Well its official

[bigpapa7272]

well guys and gals ive decided to go to North American Trade schools here in baltimore. They are recommended by a couple friends I have that are truck drivers. The price was right $4500.00 (50% cheaper than allstate career) for the 10 week course (320 hours). The school is right down the street from work so gas wont kill me. I'll go to school during the day and go to work at after school. and take my days off while in school on non school days

Im starting July 28th and will graduate october 6th. Faculty and staff are nice and helpful and non pushy.

I called maverick andgot a voicemail but informed them when I started and will graduate school, as they sent me the usual monthly email asking if i had my cdl yet since i applied with them back in february. I have to figure out where else I will apply, but I think if i can get in with maverick that would be a great start with payscale they have.


Any suggestions for companies to apply with???

[Double L]

If I was 21 I'd go with Star Transport out of Morton, Illinois. But since I'm 18 I'm waiting to hear back from a grain hauler about an hour away from me. Just sent off my application to them Friday!

[bigpapa7272]

well im 27 and still deciding on what company. I saw some brand new usa tractors the other day that looked pretty nice.

ive basically got 11 weeks to apply and decide. I think i will just send out a bunch of apps and see what happens in the way of job offers

[bigpapa7272]

also if you guys vote in the poll explain why you voted the way you did, and if you selected other please tell me what "other company" you are talking about.

Thanks

[Jimbpard]

Why are those your only options? There are MANY more out there.

JMHO...

Maverick - Ok. Most likely the best choice out of the whole list.
Swift - HAHAHAHAHA
Werner - HAHAHAHAHAHA
PAM or any of their subdivisions(decker etc.) - HAHAHAHAHAHA
USA - HAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Schneider - Not the best, not the worst but there is a reason they're always looking to put bodies in the seats.
Crete - Not bad if you dont mind being gone for 3+ weeks at a time with a barebones truck.
Prime - HAHAHAHAHAHA
Transport America - Not the worst, certainly not the best.

Look at more options. You really havent heard by now about how bad Werner, Prime, USA, Swift are?? Do more searching. It'd be a shame to see someone fall victim to half of the companies you have listed.

[bigpapa7272]

i like millis, i just dont want to have to go to a 3 week school with after completing a 10 week school. But if thats an option i'll take it.

Ive applied at schneider and roehl before and I cant figure out why they never call back dont want to hire me, im an easy hire no criminal record, no tickets in the last 5 years and 1 accident ($1200 in damage in personal vehicle). Roehl told me not to even bother to apply there til the that accident is 5 years old.


some times it just makes you wonder what these people are thinking?

[JeffTheTerrible]

What are you looking for, exactly? Your best bet is to call each company, talk to them, find out what they have to offer, and make your decision from there. Most of the answers you receive in this poll are going to be heresay. Personally, the only company you've listed which I drove for was Swift, and I went to them as an experienced driver. I ran for the flatbed division for a few months, and left because I had issues with my dispatcher which never came to any resolution. I don't think it was particularly great, I don't think it was particularly horrible.
Anything I can add in regards to any of the other companies... well, as I mentioned before, it would only be heresay.

[inmate1577]

i like millis, i just dont want to have to go to a 3 week school with after completing a 10 week school. But if thats an option i'll take it.

Ive applied at schneider and roehl before and I cant figure out why they never call back dont want to hire me, im an easy hire no criminal record, no tickets in the last 5 years and 1 accident ($1200 in damage in personal vehicle). Roehl told me not to even bother to apply there til the that accident is 5 years old.


some times it just makes you wonder what these people are thinking?

Its easy to know what they are thinking, insurance risk. Schneider doesnt want anyone with a recent accident. Period.
As far as stressing safety, SNI is probably the best of the mega carriers to go with. If you go with Maverick..you'll be driving an old SNI mid-roof anyway.

[bigpapa7272]

well maverick has the best starting pay I've seen for noobs.

I don't buy theinsurance excuse theres companies that will take drivers with worse records. everyone is an insurance risk in my book

[Double L]

well maverick has the best starting pay I've seen for noobs.

I don't buy theinsurance excuse theres companies that will take drivers with worse records. everyone is an insurance risk in my book

I don't buy that insurance excuse either and your right everyone is a liability when it comes to insurance. They say people in my age group "teenagers" are a big liability but I hear of people with tons of accidents and stupid stuff on their record and mine is SPOTLESS. I even found a company that hires at 18 driving tractor trailers hauling grain!

[zipy46]

Maverick...

But u might want to see if they can give u a stick shift tractor.

Shifting is a valuable skill should you decide to leave them and go

with another carrier.

[Hawkjr]

If your thinking about Flatbed two outfits you forgot to mention are TMC and Mcelroy... I hear alot of good things about mcelroy.. my school keep pressuring me to go there but i keep telling them that i'm only 21 and you have to be 24!!! but both have nice equipment and if i had a choice and i was 23 i probably would go with TMC!! I love petes!!!! lol but both of them is worth a try!!!

[HWD]

If I was new and had no experience I would put $500 down on a brand new Volvo 880 with ALL the options, borrow money to get my authority, insurance, and plates, and I would hit the road hauling hazmat freight for $7 a mile...cause I'm worth it... 8)

[HWD]

well maverick has the best starting pay I've seen for noobs.

I don't buy theinsurance excuse theres companies that will take drivers with worse records. everyone is an insurance risk in my book

I don't buy that insurance excuse either and your right everyone is a liability when it comes to insurance. They say people in my age group "teenagers" are a big liability but I hear of people with tons of accidents and stupid stuff on their record and mine is SPOTLESS. I even found a company that hires at 18 driving tractor trailers hauling grain!

It's called the Lowest Common Denominator. As generations pass, teenagers seem to be more and more careless and irresponsible, but that's a parenting and mass media issue more than anything else. I am glad you are the exception, but since it's easier to lump you in with your lazy and careless peers, well, I hate it for you.

Back when I was in High School, 17 and 18 year old students made money at their part time jobs - driving school buses. Yes, that's right. If you were responsible the principal would allow you to go take the test and become a school bus driver, morning and afternoons. I was one of them. They canned the program back around 1991 and ever since you had to be over 21 to drive a bus, no more students driving school buses.

The kicker to this was the FACT, by the school districts own stats, the 17 and 18 year old bus drivers had ZERO minor or major incidents over the last 10 year stretch - a better safety record than the older drivers! The "adults" were constantly running into ditches, backing over mailboxes, the grown-ups racked up a whole list of preventables! No good reason for stopping students from driving other than district insurance requirements changed - and they paid for it.

[bigpapa7272]

what's tmc start at??? how is kllm??? is it worth it to gt my hazmat? I am going to get tanker and doubles triples endorsement along with airbrakes and combo obviously

[Trapper]

Superior Carriers/Carry Transit if you can get hired by them and your school is approved by them.

[BanditsCousin]

None. Go local. OTR is for the birds. Daycabs are the coolest thing going.



I'd vote Roehl. My buddy jumped into trucking 2 months ago and went to maverick and is doing pretty well, clearing 1000/wk or more.

[bigpapa7272]

maverick is at the top of my list, so is crete, tmc and kllm seem like options too.

i have a couple "backups" pam usa and swift only if absolutely necessary, but my atttitude going to school is go there do well in school, be in the top of my class and i'll have the pick of the litter


Someone told me on this board or an another(i dont remember) In trucking one of the skills you need to have is a good attitude, and if you do it will get you a lot further than a bad one. I have my financial aid appointment for school tommorrow.

As for a road atlas, I got a 2008 motor carriers atlas from buy.com earlier this year for 6 bucks (the non laminated one) Should I go buy the 09 or are the changes in the 09 edition so minor that i shouldnt worry about it?

[JeffTheTerrible]

In trucking one of the skills you need to have is a good attitude, and if you do it will get you a lot further than a bad one.

I would think that applies to any occupation you find yourself in..

As for a road atlas, I got a 2008 motor carriers atlas from buy.com earlier this year for 6 bucks (the non laminated one) Should I go buy the 09 or are the changes in the 09 edition so minor that i shouldnt worry about it?

You should get the wire bound, laminated motor carriers road atlas. You shouldn't need to buy a new one every single year, though. I still use my 03 atlas for planning road trips and such.

[bigpapa7272]

thanks jeff.

I think I'll use my 08 regular one for school when i get out i'll invest in the laminated one, by the time im out of school in october the 08 laminated ones should be dirt cheap by then i think i'll pick one up then.