I'm about ready, looking for a trucking company in upstate NY...

I'm about finally ready to take that step inside of a truck and start with this career. I'm looking for companies in upstate ny, although I realize that beginning I will more than likely have to start out with a mega, but that's okay with me the first year. I will more than likely have to do the training with signing up for one year, and after a lot of thought that's also okay with me, although I'm trying to read as many stories about people's experiences with the paid training as possible. I'm ready to put up with a lot to get the experience.

One of my main criteria, though, is that I would like to be out solo, as I've been working in delivery for a year and prefer being alone when driving, so I'm looking to get as much training as I can and get out there alone.

So far I've looked at Western Express, and my only problem with them is that they apparently have all automatic trucks. I'd like to learn how to drive a manual transmission if possible. I should add this as well, that I'd like to be driving in Canada as well as the US, if possible.

 

@Chinatown Gotcha, thanks Chinatown, I will try all of those out, then try the megas. I didn't know Western Express didn't have it's own training for non-cdl holders.

@123456 Upstate New York as in the capital district region.

 

@dog-c Thanks dog-c, I'll pm you. I'm going to try to get my CDL A from a local school then start applying again.

@Chinatown I'm now looking at the CDL School Inc. in Albany NY, though the lady over the phone seemed to be pretty clueless, it seemed like she was pretty new or something. She said that I should come down to speak with an advisor. I'm getting my permit on my next day off, so I need to look into a school to see what financing options are available for some driving time. This one seems to offer 80 hours of training. After I have my CDL, I may go with Western Express. I also spoke with Werner. Werner seems to go to Canada, so it's something I would be interested in, but again I'm pretty aware that I will more than likely have to start with a company just for the experience that will hire me.

 

Well the recruiters said that they pretty much will recruit me once I have my CDL A. Not sure if that's just a recruiter thing though, them just trying to sign me on. The Albany NY school does have a 160 hour course as well.