[TnCj]

Hey all , we have lurked and read a lot on here for a bit. Need some advice if you have it. A little background I have had my CDL For 20+ years but haven't driven OTR for about 10 yrs or so. My wife and I want to go OTR team, we need to send her to school to get her CDL, we have pretty much decided on Sage school here in San Antonio unless someone has a better alternative. Do you guys and gals have any recommendations for a team in our situation as far as company's go? We have a small dog that we would be taking with us also. Home time would not be an issue,we want to get out and get miles and see the country, we just want to get on with a decent company, knowing this will be difficult with our limited experience, I have continued to drive it's just all been local or intra state and the OTR company's aren't counting that as experience. I have flatbed experience from past life, would like to do that again but do not think there is much call for team flatbed. Any advice or words of wisdom ( other than don't do it lol) is appreciated.

We eventually want to do the O/O route. We have the business knowledge to run a business and the funds available to purchase a truck now, but understand that we need 6 months to a year experience to open the doors at the better companies so this is ultimately the end game we are after.

[repete]

Not only will she need to go to a school but you too will "need" some kind of refresher course or training time at your new employer. I know it sucks but that's the way it is with most all of the large companies. I think you should find the company you want to work for and get their input on what they really need for recent experience and school requirements. Not all schools are equal, some are PTDI approved and will open more doors then a noncertified school. I have no idea if Sage is or not.

[GMAN]

There are a number of team carriers around. You are correct in that there don't seem to be a lot of flatbed carriers who look for teams. On the other hand, some do run coast to coast and that could be of benefit to a team operation. At one time I used to run out of Tennessee to California with a flatbed. That would have worked well for a team. If you want to pull flats, I believe TMC and Maverick offer some sort of training. I am not sure about teams. Covenant and US Xpress both do training and have team operations. I recall one couple who trained and worked with Covenant a couple of years ago. I believe they were trained separately, but then teamed up once they were released and gained some experience.

I would also check with Werner. They have a terminal in Dallas. Others that come to mind are Lisa (I think they are headquartered in the Dallas area). Millis, Roehl and Swift also train inexperienced drivers. There is a company listings on this forum. Their basic requirements are listed. In your personal situation, you may find a smaller carrier that will give you an opportunity to get back on the road without having to go with a trainer as long as you have current driving experience. From your post, it sounds like you have continued to drive, but not otr? Most of the larger carriers look for candidates with at least 1-2 years experience within the last 3 years. That is only a guide and not set in concrete. If your CDL is current and you can demonstrate a good work record and your mvr is clean, you might overcome some of the otr objections. If not, you might be able to go with a trainer for a couple of weeks before getting into your own truck. In your wife's case, she doesn't have any experience or a CDL. She will need to either attend an accredited school or go with a carrier that will train her. If she chooses to go with a training carrier, she will usually need to make a time commitment of at least 1 year to pay for her training or repay the carrier should she decide to leave her employer. I would check around and talk to a number of carriers to find out what they will need. One other carrier that does training is CRST. If they train your wife the work commitment is shorter (or was). I think it is still 6 months. They also run teams. Good luck.

[TnCj]

Repete thanks for the info. I thought about doing a refresher at the school she is planning on going to. They are PTDI approved and on most of the company's approved school list we have looked into, but it cost almost as much to do a refresher as the full school. So I figured my best bet was to find a carrier that I can start with while she does her training for 6 weeks, and I would be able to go with their trainer while she was in school and I could get my refresher that way.

[TnCj]

Thanks Gman
We are already talking with a recruiter from both US Xpress and Werner. Yes I have continued to drive but not OTR, it's been oil field related driving and that's gone to crap and I want out of that. We have checked out the company listings on here. It's hard to judge a company from there, with the exception of a few it's just disgruntled former drivers bashing the companies. I have always kept my CDL up and up until last years renewal I had kept my hazmat but dropped it last year.

[GMAN]

I had heard that the oilfields were not doing well. It is difficult to judge a company by their listing, but if you go to trucking companies at the top of this page and then click on company drivers it should bring up a listing of companies. When you click on a company it should bring up their basic hiring requirements and some information about them. It should just give basic information and you can then decide whether you wish to contact that company or not. I think you can also fill out an online application on this forum and it will match you to companies. Sometimes, it is easier to let the computer do some of the legwork. With your experience you should know the right questions to ask any recruiter. It may take some time, but I am confident you will find the right company for you and your wife. At one time you could do well working what I call the triangle in Texas. Just staying in the Dallas/Ft. Worth to Houston to Austin or San Antonio area could keep one busy at on time. You may not find everything you are looking for right away. The most important thing for you to do is get back in the saddle and for your wife to get her CDL. Once you both get a year of experience more doors will open up to you. I let my hazmat drop when they started charging for a background check. I was only hauling perhaps one or two hazmat loads a year and I did not think it was worth it. Some carriers require the endorsement, but it isn't that important for most carriers. It is expensive for a carrier to haul hazmat and unless they are doing a lot of that type of freight, it is probably not worth the time and effort. You might consider the TWIC card. It is important for some carriers and not for others. It enables you to enter the ports without paying for an escort. It is also used by some military installations, shippers, etc., But, that can come later, should you need it. Some carriers will even reimburse you for the cost.