Alright, I've been searching tons here and have picked out a few I'm considering. Would love to try Crete but they won't hire me till I have a few months exp.
Completing CDL school in a couple weeks, no previous OTR experience, here's what I'm looking for:
Best pay I can get - this is the highest priority. I realize higher pay means more work, and I'm cool with that. Coming from a scrap metal gig working under the sun all day, I'd be happy to spend most of my time in the A/C of the truck. I have heard first year tales of 30k all the way to 60k. I won't see 60 'cause I can't get into TMC at 22 years old, but can I find a way, if I'm willing to bust ass, to make 45k?
Truck Mods: I have a laptop, GPS, cell phone, etc - I want these things mounted in the truck directly accessible and viewable to the driver, IE my laptop IS my gps and I need to be able to see/run it while driving. Want them jacked into the stereo system as it's got my music collection. Most companies seem to be okay with this, but CFI in particular made note that I wouldn't be able to install the stuff myself, it'd be done by their guys. Is this one of those things where they're just going to tell me "no" when I go to have it done?
Truck parking - I simply cannot get a van trailer up my driveway. I'd love to, the driveway is plenty long enough, but to many twisties and trees. I could easily fit the tractor though. I don't want to leave my car sitting in a terminal or anything like that, I'd rather just drive the truck home/the girlfriend's house when i'm off for home time. CFI told me absolutely no bobtailing. Anyone else operate that way?
Hometime - I'm concerned more with being home for a lengthy stretch (4-5 days) than getting home particularly frequently. I wouldn't mind being out 3-5 weeks I don't think, but I wouldn't be to keen on coming home for about a day and a half and then heading right back out for another month. Really, how does the whole hometime thing go and who's horrible at it, like, who should I avoid?
Type - I wanna run all 48 at least, sounds like fun, maybe canada too. I'm from central MA, i'm guessing the worst place in the nation to drive, so if I can drive here, I'm sure i can drive elsewhere. Also, do flatbed/tank/hazmat/doubles/etc. pay any more consistently? Again -want higest pay I can make and if that's in a particular type of freight then I'm cool with it.
Rider policy - If I can get chicks from my neck of the woods to kill a few weeks and go with me, I wanna do it! Ain't got the money for lot lizards but not old enough to not get a stiffy. Who's got an open policy? CFI will let me take anyone, or so they say.
Any suggestions? CFI was my first choice after carefully checking out this board, Crete and TMC were other choices but they ruled me out when I called. I have some info from arrow, and I'm looking into Roehl as well. Anyone else I should consider?