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wsclinger
Joined: 05 Sep 2007
Posts: 52
Location: Delaware, OHIO
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| Posted: Fri Jun 20, 2008 11:39 am Post subject: Rookie Seeking Best 1st Company To Drive For Info |
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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 |
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DDCavi
Joined: 12 Apr 2008
Posts: 118
Location: Maine BABY!
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| Posted: Fri Jun 20, 2008 11:59 am Post subject: |
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| 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. |
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wsclinger9869
Joined: 14 Sep 2006
Posts: 11
Location: Columbus, OH
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| Posted: Fri Jun 20, 2008 1:17 pm Post subject: |
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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.... |
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slodsm
Joined: 18 Jan 2008
Posts: 25
Location: Tyler Texas
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| Posted: Fri Jun 20, 2008 3:05 pm Post subject: |
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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. |
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Jimbpard
Joined: 09 Aug 2005
Posts: 562
Location: Irwin. PA
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| Posted: Fri Jun 20, 2008 5:31 pm Post subject: |
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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! |
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ohio joe
Joined: 24 Nov 2007
Posts: 54
Location: ohio
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| Posted: Fri Jun 20, 2008 7:49 pm Post subject: |
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| NOT MILLIS PRIME INC WILL USE YOU UP!!!! :shock: |
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jonp
Joined: 31 May 2008
Posts: 61
Location: Vermont
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| Posted: Sat Jun 21, 2008 4:10 am Post subject: |
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| 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. |
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mbadriver
Joined: 19 Oct 2007
Posts: 357
Location: I94 Exit 69
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| Posted: Sat Jun 21, 2008 8:23 pm Post subject: Re: Rookie Seeking Best 1st Company To Drive For Info |
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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:
wsclinger wrote: 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 |
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Phreddo
Joined: 13 Jul 2006
Posts: 108
Location: Madison, WI
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| Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2008 1:35 pm Post subject: |
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+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. |
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wsclinger
Joined: 05 Sep 2007
Posts: 52
Location: Delaware, OHIO
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| Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2008 9:41 pm Post subject: |
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| 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.... |
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zipy46
Joined: 28 May 2007
Posts: 381
Location: Groom Lake
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| Posted: Tue Jun 24, 2008 6:23 am Post subject: |
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One might consider that these companies that offer training
hold you accountable to pay them back should things fall apart while working with them.
Trick is...bite the bullet...get 2 yrs SAFE experience and then you
can get more selective.
Living with another guy for 5 or 8 weeks in a truck during training was the hardest part for me.
Thats the first hurdle ...its generally downhill from there.
Good Luck |
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anb82
Joined: 18 Jun 2008
Posts: 4
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| Posted: Wed Jun 25, 2008 8:08 am Post subject: |
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schneider does have good training as far as teaching everything that is required by DOT. Pre-trip, post trip, shifting, logging. After that though my experience went sour. Once I got my own truck and got starting driving by myself I had to fight every week with them about my check and miles. I had a terrible dispatcher. Even when I went above his head after 6 months of dealing with BS his boss said I couldn't be switched boards.
However if you get a good dispatcher Schneider isn't all that bad to work for. My buddy I went to school with there is now averaging like 3000 miles a weeks with them. Still glad I jumped though. I couldn't afford for them to keep making mistakes.
Schneider, USXpress, Crete if you can get in are good companies to start with |
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