If you’re just starting out as a trucker, you’re going to need your CDL. Getting your license can be expensive and demanding. That’s why you should consider your options carefully.
A company that will pay for your CDL and then keeps you would be an ideal option. That’s because these companies offer training and experience to new drivers.
Trucking companies such as these can be a great stepping stone for your career. The companies on this list will offer paid CDL, experience, and great fees and benefits for new drivers.
Let’s dive into the list:
1 Swift Transportation
Few lists can go without Swift Transportation. It’s one of the biggest companies in the country with 20 thousand trucks and over 4 billion dollars in revenue. There are a lot of reasons to consider starting with Swift.
There’s a paid CDL program that they offer with fair conditions and good organization. The tuition costs $3,900. It can be paid in whole by the student or financed through Swift with 0% interest.
Free tuition means that you’ll keep driving for them for 52 weeks. Swift will deduct $37.50 every week for the first 52 weeks of employment. But if you choose to stay for them even more, Swift will increase the salary by an extra $37.50 per month for the following 52 weeks.
Therefore, the CDL program won’t cost you anything if you keep working with Swift for 104 weeks (2 years).
With regular pay raises and other benefits, Swift is one of the companies that pay the most.
2 Roehl Transport
Roehl is a big company with a long tradition. They have more than 2,100 trucks and 5,700 trailers. Their CDL program is valued by truckers.
The process is free for candidates. But after getting their CDL, they have a commitment to keep driving for Roehl. The commitment lasts for the next 120 thousand miles. That amounts to about 15 months of work.
It’s not a bad deal if you keep in mind that you are getting paid while getting your training. Candidates earn $90 daily while driving with a trainer. After that, they start on about 50 cents per mile and grow from there.
3 Prime Inc.
Prime Inc. is a big player in the trucking market with 4,000 trucks and 6,000 trailers. They offer quality training and a good beginners’ starting program.
The cost of the training is $4,375. The entire amount of the training fees are waived as long as you work for Prime for a year. You will be responsible for paying the full cost of the program if you cancel Prime before the year is complete.
During training, the company guarantees a $700 weekly minimum for the first 40,000 miles. After that, it’s upgraded to an $800 weekly minimum for the following 10,000 miles.
4 Carter Express
Carter Express is smaller than other companies on this list, but they have a quality training program. You pay it off after working for Carter Express for 12 months (in Indiana) or 19 months (in Arkansas).
After that, there are perks that set Carter Express apart from other companies. Firstly, this is one of the rare companies that offer 2 days of home time every week. That’s a guaranteed minimum.
Their fleet is made out of new trucks with low mileage and they offer multiple safety and performance bonuses. Apart from that, they have a great business culture which contributed to low driver turnover rates.
As a Carter driver, the base pay is 32.5 cents per mile and two bonus programs offer an extra 3 cents per mile on average. After a year with the company, your fees are upgraded to 36.5 cents per mile, plus bonuses.
5 CR England
This is one of the biggest reefer companies in the country with more than 4,500 trucks, 6,500 trailers, and 5,600 drivers. CR England offers a fully paid CDL school that you can pay off by working for the company for 9 months.
After acquiring your license, the company offers starting pay that goes from $.24 cents per mile for teams to $.35 cents per mile for solo drivers. Your starting pay depends on your routes, locations, and working model (solo or team).
The average fee for drivers with 1 year of experience is $986 per week. The company’s top-paid drivers are making around $1500 weekly or $75,348 annually.
Conclusion
This list contains companies that will offer you a comprehensive education and quality training. You can become a qualified truck driver with their help. But, each of these companies is also a good destination for you.
If you choose to stay with one of these companies longer, your career is looking to grow in a good direction.