Best Trucking Companies for New Drivers in 2025
Starting a job as a truck driver is an exciting one, but it can be overwhelming at times. Picking a right company at the beginning can make a big difference in your career.
Good trucking companies for new drivers provide more than good pay. To the drivers, they provide good training, safety support, opportunities to grow, and respect to the drivers.
This guide will help you:
- Know the things to look for your first trucking company
- Look at some in the top 2025 companies that hire new drivers, and
- Learn how can Dexter Dispatch Services can help new drivers, reliable dispatch, and support them.
What to Look for as a New Driver Searching for a Trucking Company
Take time to understand the company, thoroughly explore it before you sign a deal. Not all brand names are suitable for you – look for those that will let you grow in the long run. Here’s what truly matters:
Strong CDL Training and Mentorship
For new drivers, a good training is the most effective way to learn driving. Look for companies that:
- pay for your other training or reimburse you for tuition you have already paid in obtaining your CDL.
- Give you a mentor, a driver that will let you learn from the best drivers.
- First thing to teach is not to get on the road fast but safety first.
Firms such as Prime Inc. and Roehl Transport have driving simulators that are designed to mimic real rock.
Competitive Pay and Fair Benefits
Ryan: Money is important; especially when you first start out as an actor. Check if the company:
- – Offers a better pay per mile after the initial months.
- Alternatively, you might want to have an employee bonus for good work or fuel-saving.
- Includes paid time off, health insurance and retirement plans.
Some start-up companies will have lower rates at the beginning and then increase the rates after you drive alone.
Home Time and Work-Life Balance
Every person has a different schedule. Many drivers have the desire to remain close to family members on local routes; there are others who have aspirations to drive on long-haul (OTR) jobs. Ask:
- – How often will I be able to get yourself a day or two at home ?
- Is it possible to choose regional, dedicated or OTR routes?
- – Is the schedule flexible in the event of an emergency or Family time?
Modern Equipment and Safety Standards
An old or faulty truck will make the job difficult. A good company will look after its vehicles. Look for:
- Trucks that are under the age of five.
- – Safety options like lane-assist, anti-rollover and collision warning
- 24 hours a day, roadside assistance
Clean, dependable trucks are a sign that the company is concerned about freight and drivers.
Supportive Company Culture
Respect and communications are just as important as pay Before you commit you can ask other drivers what it is like over the radio.
Good companies:
- – Abolishment to Rematched Imagine a world where people are no longer simply their represented as numbers for the purposes of servitude, abuse, or exploitation and without due respect, status, or privilege, in their own way drivers are actually partners for a shared cause and responsibility.
- Have dispatchers that are respectful of your time.
- Explain to you clearly about loads, delays and expectations,
Me: Don’t hire companies with drivers complaining about little home time, late pay, or poor dispatch.
Opportunities for Growth
After getting the foundations under foot, find a way to go further.
Top companies get new drivers driving into:
- – Special operations such as flatbed, tanker, reefer or hazmat.
- – Owner‑operator programs.
- – Positions in sports institutes, team leads.
Future-proofing is important for employee appeal as the long-term commitment to the company is much more meaningful than a short-term contract.
Contract and Pay Clarity
Read the fine print.
Some companies give students “free” training but require students to commit to working there for 12-24 months afterward. Early departure may result in thousands of dollars in fees.
Also clarify:
- Pay for layovers
- – Pay for detentions
- – Pay for breakdowns
- Employee sign-on bonuses (and when you’ll actually get it).
Being transparent early on is the key to avoid any complicating problems later on.
The List: Some of the Best Trucking Companies for New Drivers
Below are some of the most reputable and beginner-friendly trucking companies in 2025. These organizations offer strong training, competitive pay, and steady growth for new CDL holders.
| Company | Why It’s Great for New Drivers | Things to Keep in Mind |
|---|---|---|
| Swift Transportation | One of the largest fleets in the U.S. with thousands of routes. Offers paid CDL training, multiple divisions (reefer, dry van, flatbed), and strong safety programs. | Being a large company means some drivers feel “like a number.” Workload can vary by region. |
| Werner Enterprises | Excellent on-the-job mentorship and modern equipment. Provides multiple route options and stable freight year-round. | Starting pay may feel modest for rookies, but rises with experience. |
| Schneider National | Offers great home-time options, training programs, and clear career paths. Known for strong safety culture. | Paperwork and processes can be rigid because of company size. |
| Prime Inc. | Paid CDL training, new equipment, and solid pay for new drivers. Offers solo and team driving. | Training is intense; expect to spend long weeks on the road during the learning phase. |
| Roehl Transport | One of the most beginner-friendly companies with in-house CDL programs, guaranteed pay, and short training periods. | Some regional routes can be physically demanding, especially flatbed. |
| Knight Transportation | Strong mentorship, updated equipment, family-owned culture despite being large. | Routes may be longer for OTR drivers. |
| Crete Carrier | Focuses on driver retention, high average pay rates, and safety bonuses. | Requires some prior experience for certain divisions. |
Each of these companies helps new drivers build real-world experience while earning a steady income and learning how to manage time, loads, and routes effectively.
Swift Transportation (Also Known as Swift Trucking)
Swift Transportation, subsidiary of Knight Swift Holdings, as a truck driving company in US, are well known name.
Why new drivers like Swift:
- – They receive money for learning your commercial driving license by their training program.
- – There are many types of loads to haul; refrigerated, dry, flatbed and dedicated shipments.
- – They have routes all around the country whose schedules can be flexible.
- – The trucks stand out modern and with latest safety technology.
What to ask before joining Swift:
- Questions for people before they join Swift:
- – The length of time the training takes and what you get paid while you’re training.
- The home-time regulations in the area where the vehicle is to be used.
- of Towns: – If you are assured enough delivery miles to keep moving after training.
Swift can be a great start for an ambitious driver looking for a way to work across the country and take regular freight, butbest suited for drivers who do not mind long haul driving.
Additional Noteworthy Companies
Roehl Transport
Roehl is commended for combining learning of the lesson in the classroom and actual road practice. Their Get Your CDL Program allows first-time drivers to make cash while they learn. Roehl is a company of safety, reliability and steady growth.
Prime Inc.
Prime provides good comprehensive training. Good pay, modern equipment and a definite path to becoming an owner/operator.
Schneider National
Schneider is a safety- and driver-development-oriented carrier and is a great choice for those drivers seeking a professional, structure-oriented work environment.
Knight Transportation
Knight is small fleet, but has the ability to send freight wherever it needs to go, so it’s a good balance for drivers that want to work in a small team but have consistent deliveries.
Get Support and Assistance as a New Driver With Dexter Dispatch Services
Even after you begin driving, hard samples of having steady, good paying jobs and dealing with paperwork. That’s where Dexter Dispatch Services comes in.
Dexter Dispatch Services helps the new driver and small fleet owners operate their businesses without stress.
Here’s how they help:
Load Matching & Rate Negotiation
Dexter’s dispatchers get profitable jobs from reliable brokers. They communicate with the brokers for you and confirm the pay and ensure that you get the best load for your truck and route.
Route Planning & Optimization
efficient and short routes with intelligent planning Dexter considers distances, tolls and timing in order to reduce empty miles and maximize your earnings per trip.
Paperwork & Compliance Support
Forget the paperwork mess – Dexter takes care of:
- Rate confirmations
- Bills of lading (BOLs)
- Insurance verification
- Broker set‑up packets
This protects you from being disobeying the law and also lets you to drive safely.
24/7 Dispatcher Communication
Dexter is always there at all times. If you’re at a shipper stuck, need to get a lumper fee approved, or run into some issues with routes, the team is in it as fast as they can jump.
Mentorship for New Drivers
New drivers struggle with brokers, factoring or picking loads. Dexter provides coaching and education to help you avoid mistakes that many people make and to get you winning from day one.
Transparency and Trust
No extra hidden cost or surprise rate reductions. You know exactly what you are paying but also what you will get. Dexter believes in honesty and long term partnerships.
Tip: There are many drivers who start with big carriers and then go onto their own company – Dexter can bridge that move and make the move smooth.
Tips for New Drivers to Succeed in Trucking
Here are a few extra pieces of advice from experienced drivers and dispatchers:
- Be patient. The first few months are about learning, not maximizing pay.
- Stay organized. Keep your logs, receipts, and documents clean.
- Communicate clearly with dispatchers and brokers — don’t assume anything.
- Drive safely. Accidents early in your career can hurt long-term opportunities.
- Keep learning. Watch YouTube trucking channels, join forums, and ask questions.
- Take care of your health. Eat right, rest properly, and stretch during breaks.
Conclusion
Choosing the Right Trucking Company for New Drivers is not a decision to be made with just the paycheck in mind. Make constructive input a priority in the areas of training, safety, respect and areas of growth.
Swift, Roehl, Prime, and Werner are some of the best options for trucking. Being consistent, professional and having a source of ongoing support is all that really matters.
When it’s time to fully re-gain control over your career, Dexter Dispatch Services can assist with load management, negotiation and expert dispatch support. This enables you to concentrate on driving, earning and growing.