Good trucking companies for a recent grad

I see that you would like to avoid mega companies, but I will suggest considering Crete. They had a terminal in Greensboro NC when I worked for them . I assume they still do. They would put you with a trainer for 2 months most likely. My friends that are still there are staying busy. Also, Crete pays a higher pay rate than other similar companies and they pay practical miles. They like drivers that stay out a few weeks. Imo , Crete might be a good place gain some experience and then u could move on in a year or so. I quit Crete due to family health issues. What I didn't like about Crete was short length of haul and sometimes waiting to make a delivery appointment because I had more time than needed to haul the load. Example: pickup a 300 mile load and the delivery appointment is for tomorrow afternoon. And the communication was sometimes not too good. But now they have assigned driver managers, so if you get a good one, communication might not be an issue. I usually ran about 2700 miles a week. Btw, Crete runs VERY legal .

 

I work for Crete but on their reefer side which is Shaffer.
They don't give me that short haul garbage, I get tons of long hauls BUT I have strict appointment times to meet and crazy appointment times a lot.
Still the money is good for what it is though.

OTR Shaffer noobie drivers get paid .35 for a year and then go to .44 Practical miles, cap pay is .50
What lone ranger didn't tell you is that we get paid extra for any dispatch under 200 miles.

 

did you apply.. they really need drivers I'd try anyway.

Prime and Tyson trains and you'll start off around .40 CPM with them

 

I work for tyson 1 day for every 6 out. Tyson will keep you busy I average 2900 a week and that's counting home time

 

Van & refrigerated:

Tyson Foods
Navajo Express
Magnum Companies
Cargo Transporters
Halvor Lines
USA Truck
Watkins-Shepard
Decker Truck Line
Pride Transport
Cooke Trucking Co.
Jim Palmer Trucking
Sunstate Carriers
Paschall Truck Lines
Schneider
Ozark Motor Lines
Comet Transportation - Harvey, IL

 

you all have those fast trucks too.
they're an okay place starting out, they pay well comparably