Have you just earned your commercial driver’s license (CDL) and you’re ready to get out on the road with your fresh new license?
If you nodded ‘yes,’ you're probably looking for a trucking company to call home and give you the industry experience you need.
Perhaps you don't even have your CDL yet and you're looking for a company with a trucking school.
Many companies require you to have months of experience before they will hire you. But how do you get experience when no one will hire you? Thankfully, there are great training companies out there that are designed for brand-new drivers. They’ll give you the training and experience needed to advance your career.
Once you have a few months or a year or two under your belt, you’ll have the option to go to other trucking companies that require more driving experience.
Anderson Trucking Service (ATS) has been in the trucking industry for more than 65 years, and we define “best” as the companies that offer great training programs, prioritize safety and pay their drivers well while they're training.
This list of the best companies for new drivers will provide you with the information you need to succeed as you get your start in the industry. These companies have training programs for drivers who’ve just received their CDL, drivers who want to get their CDL or both.
The Top Trucking Companies for New Truck Drivers in 2024 Include:
- Swift Transportation
- Prime
- CRST
- C.R. England Trucking
- Roehl Transport
- Schneider
- Old Dominion Freight Line
- Werner Enterprises
Swift Transportation
Founded: 1966
Headquarters: Phoenix, Arizona
Insight: Swift Transportation provides trucking jobs for both recent graduates or beginners.
They have entry-level positions for drivers who have just gotten their CDL and need more experience. They recognize that many trucking companies will not hire new drivers without experience, but drivers can’t gain driving experience unless a carrier takes a chance on them.
Swift Academy also offers a tuition program that helps drivers earn their Class A CDL. They also offer a tuition reimbursement program for drivers who received their training at another truck driving school.
New drivers will work with a mentor for up to 300 hours depending upon how much previous experience they do or do not have. For instance, if you have verifiable driving experience with another carrier, you may not need to drive with a mentor for the full 300 hours.
Prime, Inc.
Founded: 1970
Headquarters: Springfield, Missouri
Insight: Prime offers a program for new drivers like you to get paid while you train with your CDL. They have new classes starting each week in Missouri, Pennsylvania or Utah.
Before going to orientation for the Prime Training Program, you’ll need to get your commercial learner’s permit (CLP) in your home state. At orientation, you will get both hands-on, computer-based and simulator training. You’ll work with an instructor until you’re ready to take your CDL exam. Once you pass and receive your CDL, you’ll drive with a trainer for 50,000 miles. You'll earn at least $900 per week while working with a trainer.
They also have a tuition reimbursement program if you’ve received your Class A CDL with another trucking school.
Do you need help choosing the right carrier? Learn how to make the right choice for yourself.
CRST
Founded: 1955
Headquarters: Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Insight: CRST is one of the largest privately-held transportation companies in the nation. They offer training programs for students or recent grads.
The student training program is three to four weeks long followed by two days of onboarding. If you’ve just gotten your CDL, CRST has a tuition reimbursement program — one of the best in the industry — and will help you get the hands-on experience you need by placing you with a mentor for over-the-road (OTR) training.
CRST is a great place to start if you have no driving experience and desire an entry-level position.
C.R. England Trucking
Founded: 1920
Headquarters: Salt Lake City, UT
Insight: C.R. England Trucking has one of the top-rated training schools in the nation. They have both a driving school for drivers without a CDL and training programs for new drivers. You can get your license in their comprehensive 10-17-day license program and then transition straight into driving with a certified mentor.
They have training campuses across the country in California, Utah, Texas and Indiana. C.R. England offers both tuition and housing reimbursement when you hire on with the company, so tuition costs don't have to hold you back.
Roehl Transport
Founded: 1962
Headquarters: Marshfield, Wisconsin
Insight: Roehl Transport has options for you whether you are fresh out of trucking school or you have yet to get your CLP. They have resources to help you be successful in all stages of your trucking career, from helping you get your CLP to providing CDL practice tests.
Roehl is a top safety-rated trucking company and they pride themselves on providing you with the best training and support as well as high student driver pay rates.
They have a tuition reimbursement program if you’ve already earned your CDL. When you start with them, they will also provide paid on-the-job training. If you don’t have your CDL yet you’ll go through three training phases. This includes onboarding, driving with a trainer and then driving in your own truck for a test period.
Schneider
Founded: 1935
Headquarters: Green Bay, Wisconsin
Insight: Schneider is committed to fostering the next generation of drivers. They understand that the cost of earning your CDL can be a setback for some drivers, so they offer paid CDL training.
Whether you don’t have your CDL or you just passed your CDL test and you’re looking to gain experience, Schneider has options for you. Choose the company-paid CDL apprenticeship training to gain on-the-job experience or choose the company-sponsored CDL training program. Schneider will help you find a truck driving school in the area and will provide paid lodging if applicable.
You may get pre-hired at Schneider before you start trucking school. When you apply, you’ll be able to secure loans and find funding easier. Recent graduates may also qualify for tuition reimbursement.
Old Dominion Freight Line
Founded: 1934
Headquarters: Thomasville, North Carolina
Insight: Old Dominion Freight Line has a great training program for people wanting to earn their Class A CDL. They have a 280-hour paid training to earn your Class A CDL and become a local or line haul driver. You can also work on Old Dominion's dock.
New drivers may also qualify for Old Dominion's reimbursement program. If you're a new graduate or current student, meet all driving requirements and get hired at Old Dominion, you can receive up to $5,000 in tuition reimbursement.
Werner Enterprises
Founded: 1956
Headquarters: Omaha, Nebraska
Insight: Werner Enterprises provides hands-on training and onboarding for drivers who have their CDL driver's license. They partner with Roadmaster Drivers School, where you can earn your CDL. Simply apply at Werner once you've earned your CDL.
Once you start driving for Werner, you'll be able to choose from a ton of different driving options, including local, regional and over-the-road (OTR). They're one of the largest truckload carriers in the U.S. with a fleet of more than 8,500 trucks.
Choose from dedicated, one-way truckload, intermodal, temperature-controlled, expedited and cross-border jobs.
How to Choose a Company
Wondering what's next? To figure out which company is the best for you, you need to do a few things.
The first thing you need to do is to take stock of your current position, goals, needs and wants. Some companies will only hire drivers who already have their CDL, while some companies will help you get your CDL.
Next, figure out where you want to be a year or two from now. Which company will help you reach those goals? Does the company offer a career path that gets you where you want to be? Will it help you earn the experience you need to reach your goals?
Finally, consider your needs and wants. Maybe you need a tuition reimbursement program. Maybe you need to go to a trucking school close to home, so you need to find a carrier with a campus near you. Maybe you want to find a carrier that has a heavy haul division because you want to move oversized freight one day. Maybe you want to get on a regional route, but you're okay with driving OTR.
Make a list of your needs and wants and then start talking to recruiters at trucking companies to see who can take care of your needs and wants.
Choose the Best Trucking Company
As you're making your decision, you should consider which company also aligns with your values and provides support every step of the way.
Read up on their programs to see if the company offers the routes and freight you want to haul and the equipment you want to haul it with. Read company reviews to learn more about whether or not the company adequately supports new drivers.
Getting your start as a truck driver can be scary, but with a mentor and ongoing training, you’ll have all the experience you need to go to a Top Pay Certified Carrier like ATS.
