As many of you know I went into CRST under contract. As of now that contract is finished. They made it tough just like all of you said. But as hard as they tried I made it anyway. Now comes stage 2.

There are a lot of companies out there. So the hunt for a new home can be a challenging one if all we have to rely on is the word of some recruiter. So I ask for reccomendations here. Let me tell you what I want in a company.

Decent miles of course. I am looking for 2500 a week or more. Yes bad weeks happen anywhere and thats fine.

Fair pay - I think .32 a mile or better is fair.

Home time - I like to run 3-5 weeks and take 4-6 days off.

Experience - 8 months OTR + Certificate from a driving school.

Benefits - Medical at my expense at a fair price.

I dont mind forced dispatch. It seems to me the whiners out there get the crap runs anyway so it really doesnt bother me if I have to run forced.

My record is clean, no violations, no tickets, no accidents. I do have a DWI that will be 5 years old on June 17 of this year. That of course was pre-CDL days but nonetheless it is on my DMV.

I realize this is almost a loaded question. But who do you think is a good company to work for? OTR/Regional/Dedicated is all ok with me if the miles are there. Anything but doubles-triples.

Sorry to say but I think your DWI is going to limit you on where you can go. You're force to stay with the bottom of trucking companies until that clears your record.

You might want to consider taking a 2-month break. Many GOOD outfits will want the DUI to be 5 years old, minimum. Taking two months off will put you at the limit before a refresher is needed, but you can just squeak by if you have everything lined up beforehand.

I'd give somebody like Crete or Roehl a call and see if they'll hire you even after the DUI drops off. At some great outfits, a DUI is an opportunity killer even if the conviction is 10 years old.

__________________
--Paved Dudley--

Yeah I drive a Swift truck
And that means one thing
It means she's slow
It's a typical company truck
It's just all show and no go

I'm gettin' passed by Yella
And even Overnite
I'm gettin' passed by ever' body in sight
46 days on the road
And I'm not gettin' home tonight

No, my hometown's nowhere in sight
And if you think I'm pissed off
You're right
46 days on the road
And I'm not gettin' home tonight


Love pissing off those trucking company insiders.

Thanks for both responses. Some companies do not take a driver who has ever had a DWI conviction like you said. But thats ok, it was my stupid mistake and I sure am not going to let it get me down or focus on the past. It limits me but as you mentioned in a few weeks some of those limits will no longer exist. I may never get to work for one of the great companies out there, but I can sure provide a living for my family and still get home often enough they remember who dad is.

And in all honesty I also know that with only 8 months seat time some of the better companies might even require me to go back out with a trainer. I am not only ok with that, I think a good trainer could be helpful. If thats what I need to do whereever I go I will gladly go back out and hope to learn as much as possible from my it.

Some of the companies I am looking at (Maverick, Transport Americe, Melton, Prime, and others) do require that I wait till its 5 years old. So as you mentioned I am prepared to wait if doing so will land me with a company I can call home for a long time.

Sounds good, Didn't Lie. Good luck to you. May your username get you into a fine outfit if nothing else does.

One last thing--you may want to check out union oufits. Some may hire you after the DUI is 5 years old. Just a thought.

__________________
--Paved Dudley--

Yeah I drive a Swift truck
And that means one thing
It means she's slow
It's a typical company truck
It's just all show and no go

I'm gettin' passed by Yella
And even Overnite
I'm gettin' passed by ever' body in sight
46 days on the road
And I'm not gettin' home tonight

No, my hometown's nowhere in sight
And if you think I'm pissed off
You're right
46 days on the road
And I'm not gettin' home tonight


Love pissing off those trucking company insiders.

Odd twist to this. Yesterday I gave an application to Prime. They ran my DMV while we were on the phone. I told her about the DWI, but there was no record of it at all. She checked it twice to be sure. My feelings on this are tell them anyway. I'd rather them know up front than have it come back and bite me later. Do you think I am right in telling them anyway or should I leave it out since there is no record?

Of course you're right. It's much better than to have them find out some other way and then can you for lying.

I have already been treated poorly by Corporate America and try not to let it show but here is a couple of other things to consider.

1. The hunt for a new home can be challenging, take your time and invest time in the companies you are considering and interview them as they are certainly going to be interviewing you.

2. Make sure that you get "quality assurance" for the miles you need to make it for you and your family and let the company know if your needs, preferably in writing.

3. 3-5 weeks out with 4-6 days off does not work for me, my preference is to be home much more often and for 4-6 days. But if it works for you and family, great.

4. Fair pay is "relative", what might be fair for you will not be Ok with someone else. Remember that corporate America is only willing to pay "market price", if you are willing to settle for $.32 and they were willing to pay $.36, what happended here? Start your search for a higher paying position and compromise as needed, don't just settle!

5. Corporate America generally pays for "most or all of the cost of medical insurance", if your future employer wants to collect a weekly/monthly amount for "sharing" the cost of insurance and this works for you, fine, otherwise don't settle for paying your own.

6. The DWI is going to stick with you for up to 7 years depending on the state of record, generally with 8 months of experience and a DWI, you don't have the "upper hand here" during negoiations.

7. The who? In the 8 months you have for experience who did you pass, get passed by, see, converse with in truck stops, see at fuel islands, see at shippers, see at receivers, who had drivers who presented themselves well, were generally clean, had late model equipment, that looked good, that was clean and was obivously well maintained?

Thats the place to go see for your challenge, as you call it.

As you have already found out, there will be no place that fits 100% of your needs while you will be coming with less than 100% of their needs, spend some time investing in your driving future while not settling for the first opportunity that comes your way. Create an opportunity that fits well with both you & family and the company. Interview them as they are certainly to be interviewing you......

Good Luck!

Sent you a pm. Try calling Eastern Freightways out of North Brunswick NJ. Not sure about the dui thing but I think they only ask for 6 months verifiable experience.

Normally home each weekend unless you volunteer to work the weekend for extra money.

Medical insurance for family is 40.00 per week.

Also paid holidays, vacation, sick days and personal days.

__________________
Knowledge is Power

check out USA Truck, you qualify or us and your description of what you wanty fits. i am pretty happy here.

__________________

tip for new truckers: to err is human, to forgive is not D.O.T. policy.
"if you don't HAVE the money to buy it, YOU CAN'T AFFORD IT"- DAVE RAMSEY