trucking company

[new driver]

what is the best trucking company to work for being new to trucking

[Jumbo]

If there were a best trucking company out there they wouldnt be hiring because everybody would already be working there. Tell us about yourself. Where are you from? What are your requirements for a job? What kind of trucking do you want to do?

[new driver]

well i just got my cdl's from commiuty collage for free couse of unemployment on 10 /28/09 ihave 3 kids and a wife to support and trying to find the best pay for the work .
i live in alabama and i don't have any thing bad on me except speeding ticket .
iam pre apporve to wok for wener but 26cpm don't look to good in my thoughts but i am still new any ideas

[Sealord]

I'm kinda surprised you didn't know who you wanted to drive for before you started training. Hope it's not indicative of your planning abilities when you become employed. BOL

[new driver]

well i was hoping that i could work for jb hunt but he dose not take just out of school drivers

[Orangetxguy]

well i was hoping that i could work for jb hunt but he dose not take just out of school drivers

When outfits like JB Hunt stop hiring CDL school graduates.....You just know the economy is in the toilet.

[Sealord]

Have you checked with KLLM in Evergreen? How 'bout AMX east of Dothan? What does your unemployment office counselor suggest, btw, they should have known that few companies are hiring newbs now due to the economic downturn. I'm surprised you didn't know before you started training that JB doesn't take newbs as does Schneider. Are there terminals in the area you live and have you knocked on doors? Since people have to eat and gotta buy dry groceries no matter what, Werner dry van or temp controlled may not be a bad place to start. BOL

[new driver]

the school and the unempoymenr told me to drive for werner but what i have hear i don't know. and Schneider are not hireing new drivers..

[Voyager]

the school and the unempoymenr told me to drive for werner but what i have hear i don't know. and Schneider are not hireing new drivers..

Well, from what I've been hearing, Swift and Werner are taking on more students than experienced drivers so you might want/have to go with one of them for starters. Best of luck.

[Mr. Ford95]

Unfortunately you have to start somewhere and that .26 cpm is going to be the norm for a new driver straight out of school in this business. Sucks but it's the sad truth unless you get lucky and someone takes a shot with your lack of experience that pays better.

[new driver]

thank to all that replyed i guess iam going to werner iam all ready perapproved for thim

[Sealord]

You do know "pre-approved" doesn't mean anything. Make sure you have every last piece of information they tell you to bring with you when you go for orientation. BOL

[classicxl]

nothing wrong with starting at Werner. Go get you experience let them pay for you school and if you like working there stay. If not find another company but everybody has to start somewhere and dont listen to all the bad things about companies find out for yourself

[jonp]

I just talked to a young man unloading my truck south of Raleigh, NC. He got done a community college course and got a cdl. He was going to work for Werner as they were about the only company hiring newbies right now. He did say that Millis Transfer out of Black River Falls, WI was hiring new drivers but he had already signed with Werner.

[Copperhead]

If Werner will take you on, then might as well go with it. You will never really know who you want to work for till you get a hands on feel for what this business is and what area of trucking you want to settle on. Use the time you are learning the business to learn what types of freight and areas are best and ask questions about other carriers. Finding the "right" company for you is like finding the right woman. It is a relationship. Some will swear by Werner and others will swear at Werner. Same is true for every other carrier. Personally, I have only found real good relationships with the smaller carriers that have 300 or fewer trucks. Unfortunately for someone like you, they have lower turnovers and are more picky about who they hire. You will have to get time and miles under your belt, then you will be able to shop around. When I was running students, I reminded them that the best chance for them to have an accident is in the first year of driving. Really stay focused and keep that driving record clean. With the new FMCSA regulations coming down, your record will make or break you. Just learn all you can and give it your best. Good Luck!!

[BigWheels]

The best trucking company to work for is the one that actually hires you.

When you're first starting out in this business, options will be limited as to who you will be driving for--especially in today's economic climate. In addition, tis the season where freight levels start to drop off a bit.

So...pursue every lead until you land a job. Then stay there a while until something better opens up for you.

[Luzon]

Don't know if you've already committed to Werner or not but here's a few others to at least call.

Con-Way Truckload - this is who I work for.
Crete Carriers - Not sure if they're taking new graduates atm.
TMC - Flatbeds
US Express - they'll will probably encourage you to do a lease deal - think long and hard about that one if they do

That's a few. Here's another piece of advice. Go to the nearest truck stop and go to the door leading from the truck fuel section and look for a rack of magazines. These are free and list a lot of companies.

Good luck.

[geeshock]

thank to all that replyed i guess iam going to werner iam all ready perapproved for thim

Be careful, I was pre-aproved for usa truck and the next to last day they sent me home, they were ok with my accedent over the phone but whem I got there they changed their mind

[dle]

Have you put your application here on CLASSA, and send it out to a whole bunch of companies and see who bites?

[Bulldog]

I find it interesting that only one of these replies so far has mentioned anything other than dry van work. You could look into flatbeds, I think Howard trucking has a terminal in AL. There are other options than dryvan, and you might have better luck, b/c they are alittle less populated w/ drivers. Pulling flats isn't always easy, not to many people like tarps, but you do what you gotta do to feed the family. I won't say that there are no jobs for newbies in tankers, but I've only got 2 yrs of experience, and it was hard to land the job I have pulling tanks, but best of luck, and remember, you really don't have a job til you get the keys to your truck.