I want the Down and Dirty Facts and Opinions.

[SPCZippo]

Ok well As i have said in my other Thread about my driving awards from state and local officials, I have been unable to start my trucking career. Now I have been applying to dam near every trucking company out there with little or no research done about any of them. And well since i have been knocked on my ass, i have stepped back and started looking more in to a few companies. And now I want the down and dirty for a few companies that i have interest in.

Prime Inc

CRST

Swift

Snider Trucking

What is the good bad and ugly for these companies?
Now I have no family or friends that mean i need to be home for so home time is not really something i must have. The only thing i need is be home once a month for my military duty. If they have a history of not allowing there military workers the ability to do there duty i want to know about it. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[GMAN]

You will hear good and bad about any of the carriers you listed. It depends on what you are looking for and where you want your career to take you. I don't know what you are referring to when you mention driving awards from state and local officials. Do you already have a CDL? If so, how long have you been driving?

[SPCZippo]

what I ment that I have two speeding ticket on my record that are for 15mph over the speed limit. Honestly right now im just looking for a company that will pay for my CDL training and be nice to not have to fight every month to attend my military duty. As of right now I do not posses a CDL, I have very little money to pay for a CDL school so, I am just trying to get information about the companies that i know i would like to work for.

[Orangetxguy]

what I ment that I have two speeding ticket on my record that are for 15mph over the speed limit. Honestly right now im just looking for a company that will pay for my CDL training and be nice to not have to fight every month to attend my military duty. As of right now I do not posses a CDL, I have very little money to pay for a CDL school so, I am just trying to get information about the companies that i know i would like to work for.

Young Lad. Since you are in Ohio.....MOVE! Move to eastern Ohio from where you are and get yourself a job working on a rig crew. You are young and physically fit. There are plenty of great paying rig jobs....if you are willing to work hard. And your military service is a PLUS.

[SPCZippo]

Young yes fit some what. I have two ruptured discs in my lower back. So while i don't mind hard work, i enjoy it actually, but with my bad back I cant work as hard as I used to. But i do thank you for the advice.

[golfhobo]

SPCZippo said:

what I meant that I have two speeding ticket on my record that are for 15mph over the speed limit.

Those are considered "major violations" in the CDL regs. If any of us get two of those within 3 years, we get a 2 month "vacation" from our CDL duties. In most cases, I would think that would mean a LOSS of a job. And, you want to know who will gladly HIRE you with 2 of them already? Granted.... not as bad as one or more DUI's... but, they are considered as very "risky" behavior for a new recruit.

Honestly right now im just looking for a company that will pay for my CDL training and be nice to not have to fight every month to attend my military duty.

You ABSOLUTELY should not pay for your own training.... as it it unlikely you will get a job anytime soon in this business. Sorry, just the facts. IF you find ANY company that will hire you and PAY for your training (which you will have to pay back thru low wages for at least one year...) you should JUMP on it! They are not allowed by law to interfere with your "Guard duties." But, that don't mean they won't TRY! [And thank you for your service.]

As of right now I do not posses a CDL, I have very little money to pay for a CDL school so, I am just trying to get information about the companies that i know i would like to work for.

Check with your local U/I office/ Job center. They may have a program that will pay for your training. But, beware that you will have to look out for yourself at all times concerning anyone's "interest" in helping to find you a job with that record.

I passed up "driver's jobs" in the want ads for about 20 years because I didn't have a "squeaky clean" MVR. Also... I didn't have the money to afford a CDL course. But, DUBYA stepped in and approved funding for a program called Workforce Investment Act (WIA.) The government (your taxes... in lieu of my G.I. Bill...) paid for my training.

It's not a question of WHOM you'd like to work for. With your record, you need to take whatever you can GET...IF you want to drive. Depending on the conviction date(s)... you could be okay within about 3 to 5 years. By that I mean... you can move on towards a career without those tickets holding you back.

FWIW.... from your list I would choose (concentrate on) CRST .... especially as a TEAM driver, or possibly Schneider also as a team. MOST companies are not going to want to trust you as a SOLO with your record. SWIFT is okay if that's the best you can do. But, stay away from PRIME!

You haven't told us anything about yourself. WHY you think you should be in charge of an 80k pound missile of death. Don't even know your age... though I am guessing at mid 20's. Gotta TELL ya... I'm more worried about 2 tickets for 15 over than I would be for 2 DUI's (if years apart.)

If you don't already know (from reading many threads on this site,) IF you get a CDL and don't get a job within 3-6 months, you might as well start over! You're up against it, lad! YOU will probably need a pre-hire from SOME company before you attend a CDL school.

There are options... other ways to get "in"... like finding a local company that will hire you after YOU pay for your CDL. This can be done cheaply through many local "technical colleges." The money won't be great (in most cases,) and the experience will not count if you really want to go OTR... but, it's a way to start.

The MAIN thing is to GET the CDL. My dad calls it a "meal ticket." IF you can get one, and keep your nose clean, it certainly CAN be!

I gotta admit that I am interested in your case. Don't know exactly why. I think you owe us MORE info if you want us to keep responding.

Hobo