I am in NC. Can someone tell me what terminals for what companies are near Raleigh? I checked out NC trucking association and found only few trucking company websites? I appreciate any information. I found a community college that teaches CDL. My current job will automate with new technology after 15 years in December 07. I have been in two location with upgrading computer system or new machinery. The work has been cut 50%. I am really not sure there is enough work to keep me..the reason for serious inquiry to trucking. I would appreciate the benefit of your experience.
How much business knowledge is required for trucking industry as a driver?
How much physical work is involved?
I have lived in midwest and south most of my life? Do you recommend driving in southeast due to milder weather? I have not lived in midwest for 20 years?
Is it better to start out solo or in teams? I would prefer a team and if so are there better companies to work as team for?
If you have suggestions where I have no posted questions please follow your gut and post a comment. All suggestions will be appreciated.

 

How much business knowledge is required for trucking industry as a driver?
None. They usually just want us to drive the truck
How much physical work is involved?
Varies a lot from company to company. They'll discuss this with you before you hire on.
I have lived in midwest and south most of my life? Do you recommend driving in southeast due to milder weather? I have not lived in midwest for 20 years?
Not really, unless you want to. Some companies offer regional jobs, others don't. It'll come up in the interview.
Is it better to start out solo or in teams? I would prefer a team and if so are there better companies to work as team for?
Solo is usually the way to go, but it is a personal thing. There are some very successful teams out there.


Drop by a truckstop and pick up a few of the free magazines that are in the dispensers.....read and learn!

 

I don't know off hand, but probably close to one each for the major LTL players. The only company I can think off off the top of my head that's based out of Raleigh is West Bros. I don't know anything about them, but they have slow, blue trucks. Mostly day cabs.

Not sure what major carriers would hire out of Raleigh, but probably a bunch of them would. Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill/Research Triangle Park is a big area for freight coming in and going out, and you have I-40, and aren't that far from I-95.

Not much of anything about business unless you own your own truck, but you have to know quite a lot about the equipment, rules, regulations, etc., and there is a lot of paperwork and recordkeeping to deal with, so you don't exactly just drive the truck without a care in the world.
It depends on what you haul. Everything from a lot to virtually none.
That depends on you.

I've been on the east coast my whole career. I used to run north and south, but I despise running up north, and I eventually got enough seniority to pick my runs and keep them, and I was staying south all the time.

I like to run south. It's not the weather, but the people, and the pace of life, the whole "vibe" up there. I just don't like it up there.

As far as weather, the worst stuff I've had to go through in a truck has all been in the Carolinas. When you get weather down here, it's a lot worse, because North Carolina sucks at dealing with winter weather, and South Carolina has no bliffin clue what to do at all.
Teams mostly run out west and back, doing the real long haul, gone a long time stuff. How often do you want to get home? If you want to be home on weekends, think regional, and I've never heard of a regional team. If you want to be home more than on weekends, think short haul, dedicated, or local; although I have no idea how you might fare getting into something like that right out of the starting blocks.

 

I live in Efland,NC not to far from Durham. I drive 2 hours to Mt. Airy,NC. There are several companies up there. You have Mountain River (where I am) ,Cooke,WLA, a couple more I can't think of, But most of them are team compaines. I started out with Cooke. I'm home every week. Home about a day and a half. then back out. There are a bunch in Greensboro and Winston Salem. Of course this is if you can't find nothing in Raleigh. It kinda bites to drive 2 hours to work to drive 11 more once you get there. I think Averitt has a terminal in Cary. There are a few more in Cary as well. Near the Airport. Good Luck