Choosing between different schools [Need opinions].

Some on here might disagree with me, but honestly, you can do well at TransX. If you don't mind working a bit, I personally would go DeckX straight away, if I had to do it all over again.

I would also go Hyndman Transport or Schneider before I go Bison. If you're in Ontario, ERB or J&R Hall are also options before Bison.

I currently work for a power only contractor tractor service, I pull a lot of TransX, CanXpress and QuikX trailers. I am treated better, as a contractor driver at TransX; then when I was a company driver at Bison. The company drivers who want to work, and not complain, do well. The lease op's at TransX and DeckX I talk to regularly do really well, most will be done their leases soon, a couple are already finished. DeckX is going to be my next step, if anything ever happens to my dream job i'm currently at.

Hope that helps.

P.S Avoid Bison.

 

Does the PTDI designation get me better job offers? My local TTCC doesn't have it but 5th Wheel in Sarnia does have it. I'd have to take advantage of the free accommodations at 5th Wheel if I go there. I live in Ottawa.

 

All depends who you want to work for, best idea is to talk to recruiters before you get your Lisc, and find out what schools and designations they want to see. I called 10 companies, 9 of them were more than happy to tell me. Once I got out pf school with my class 1 (no restrictions), I worked for 2 of them in a year, was hired without an interview. Make sure you do manual, so you don't end up with "automatic only" on your license. IDK how it is at most places, but that's a big deal out here in the West. With 0 experience and a new license, you won't get any job offers, but some places will listen to your job begging

 

I'll start calling them tomorrow. Can you or anyone else add to this list. These all have a Canadian presence as far as I know. I want to do OTR.
Hyndman
ERB
Trailwood
SGT2000
Rosedale
JR Hall
Bison
Trans-Frt. McNamara Inc.
TransX
Titanium
Schneider

 

Hyndman = Bankrupt and laying off Terminal Staff and City Drivers. I know I recommend them above, but I just got this information today, will edit my posts above. Could try it to get a start, but the warning signs are going off big time.
ERB = The Best of the Best.
Trailwood = No idea
SGT2000 = No idea
Rosedale Group = Lots of Older guys working there, never heard a complaint, low turnover out West
JR Hall = One of the best, they're getting big into teams and overnight stuff now tho, mostly Canada only work, don't expect US miles.
Bison = Work the dock at your local Costco, you will make more, be home, and won't have to hate trucking/your life. They make you sign insane contracts, and if you break them, they will sue you. They share everything, even if it isn't theirs, expect to come down with third world diseases that you didn't know existed.
Trans-Frt. McNamara Inc.= Always been curious about these guys, their growing, see lots of their trucks driving sensibly in BC/WA/OR, they have a Terminal in California; which is a big plus.
TransX = A really mixed bag, it all comes down to the terminal/fleet manager you get. I pull their trailers as a contractor, and I think they are a better company than Bison. they don't have the shiny terminals or fancy marketing materials, but they don't share trucks, their shops are much better, and they have better work than Bison IMHO. Really consider the DeckX division, which operates like its own company inside of TransX. This is the only company in Canada I would consider doing a LeaseOp with (or DeckX).
Titanium = Don't know
Schneider = Good Training, Good Miles, Lots of work, prob Terrible pay. Way better starting point than Bison, way better trucks, don't let them talk you into a lease.
Day and Ross = See Bison Above.
SLH = Teams only, the Nazis would be proud of the driver slavery and surveillance at this company.
Manitoulin Transport = Good pay, good benefits, have friends who say they will NEVER leave here, slow trucks tho, 95km/hr, sometimes over the top on Safety.
XTL = These guys are getting huge, good equipment, good culture, lots of work, no US miles, slow trucks 95km/hr, but again, have friends who will never leave, lots of opportunity to get into a day cab and be home, or get on short haul regional and be home every other day.
Versacold = Lots of dedicated runs, lots of different lanes, lots of pin to pin to their own facilities, good pay, assigned trucks, do not get involved with anything that says CPX on it. Its all reefer tho, and you might end up on the meat and produce fleet. That can be a good or bad thing, depending who you are.
Challenger = Very mixed bag, I've heard some people call it a "worse version of Bison" but I've also seen many people do well here. Most ppl who get fired from Challenger go to Bison. Lots of Bison drivers who leave and go to Challenger, come back to Bison. I would rather do TransX or Schneider.
Kriska = hear lots of good about these guys, but can't comment to much, as I never see them in the West.

 

I have a road test set up with SGT2000 next Friday

 

Just wanted to post a correction, XTL is doing US short haul now, and you get paid #### good to do it!

 

Thanks BigHossCummins, I'm working through the list. I'll try and post my findings when I'm done.

 

The following was posted on my school's facebook page today.

Attention AZ Alumni........Hyndman Transport is hiring...send in your resume!
At Hyndman, you could make up to $3,000 in sign-on earnings!

• $6,000: Cross-border Teams ($3,000/driver)
• $3,000: OO, LP, & Co. Drivers who cross the border
• $2,000: Drivers in the Hyndman Driver Experience Building Program