Newbie looking at companies!!

[runner123]

Looking into trucking. I live in South Alabama. Have been contacted by a few companies. Would like input/info on these companies, Schneider National, Stevens Transport, Central Refrigerated and Averitt. Averitt has a terminal in my home town. Any info/suggestions?? Thanks, Runner123!!!

[countryhorseman]

Runner123,

Do a search of this CAD list, all of the companies you have listed have extensive postings on this list. Top left hand corner of the CAD window, second button from the left, type in the companies name and it will bring up the Topics on those companies.

Schnieder and Stevens both take new drivers, I believe (could be wrong) the Central requires at least one year experience, and Averitt is more stringent.

I have experience with Stevens Transport, and it was 95% positive at the time I was there, although I was not on the company side but a month, was on the Alliance Fleet the rest of the time.

Louis

[runner123]

Thanks for the repy, drive safe.

[bigdad7]

i agree with sheepdancer i didnt until now but i went a "descent" al be it good company cfi for four months and jumped ship to jbhunt for an almost 10 cpm pay raise wish i would have left two months ago but go to any swift schneider or cfi and after 2 months start looking at jb may not be where i spend my carreer but for less than a yr exp it is the best money and benes i have seen around....

[runner123]

Thanks, so JBHunt is working well for you?

Pretty much anything involving a sleeper means you're gonna get ripped off. Schnieder, Stevens, JB Hunt, Central, Swift, Prime, etc, etc, etc...fill in the blank = same BS, same low pay, and crap hometime. Good for getting some trigger time in and that's about it. Ding up their equipment, strip some gears, and then drop em' like a bad habit and move onto greener pastures.

Averitt is both a truckload and LTL company so you could possibly move into a local city position or shuttle-type deal down the road. Still, they're below par as far as pay goes versus other LTL outfits. If nothing else, the experience could help you land a better job later on.

[runner123]

Yeah, I know starting out is tough anywhere, but Averitt has a terminal about 5 miles from home. Looking for as much convienence as possible, however, there may be none to start with. Schneider wants an 18 month contract at 27 cents a mile. I am sure they do!! Thanks, coldfrostymug, think it's time to pour one up!!

Yeah, I know starting out is tough anywhere, but Averitt has a terminal about 5 miles from home.

I would go for it. Having a terminal that close is nice for alot of reasons. When your truck needs a PM or other work, you can just drop it at the terminal during your hometime and when you're scheduled to head out, you're good to go. No more waiting around in the driver's lounge for no money watching gameshows and Gunsmoke re-runs.

Easier for your dispatcher to get you home because they can relay your load at the terminal and you can just drop your trailer there. Plus, you don't have to worry about parking the truck somewhere.

Thanks, coldfrostymug, think it's time to pour one up!!

Sounds like a plan! I'll drink one for you tonite wishing you best of luck in your new endeavors! Cheers!!

[runner123]

Thanks, I have seen all the Gunsmoke re - runs, take care and drive smart !!

[Watcher]

I had a post right here: http://www.classadrivers.com/phpBB2/...press&start=45

That talks more about dealing with Averitt Express. However, personally, when my wife and I decide it's right for me to go ahead and take a better paying dedicated job, I'm heading to JB Hunt. I like how their stocks have split 3 times in the past 8 years or so. I've chatted with a few drivers that have way over $250,000 in their 401K because of their stock, and with Swift no longer the "Big-Dog" in the Dow Jones for Trucking companies...it looks like JB Hunt's stock has got front seats on that roller-coster going uphill!

Watcher

BTW, I've talked to a few other Stevens Transport drivers...they mentioned having to p/u loads that were basically illegal. But who knows if they were telling the truth.

[Cluggy619]

I had a post right here: http://www.classadrivers.com/phpBB2/...press&start=45

That talks more about dealing with Averitt Express. However, personally, when my wife and I decide it's right for me to go ahead and take a better paying dedicated job, I'm heading to JB Hunt. I like how their stocks have split 3 times in the past 8 years or so. I've chatted with a few drivers that have way over $250,000 in their 401K because of their stock, and with Swift no longer the "Big-Dog" in the Dow Jones for Trucking companies...it looks like JB Hunt's stock has got front seats on that roller-coster going uphill!

Watcher

BTW, I've talked to a few other Stevens Transport drivers...they mentioned having to p/u loads that were basically illegal. But who knows if they were telling the truth.

Yea, who knows?

[zipy46]

Pretty much anything involving a sleeper means you're gonna get ripped off. Schnieder, Stevens, JB Hunt, Central, Swift, Prime, etc, etc, etc...fill in the blank = same BS, same low pay, and crap hometime. Good for getting some trigger time in and that's about it. Ding up their equipment, strip some gears, and then drop em' like a bad habit and move onto greener pastures.

Averitt is both a truckload and LTL company so you could possibly move into a local city position or shuttle-type deal down the road. Still, they're below par as far as pay goes versus other LTL outfits. If nothing else, the experience could help you land a better job later on.

(just an observation)


I would try >not< to ding up thier equipment because your 'DAC' follows you around as you move from job to job.

The higher paying and better companies do not appear to allow alot of
preventable accidents if one is trying to move up.

They frown on boo boo's

[runner123]

Thaks for the replies and help and COLDFROSTYMUG, it sure was good!!

[inmate1577]

Yeah go ahead and follow retarded advice about dinging up company equipment, that kind of stuff follows you around to the next company because most companies record it as a preventable accident.

Now you know why the industry is such a mess.

Yeah go ahead and follow retarded advice about dinging up company equipment, that kind of stuff follows you around to the next company because most companies record it as a preventable accident.

Now you know why the industry is such a mess.

Statistics from the insurance industry indicate that 6 out of every 10 new OTR drivers will be involved in some sort of low-level backing accident. This doesn't include twisted bat-wings, bent running boards, scrapes/scratches/gouges, etc etc etc. Then of course, there's those "off the book" incidents that get settled out of the normal channels.

Take the experience and learn from it. And always remember GOAL - Get Out And Look. Nobody is born with a shifter in their hand. :wink:

[BigWheels]

If you want no worries about dinging up company equipment, join a bottom-feeder LTL outfit--you can ding to your heart's content and no one will bat an eye.... :wink:

[protrkdriver]

yea drive for central ,thiers is already banged up...

[Snowman7]

Pretty much anything involving a sleeper means you're gonna get ripped off. Schnieder, Stevens, JB Hunt, Central, Swift, Prime, etc, etc, etc...fill in the blank = same BS, same low pay, and crap hometime. Good for getting some trigger time in and that's about it. Ding up their equipment, strip some gears, and then drop em' like a bad habit and move onto greener pastures.

Averitt is both a truckload and LTL company so you could possibly move into a local city position or shuttle-type deal down the road. Still, they're below par as far as pay goes versus other LTL outfits. If nothing else, the experience could help you land a better job later on.

I agree with Frosty on this one. Probably get better home time and the possibility of a switch to LTL.

[BigWheels]

yea drive for central ,thiers is already banged up...

[countryhorseman]

Watcher

BTW, I've talked to a few other Stevens Transport drivers...they mentioned having to p/u loads that were basically illegal. But who knows if they were telling the truth.

I ran for Stevens for over a year, and if a load was not legal, you called dispatch, and they would have someone fix-it. If someone is running illegal it is of their own doing. 3 times I picked up loaded meat trailers that were over gross or over axle that could not be adjusted, and they had the shipper reload or remove product to get it legal.

This statement is true for company, lease and owner operator fleet. Stevens does not have a safestat score of less than 25 by doing things wrong. You only get that way by doing it correctly.

Horseman