So I'm new here and looking to get started in the trucking world. My current financial situation is a little messed up so I'm gonna have to go through one of the paid CDL training academies. I really need one that pays me while I train because I have child support to pay every week and my ex is quite vindictive and will drag me into court if I miss more than a week. I honestly want to get out on the road and not worry about anything. I don't really have to come home at all. I don't mind staying out for months at a time if that's acceptable. Mainly my kids' birthdays and Christmas are all I'd need to be home for. So with that being said, which company should I look into? I have looked at Swift, Prime, Roehl (my choice at the moment), and a few others. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Also wondering if I should just be a company driver or go the Owner/Operator route as well. Thanks again.
You put a lot of your personal situation into this, so that makes me think you've as concerned with your personal situation as you are your livelihood. Especially about your kids. Depending on how old they are....... Well actually it doesn't matter. Because time away from them, at any age, is still bad.
IMO, all of these big companies that offer all these supposed benefits and great home time, are all about the same.
Personally, finding one in your home state, as close to you home is IMO, the best. Especially one that has a lot of freight moving out of your area. Regional freight is good.
If there's not any companies close to you that take chances on newbies, then pick any of the big companies and drive for them for 1 year. Suck it up, and stash the money away. After 1 year, you can get on with a more local company.
I made the mistake of starting out OTR with a 5 year plan. 5 years turned into 10 years. The next thing I knew, my kids were grown and had learned something else than dad.
As far as the huge companies go, that train and help newbies get their CDL, I think they're all about the same. The information you need, you don't have access to. As in how much freight they're going to have tomorrow. They all start out about the same. And they all have about the same benefits. And they all haul freight nationwide.
One piece of advise is to have the ability to switch dispatchers when YOU want to. If you get a good one, hang onto him/her. If you get a bad one, switch yesterday.