Hi Everyone. I want to take the opportunity to ask some of you drivers out there on a couple of company's that I have been looking to drive for. I am about to get out of school in a couple of week. I have been to both of their web sites and got some good info on them. Any information that you all can give me will be appreciated.

 

The steven's recruiter that came to my school lied like a dog. Search for stevens or by my posts

 

Thank you for the reply Blind Driver. How did they lie to you? What should a rookie look out for in a company? I know I have to start out at the bottom. I have no problem with that. I just want a company that is a little decent to work for .

 

Buckeye, you might want to search the CAD boards a little closer before you commit to Stevens. Realizing you take everything with a grain of salt. Stevens seems to have more than their fair share of negative threads. Just food for thought. BOL whichever way you go.

 

I suggest going with a carrier that is near your home. Your first driving job may be your favorite one. I know swift is near you. I have heard good and bad about them :rollthedice:

1 search reveiled this:

http://www.fleetdirectory.com/ByLocation/Arizona.htm

 

Thank you Blind driver for the link. That was a good site. I have been looking at this message board for about 3 to 4 months now. Swift has not been getting to good of post on this board. I have been researching company's for a while now and I do believe that Swift is not a good fit to me. Thanks for going out of the way for that info.

 

And two cut-rate garbage haulers are?

Truth be told, all of the McMega carriers are a blatant ripoff. That's why they're always hiring. Now, if for some strange reason OTR is what floats your boat then the only carrier I would recommend is Crete. Do 3-5 years there and then apply to a private fleet such as Wal-Mart, Tru-Value, Crown Cork & Seal, etc.

Or pull a thermos for Schneider and hire on to a good tanker-yanker job like gas-haulers, bulk chemical, Flying J, Clean Harbors, etc. Better yet, go LTL. Old Dominion, FedEx Freight, Conway will all train you to get your CDL. Then do linehaul for +.50 cpm or peddle freight in the city for +$22.00/hr with OT after 8. Best thing about LTL is that you can have a life outside of and away from the truck. Or what about small-parcel ala FedEx or UPS? If I wore a younger mans clothes, that's where I'd stake my claim. Bust your hump on the dock for a few years, run a package car, and then bid your way up to feeder. You're talking $28.00/hr, all terminal-to-terminal drop-n-hook, pension, uniforms...the works! Yessir, that's truckin' the way truckin' was meant to be.

I've got over 17 years experience in the transportation industry and the one thing I've learned about making it in this biz is that you've got to have a plan from day 1. Too many folks hitch their wagons to these dog$hit outfits from the get-go and then end up washing out, broke, divorce court, jaded, disillusioned, job-hoppers, etc. That's why the turnover rates are so astronomical. But if you play your cards right, you'll be in it for the long-haul.

And that's the facts, Jack!

 

That was much better.... Thank You :wink: Not totally but much

 

Thank you for your incite in the trucking industry. I appreciated it. Like I said I have been looking at this message board and have been doing alot of research on company's. That why I am asking for the truckers input. I am coming off a career of 25 years and wanted to go into a different carer path. I chose the trucking industry as it. I am not into jumping company every other year. My intent is to go otr for a couple of years and get some experience and then go to a local run like UPS or FEDX. I lived the life of self employment for a long time. I would just like to get with a good company and see the country. I have been in doors for longtime.