Hello everyone,

I just graduated from one of those "stellar" truck driving schools last week and now have my class A license. I am from Metro Detroit Michigan, which sucks for employment. A bit of background on me, I was a worker in the automotive industry for over 13 years and have since become one of the many casualties of it. I have been unemployed since June 08 and have been actively seeking employment, however here in Michigan it is not easy at all. I have a wife and 5 kids which does not make things easier. After many many discussions between my wife and I we decided truck driving would be the only solution at this time. So needless to say I went to school for my CDL-A.
We know it is going to be a very tough time and will put a strain on things for quite some time until I manage something local position, which we know will be at least a year out.

Anyway I have sent out applications to all of the usual companies that accept new drivers and as we know they are not the cream of the crop, but we all have to start somewhere. I have done research on this board and a few others so I know the reviews are very mixed on the usual bottom feeding companies, I have interest in TransAm, Werner, and US Xpress.

I am awaiting call backs from TransAm and US Xpress. Werner however wants me to begin orientation next Friday April 3rd, since this is the first concrete offer at this time I may have to jump on it. My order of picks would be US Xpress, TransAm, and then Werner so if one of the others come through my plans would change accordingly.

I welcome any advice or input from anyone.

 

Welcome. Have you checked out Stone Transport? They haul alot of aggregate in the lower pennisula. I saw one of their ads in the past couple weeks. What is the worst they could say?

 

No I haven't but I just brought up their website so I will be doing that right away.

Thanks for the tip!

 

don't go to werner. do a search of them on here and draw your own conclusions from there.

 

say no to werner... if you don't mind driving a automatic do Trans AM... I remember talking to a guy telling me that he's never had to layover and he avg. around 3000 a week pulling a Reefer... He said a lot of midwest from slaughter houses to the east coast..

 

Yeah I have read a lot about Werner and have not been happy with what I have been reading. I guess you could say it is my official backup plan. I am hoping to hear back from TransAm, because that is who I really want to start out with. I have not read too much bad about TransAm, but a ton about Werner. It is just really getting to the desperate point with the savings almost gone after 9 months. I have been researching both companies on here for a few weeks now and TransAm is the pick of choice at this stage. I do not want to have to settle on Werner at all.

 

Trans Am have nice trucks.. I think Mainly T-600 Kenworths and Freightliner Columbia's ... But Go To Trans Am My Friend... Only thing that i think sucks about it but one day off for ever week you work...

 

I faxed TranAm some additional information earlier today hoping that it seals the deal with them. Even the school was pushing me towards TransAm but then the school messed up some paperwork to them and I didn't find out until after I graduated, so now I am picking up those pieces.

 

Isnt Trans Am also pushing their Lease Purchase deal? Please promise us that you will stay away from that.

 

I have been reading a lot about the lease push, and I have no desire to get into anything like that. Maybe if I were single with no one else to worry about except myself, but not with a wife and 5 kids am I going to risk that kind of debt.