I will mention one other thing. It is critical for you to get at least a year or two under your belt. Once you get 2 years of experience without any incidents, tickets or accidents you should be able to go pretty much anywhere you want. I would try to stay with the same company for all or most of that time. Carriers are becoming much more selective in whom they hire. Carriers look for quality drivers who have longevity with a carrier and don't move around so much.

 

I had one outfit that was looking for some casual help up here, told me I was over qualified! Twenty years expereince, no tickets, accidents or felonies. Over qualified to drive a truck!

We never got to the pay part, they were probably trying not to insult me. I have noticed that the pay is now about the same, or less than when I started back in the 80s.

 

Some carriers have cut pay in an effort to survive. It is still a mystery to me why this industry refuses to pass along increasing operating costs like any other industry. Everything we purchase comes from companies who pass along their increased costs. Trucking seems to want to absorb any increases.

 

That is why I hung it up. I was burned and stressed out. When my accounts started shutting their doors or cutting rates to $1 buck that was about it. Tried leasing on, not worth the effort and finished under another guys authority that let me do my own thing with brokers, etc. That was a year ago, and I don't miss it one bit.

In fact, everyone I know personally that was in trucking are now gone. My buddy just sold his truck and trailer, and is moving to Texas to sell cars at a car dealership where his wife works.

 

Millis Transfer Inc, The #1 Trucking Choice Across America

yeah check them out bro, they have a school in GA... and they say they offer regional, but you might have to run OTR for a few months before jumping over but check that website out..

 

You can still earn a decent living in this business. There will be changes over the next few years. We either need to adapt or work to make changes that will be good for us as an industry. It is difficult to accept a pay cut. For those who have experienced a pay cut you may consider that you still have a job. It is still better to have a job than not.

 

Try SYGMA. They train thier drivers. They have a locastion south of Atlanta.

PEPSICO(PEPSI) trains drivers also.

Also try US Foods, Sysco, and PFG. They all say one year but that is not all ways the case.

 

i am going to catch hell for this one but here goes....fed ex ground will hire a student driver out of driving school. you have to team for 6 months before you can run alone but it is all terminal to terminal drop and hook. none of the loading and unloading at grocery warehouses. pay will be similar or better than the big training companies. drawbacks are you work for a contractor who may or may not take taxes and have benefits. some of the larger contractors have everything most of the smaller ones do not. i work for a smaller one in columbus where i get a 1099..but i love my job, and i have a three year plan in the works...involves the wife finishing school and getting a good job. anyway, if you are close to the terminals in that area may wanna check them out.

 

What a joke!!! :roll:

 

Yeah you're absolutely correct..... Mr. Shabadoo is a BIG JOKE!!!!!