Ya know, I think I need to find something new to do out here employment-wise. When I first started driving in 2010, I ran flatbed for my first couple of months but found out really fast that I didn't want to do flatbedding any longer. It wasn't the securing/hauling of the loads, but the tarps got the best of me. Twelve years later, I wouldn't even consider touching a tarp. Since then, I've mainly done dry-van freight, other than a couple of short-term local jobs, hauling equipment, concrete mixer & dump truck.

I thought about equipment hauling, but the only 'large' company that I know of is Keen Transport. The problem with them is the 21-days minimum time from home.

I was talking to a driver in Laredo a couple of days ago and he suggested checking out doing specialized car-hauling (enclosed trailers). He drives for Reliable, but they require experience in car-hauling before they'll even speak to you. He gave me the name of a company to call that will hire you as an experienced driver and train you to haul cars. I thought he said the name was "Warren", but I can't find any companies with that name.

I also thought about finding local work, especially with all the Marcellus Shale drilling literally in my backyard. But, I have no desire whatsoever to run a tractor-trailer on the roads near my home. They're driving them on roads that I don't like to drive my S-10 Blazer on. Not to mention some of the God-awful hours they work at times, especially when they're actually tapping into the gas pocket. Same goes with hauling gasoline to the local stations for delivery - just not what I'd want to do.

I do have my Hazmat and Tanker endorsements (not an 'X', but an 'H' and 'N'), but have never pulled a tank.

I'd just like to do something different - ya know what I mean?

 

Look into Food Grade Tank or Reefer companies. Hey we all have to eat and hauling food is never going to stop. Just stay away from CR England if you go reefer also there is ATS that would train you in hauling the Specialized oversized stuff.

 

ROOKIE!!!!

Secondly....I do believe I have encouraged you to look into tanking before.......and will again! Don't be afraid to haul crude oil....try talking with Ergon Trucking......about crude hauling...or OTR chemical hauling!!

Ergon Trucking, Inc

OR you could talk with Enterprise Transportation.......

Enterprise Transportation

Both haul crude oil......... Both haul chemicals OTR .... Both are good decent companies that pay very well.......and both have terminals close to you.

 

Meant to say started driving in 2000 - I typed this @ 4am

I definitely won't do reefer work - I have no desire to sit at grocery warehouses that much. I don't go into them that often now, but when I do, I always want to take a baseball bat to someone before I leave their property.

I'll look into ATS - I forgot all about them. Will also check into Ergon & Enterprise.

Appreciate the replies.

 

Hey Mal.

A buddy of mine drives a tri/axle (Straight Tanker Truck) In the gas wells in PA. He makes 19/hr and OT after 40. He does work some crazy hours at times. Last week he worked 21hrs straight. But he will make around 65k this year with his OT. He is home everyday. Most of the time he works 10-12hr days. But once in a blue moon it can get crazy. Just something to think about.

 

Checked out the websites for ATS, Ergon and Enterprise. Ergon definitely caught my eye with their health insurance rates: $60 for myself, plus $30 per family member, per MONTH. Celadon wants $180 per WEEK for the same coverage.

Making calls tomorrow. Ergon has 2 terminals within 100 miles of my house (Marietta & Newell). Enterprise's closest is in Nitro, which is about 140 miles.

 

I was gonna say, at this point in your career, reefer would make you want to quit.

 

The thing to remember about both, is that you will be able to take the tractor home with you in most instances, especially if you have a tank wash before you get to the house. If you are hauling crude....tank wash won't be needed to take the unit home.

 

Spoke with Ergon this morning (finally had a chance to do so). They're definitely looking for drivers, but he's hesitant about hiring on someone with no tanker experience. He asked me to send him my resume, which I did (after I made one). Hoping he'll call me back and ask me up there for an interview the 1st of next week while I'm at home.

If that doesn't go through, wonder if maybe I should check into a larger tanker outfit, like Schneider, just so I can get some training & experience.

 

Did you TELL them that you knew... and was referred by... STAN???

Tell them that if they NEED "references" there are a bunch of us at this website that will GIVE them!

I don't know if you'd make enough money at Schneider... but, they DO have Regional tanker runs that would get you home often.

J.B. Kelley (a frozen gas/chemical company) was willing to hire ME after less than a year with my first job... as long as my team driver signed up. He had a few more years OTR experience, but had never pulled a tanker. [They were looking for TEAMS.]

I don't have hazmat and don't want it (for now.) But, this last time that my CDL renewal came up... I took the extra tests to get twins for my current job. But, I went ahead and added tankers for future eventualities.

Don't let your lack of experience pulling tankers keep you from asking for a job that you KNOW you can do! You've paid your dues in this industry and taken whatever training and testing was available to... and asked of... you.

Get yourself an INTERVIEW and walk in there and ask him first off if he runs baffled tankers! Unless you already know the answer from his website, you will show him that you KNOW the difference in them and the degree of difficulty in the job you are applying for.

Best of luck! From what you've been posting lately... I think you need a break! Trucking should be a little easier and profitable than your stories represent.