Hi everyone!

Can't tell you all how much help this website has been to me over the last few weeks. I'm impressed with how helpful everyone is, and how willing to share wisdom and advice. I guess it shouldn't be a surprise, since my dad was a tanker yanker for the better part of two decades, before he retired, and just about every one of his fellow drivers that I met were great people.

Guess I should get to my questions. In my research on this board, I read a lot of good things about companies like CFI, Crete and TMC. But in looking at their websites, I get the impression that they mostly hire east of the Rockies. I live in southern Oregon, and am looking to make a career change to trucking at age 43. I do not have a CDL, and as funds are a little tight right now, I would like to go through a trucking outfit's training, if at all possible. Thankfully, my driving record is clean right now...no accidents, no citations. Never been arrested or had a DUI, and I can pee in a cup. Don't know how much all that counts for, but hopefully something.

Seems I read mostly bad things about Swift, and kind of a mixed bag on Schneider. Checked out Schneider's website, and it seems like their pay is lower than most (25 cpm to start). Gordon is big here on the West Coast, but seems I've heard they don't take newbies?

Wow, I'm yapping a lot. Time to summarize. Since I'm staring down the barrel at middle age, I would like to try to start at one of the best of the "starter companies". I have a phone interview with Schneider this afternoon, and Swift is doing a hiring event in town tomorrow. Filled out an online application with TMC a couple of days ago, but haven't heard from them yet. Am I missing a company I should be applying with?

Oh yeah, I would really love to drive OTR across the entire 48, but from what I've gathered from Schneider and Swift, my only option as a solo driver is regional. (I'm single, no kids, and currently no girlfriend, so I wouldn't mind being away from home for long stretches at a time.)

Thanks for the help! I've scoured the archives, but haven't found a lot of info specific to Oregon, so any help is much appreciated!

 

I thought that Gordon did take newbies? I don't believe that they have their own school, but I was pretty certain that they had a training program for drivers fresh outta school.

I would definitely check them out. It's worth a call to the recruiting dept. I haven't heard many bad things about them.

Also if you go to the "Trucking Companies" link on this site you can sort by all of the companies that hire in OR.

Good luck!

 

I would stay away from the big guys like Swift, Schneider, Werner, JB Hunt, etc. The best out here is CFI or Crete. Youll be treated better at CFI (in my opinion). May hires alot from the west coast, but they are a reefer company.

 

I would check on Gordon, May or Interstate. Can't hurt to call an see what these carriers can offer you as far as getting your CDL, since they are based in the Northwest. Like the other guy said I would stay away from the meat grinder companies like Swift, Schneider, and JB Hunt. Crete is a good company to work for, but thought they only took people who already had at least 12 months experience.

 

Gordon, Interstate and May (May runs reefer & Dry Van out of Oregon)will hire you straight out of school Driveline, if pulling Van or Reefer is where your interest lays.
If you are interested in learning something different, Sherman Brothers in Halsey (Albany), Combined Transport in Medford, or Central Oregon Truck in Redmond, will take you on to learn flatbedding (and heavyhaul later), at Sherman Bro. & Combined. Those 2 also do glass and rock haul's from CA to the NW. Sherman Bros also do Tankers...mostly asphalt emulsions, but they do some chemical as well.
If you want to stay local then you can look to Walsh Bros. in Eugene (Home office) for Chip hauling to papermills or M & M Trucking up in Cowlitz WA for the same experience. There is a group of chiphaulers in Kalamath Falls and Medford as well...but I forget their name.

Les Schwaub has their tire distribution center out in Prineville, but I hear they are tough to get on with. They don't have a huge turn-over and don't add many trucks to the fleet.

 

Gordon takes students, but they do not have a school. Same with May I believe.

 

Thanks for all of the great information, guys! I'll put Scneider and Swift on the back burner till I've made a lot more phone calls! They'll be my last options now, if none of these other companies want me.

I've heard so many good things about CFI on this board, but I didn't think they hired out West. I'll give them a call, though. I've looked at so many different companie's web sites, I may be cofusing them with someone else.

 

Thanks for all of these other options, orangetxguy! I have seen a lot of these trucks around here, now that you mention them. Right now I have an itch to see more of the country than just the 11 western states. Do you know if Sherman, Combined Transport or any of the other NW companies you mentioned do that? I have a feeling that after a year or two of the 48 states, I'll be eager to grab something local to the Northwest, so I'll definitely be saving all of this info for future reference.

 

Seems to be a consensus here on Gordon, May and Interstate. What order would y'all rank them in, for pay, ability to rack up miles, how they treat their drivers, etc?

 

Combined Transport does run 48 & Canada. I see their trucks here in Orange weekly, as they are delivering to one of the plants in the area, or passing through. Gordon is running wider than the 11 western..but not sure what all they do. For sure, they don't run into the Northeast.

May runs 48, Canada, and Mexico. In Oregon they have big hauls for Weyco paper, Jeld-Wen Windows & Doors, and Milgard Windows & doors.

Just a suggestion..but getting your CDL on your own then running the 11 western would be a great experience for you. You will have less traffic than is back this way, which will give you time to settle in and learn to be a good driver.
You haven't said where you live in OR, but most of the community colleges are set up for CDL training. I would do Community College over someone like Western Truck Driving Academy.