Arrow mostly runs KWs and freightliners. You already have a head start then seeing how your friends secured loads. Arrow has a heavy haul division which does oversize loads if you are interested, but you have to have some experince first. Even if you are not in heavy haul, you may do an oversize load every once in a while. If you want a variety, flatbedding is a lot more interestng than a box and Arrow hauls about anything you can put on a flatbed, a lot of aluminum, steel, and sometimes lumber or equipment or even hay.

 

Maverick will get you home every weekend. The pay beats Arrow hands down. Plus, Maverick has a much better reputation. You might try TMC too. They are another good company that takes new drivers.

 

Before I decided tp pay my own way, I spoke with Debbie Griswold at Arrow. She was very helpful. It appears you like working for them. I don't know if I should wait until I finish school before applying.

I sent the Maverick recruiter a brief note explaining who I am to see if they would consider an app. I'll wait for their reply.

 

[quote="reiner"]Before I decided tp pay my own way, I spoke with Debbie Griswold at Arrow. She was very helpful.

Debbie was the one who hired me! She was really nice and helpful like you said.

It appears you like working for them.

Things arn't perfect, but we did get a new president who is trying to make things better. I like to get on here and read some of the horror stories from drivers about their companies. It makes me feel like I'm doing pretty good were I'm at. And it all boils down to one big thing like any other driver on here will tell you, all companies have things about them you will like and dislike, just pick out the one that fits your needs the most.

I don't know if I should wait until I finish school before applying.

Don't wait. Send an app to any company that you think that you might like while still in school. Most companies will let put in an app online. Send one to Arrow, or any other flatbed companies that hire out of your area (Maverick, TMC, Boyd Bros. to name a few- Melton is supposed to be a great company to work for and is in Tulsa also, but they require a little experience.) That will give them some time to go over your app and then they will call you back with a prehire. Keep a track of the companies that offered you a job and when you graduate, go to the company that you think you will like the most.

 

Depending on where you live, you might be out up to 6 weeks with Arrow. My best freind past away during my 6th week out otr, and after talking to my DM telling him that I needed to get home a.s.a.p he said how soory he was about my bad news, and sent me a run that would take me a day after the funeral to deliver. That was the last straw. I took my truck to the Arrow terminal in Ohio and went home via another freind. when I got my last paycheck they took out $377.00 for out of route miles. Think about it.

 

Depending on where you live, you might be out up to 6 weeks with Arrow. My best freind past away during my 6th week out otr, and after talking to my DM telling him that I needed to get home a.s.a.p he said how soory he was about my bad news, and sent me a run that would take me a day after the funeral to deliver. That was the last straw. I took my truck to the Arrow terminal in Ohio and went home via another freind. when I got my last paycheck they took out $377.00 for out of route miles. Think about it.[/quote

I have been out on the road for nearly 2 months before, but mostly because it is not a big deal to me if I am gone for a while right now, And they have gotten me home late before also, like I said, Arrow is not perfect. I am sorry Arrow did not work out for you, but I think that there are worse companies, and we all have to start out somewhere.

 

I just got home for the weekend. Central Tech is one hell of school. I can't beleive how much I've learned. I passed my permit/endorsement tests and aced them all. Driving everyday, and finding that this is what I want to do. I sent a note to several companies before I left last weekend. Maverick was the only one to reply. They have a waiting list and OTR is all they will hire for, so I will send in an app this weekend, if just to get on the list. Central Tech is close enough to Arrow, so a lot of people in town and the school know of them. Most have said good things, a few bad things. The instructors really coach you on things to do/say to recuiters to help weed out the BS. We get 3 recuiters a day next week. I am going to apply to Arrow and see what they say/ I really appreciate all of the replies I have had on this post. This is a great board.

 

I came on with arrow as a newbie and did get to go straight to regional. I am not getting rich, but if you are willing to work you can still make decent money. As far as the short hauls, if you learn how to work it you make just as much. One load in particular is only 140 miles from Laredo to San Antonio for York air conditioners. Short run nobody thinks it pays. Usually pays me $120 from laredo to San Antonio. We do get $30 per tarp job and any deadhead over 200 miles is paid. You just have to learn which loads pay to make it as a regional driver. Also sometimes you will get linehaul runs at regional pay. Got one last week that would have paid me $782 linehaul. My regional pay on percentage was $920. Sometimes regional is better sometimes linehaul is better. It is just a matter of what fits your lifestyle. What is the benefit of making $1000.00 a week if you live in a truck and see home once a month at best. You will just have more money to spend at the truck stops where you basically have to live.

 

I have 1 week to go at school. Have my CDL and a 98 average so far. It's between Arrow and SMX. They appear to be the most honest about what they will give you. Neither offer promises I know they won't keep. SMX offers better training pay and guaranteed home time. Still deciding

 

I can't speak for SMX, since I've never worked for them (but interestingly enough, the new President at Arrow is from SMX) - but I can say that the folks at Arrow will be straightforward with you. Sometimes things go well here, sometimes they just plain suck - but that's the nature of the industry. It's the people here that keep me with Arrow - I could make better money elsewhere with my experience, but Arrow's never lied to me like I've experienced with other companies out there.

One note about the regional...I ran Dallas, TX Regional when I first came to the company in 2006. The plus about Regional was the hometime - down there I was often home 3+ times a week at least for the night and still bringing home a decent paycheck. The downside of Regional is that if freight dries up in a region, you suffer the lack of loads. That took a toll on me as well, so I can speak to that one. It's easier to budget on a linehaul deal - you know how many miles you need to run to make your money to pay your bills. But if hometime is a major issue, you may see if there are any openings on a Regional board. If you're in OK, I'm assuming you're looking at Tulsa Regional. That can be the hardest one to get on with honestly. All you can do is ask. I'd recommend you going linehaul for just a little while though to experience some different roads and driving conditions, but that's just me.