I am throwing myself out there on the mercy of the industry and am asking the current professional drivers out there to help our this newbie. Can you all offer some advise as to the best company to drive for from either a company training program or a company to try to get hired on after getting my own CDL training here in Ohio?

I am seeking as much information as I can get to be able to make a well informed decision as to what companies to really go after to be hired on at. It's not a matter of when I do this, as the when is right around the corner. It's the Who should I work for to gain the best post-CDL training I can get in the PRACTICAL world of being a professional driver.

Thanks

Need to narrow down your question more. Gotta give some slight details. Maybe you said it somewheres and it didnt catch on, but what kind of driving are you looking for? OTR/local? Everyone has opinions on whose the best/worst company. Be prepared.

Thanks DD. I'd like to be able to stay East of the Mississippi, don't mind running in Canada, a regional route or even possibly a dedicated one would be what I'd eventually like to find myself able to get on. Even something like running auto parts from the Rio Grande to Detroit/Cleveland wouldn't be bad. I live very close to the I70/I-71 interchange, I'm a little north of Columbus, OH, so I'd hope that being that close to a few major interstates that I'd be able to be routed to or through home fairly regularly.

I know I have to "pay my dues", but I don't want to see that taking place for years to come....

Thanks again....

If you will suck it up and do OTR for a while, Conway Truckload is a hell of a company to start with. They won't rob you, you will go to a good school, and have nice equipment. They also don't stick you with the 8 month/1 year commitment so if you pull for them for a few months and decide it's not for you, then you just leave and there are no hard feelings.

Good place to start and a lot of people have stayed there for 2-3 million miles.

CFI (Conway Truckload now)

TMC (Flatbed), I heard they just picked up some kind of dedicated Home Depot account.

Millis Transfer had a good reputation for a while, but have heard less than great things about them recently.

Roehl

After you get your year in, call Ryder. They're awesome!

NOT MILLIS PRIME INC WILL USE YOU UP!!!! :shock:

TMC: I had a long talk with a TMC driver at a Frieghtliner dealer. He was very happy with them but they will keep you out. If you choose them keep in mind that they give you the choice of pay-per-mile or percentage of load. He said that when you first start take the percentage and then after a while switch to mileage. I would stay away from specialty stuff untill you get some experiance. Stay away from auto transport. Be prepared to stay out for several weeks at a time when you start to get the experiance driving a truck. I would go with a larger company that has a variety of equipment and try it all so you can broaden your driving base and have more to offer a new employer when you go looking around. There are few "bad" companies out there, it seems to me that most drivers are unhappy because the companies dont do what the drivers are looking for, ie: poor match. Be very specific when you are questioning a company about employement. If they are kinda vague about stuff walk away.

There is No Mercy in this industry! The good news - there are a ton of trucking companies and major distribution centers in the Columbus area. Heartland has salaried Columbus Regional positions - but you need at least a year's experience.

You may as well resign yourself to spending a year with Roehl, Schneider, etc. The time will fly. Crete takes newbs from certain schools.

Basically, you want what we all do. More money than you can spend and lots of hometime :lol:

+1 for schneider. they should have a terminal near you, and they have a lot to pick from.
i did just under 2 years with them until a tanker company called and made me a good offer.

I am hearing alot of things about Schneider, as far as them being a good starting company. Being 51, I wouldn't want to spen alot of time with my initial company, but want the best finishing training I can get, so I can move on, IF I FEEL I HAVE TO, DEPENDING ON HOW I'M TREATED, PAY, HOMETIME, ETC....