to generalize that they will run you into the ground during 'training' and use you as cheap labor. I dont mean to be negative, but I see too many 'career switchers' getting shafted to not say anything.

[dragracert99]

Forget about all the others and drive for Falcon as a newbie.
You'll make money and get home every weekend to start out.
Falcon has many terminals and based out of Ohio.
I am averaging 1 k a week and have been on for 6 months now.
Brought home 1382 laST WEEK and 540 week before. averaging 2500 to 3000 net a month, flatbedding.
They train and pay back schooling.
Don't hire on without checking them out first!

[BIG JEEP on 44's]

Werner is also good for newbies, I can relate to I'm 46 starting out as a OTR driver, going with TMC. Good Luck

A company for ..ROOKIES YES...BUT.... I wouldn't put then in the TOP 5......

Werner is good if your choices are limited for some reason..my reason was 2 back 2 back speeding tickets in oct 04 they were small point 5-7 mph over...But most companies want either none or no more than 1 in the past 12 months driving history ....so this limited my choices....my choices are much better now that I got a little over 1 yr experience accident free and no tickets added to my driving record since oct 04........

[uglymutt]

those companies YOU don,t want to work for are on YOU,re list of companies at the bottom and the one that YOU work for is at the top, don't listen to other drivers who think their company is number 1, I drive for FFE and these people will tell you no no no, bad choice....its all your preferences that will determine who you work for.. if you,re just starting out your limited to who you will work for and after you get in time like a few years then you can advance to you,re likings, I want to be at a top company and only drive 6 hours a day and home every night and drive a brand new truck too.....not going to happen, best bet is to go to top of this page and in the orange bar is a link for company listings, check it out what you find that fits you are and probably not on these lists these drivers flame over.......

[Soladad]

I was a newbie driver in Jan with Roehl. Took CDL training at a technical college. If you are interested in more info about Roehl as a new driver please drop me a private message. I have been driving for them for 8 months now. Give me a bit of time to answer you message as I don't have a lot of time out on the road to answer mail at night.

Soladad

[Longsnowsm]

Some other companies that come to mind that pay practical miles and decent to good cpm:

CFI
Gordon
Crete
Shaffer

Longsnowsm