It is my honest opinion that

[bamalu]

A newbie can be only so picky when trying to choose a company to work for. There are either financial reasons(affording a school) or you just lack the experience. However in my opinion once you get the experience there are alot of very good companies to work for. You just have to bite the bullet for about a year or so.

[Uturn2001]

To a certain point there is a bit of settling when it comes to looking for a company or companies to work for the first year or two. As a person's experience level increases new doors open all the time.

Though one thing new drivers need to be aware of. The cleaner your work history is the more doors will open faster. This means if you do not have a bunch of job hopping, tickets or accidents the more likely you will be able to qualify for those better jobs.

[worldisnotenough]

I wish all newbies realized that. Including myself over a year ago. My expectations were so high with my choice only to find out they were just like the other first year companies. If newbies just came in knowing they would bite the bullet for a year, I think more would last out here instead of quitting the first year.

[bamalu]

You guys said it perfect. Keep a good attitude,take care of your reputation, and better doors will open.

[Colts Fan]

It all depends what you are looking for. Everyone has different needs. There are local and regional jobs for newbies depending on your market. The key is to discover what your wants and needs are then pick a company that BEST fits the bill.

[bestdriverresource]

A newbie can be only so picky when trying to choose a company to work for. There are either financial reasons(affording a school) or you just lack the experience. However in my opinion once you get the experience there are alot of very good companies to work for. You just have to bite the bullet for about a year or so.

Great point and good advice bamalu

A couple of other points to keep in mind.
Keep a file that has copies of your driving record information and notes from any differences of opinion you might have with the company.
If you get a message over Qualcomm that is saying you are in violation make a note about it and write down your version of the events.

I get drivers approved on a regular basis because they have good records of issues that are recorded on their DAC.

Example. I had a guy today that had a DAC record from a previous employer that said he 'Abandoned Equipment'.
The truth was he came home after being out 4 weeks and they called him 24 hours into a 4 day home time to get back on the road. He told them he had to stay home at least one more day for a Doctor's appointment. They sent him a QC message to clean out the truck and take it to a drop yard so another driver could use it while he was home. They did not dispatch him again and he found another job. Two years later he has his notes with the message number and date and written notes as to what the message said.
He got laid off Monday of this week from one job and he will go to work Monday for another company. He is approved for hire because he kept good records.

Newbies need to know. It is your responsibility to keep records on your work history. Accident reports, MVR records......... and get a copy of your DAC about a month after you change jobs so you can see what your last employer reported about you. If it is wrong contact the DAC people and challenge it, you have that right.
Protect your driving record...MVR and DAC like a newborn baby.

And..Newbies....get a job and stay with it a least a year no matter how tough it gets and no matter how may times JB Hunt or any of the others call. Lots of companies will hire you with 6 months but the better companies require a least 1 year of OTR with a near perfect record.
I do not waste my time talking to drivers that have less than a year under their belt, have their Hazmat Endorsement and no more than two jobs in the last year.
That tells me they are committed and they can pass an FBI background check

[yoopr]

A newbie can be only so picky when trying to choose a company to work for. There are either financial reasons(affording a school) or you just lack the experience. However in my opinion once you get the experience there are alot of very good companies to work for. You just have to bite the bullet for about a year or so.

You're pretty much right on.
When I started I would go with anybody that would give me a chance

[gulftime]

I understand the frustration of new drivers entering this field. You come into this with the belief that the recruiter is telling you the true daily work scenario. Oops...1st mistake. In most cases the recruiter needs to fill a seat and just do not seem to care how they fill it. Here is the problem most newbies run into. The recruiter says (You will be paid X, and of course you will get all the miles you need) the newbie comes in with that in mind, and guess what...not even close. After the 60 day intro, the newbie can't afford that job, then goes to another, gets the same line of B.S. and then another. By this time the DAC report looks like a traveling side show, and the next (Seat Filler) says Oh, you have had too many jobs in a year, we won't hire you. It is a big problem out there and needs to be addressed by the government about all the untruths and exploitation of the facts. The truth seems to be this. Do as much research as you can, believe half, and expect nothing. This is a blue collar job, and doing blue collar work means you are either shoveling someones crap or hauling it, we haul it.

[worldisnotenough]

Do as much research as you can, believe half, and expect nothing. T

yeah, that is where I went wrong!

[dieselpower]

I would rather drive for a company that tells the truth. I don't care for these mega carriers advertising 0.50 cents a mile and pays you 0.25 cents a mile. I would drive a company that say you will be paid 0.30 cents a mile and you miles will average from week to week, not some company promising you 2500-3000 miles a week and you barely get 1500 miles. I have had that happen to me.

[eoplocust]

honestly, if it wasnt for my finding this site about 4 months ago i probably would have fallen for any bait a recruiter would throw at me. i found this right on time when i started CDL school.