i should specify that hire new drivers fresh from school? i understand i need to get 1yr in with a crap company before i can get a real good job, but its not about what you know, its who you know and what better place to ask for good advice or tips than this forum.

how much do they pay for that type of load?

I'm not an OTR driving but I live in Oakland County and I see Prime, CRST and Central parked all over the place presumably while on home time. I even see a couple Prime bobtails parked in driveways in nearby neighborhoods pretty regularly.

Originally Posted by Trucker_Matt

I was thinking about werner because they have a dedicated route from west rd (brownstown, mi) to gary indiana and back. home every day (they claim) and home time is more important to me than making 40000 a year.

If you're going to hire on to werner, or any other mega carrier, with the intent of being assigned to one specific account, I would make sure you get it in writing that you will be working that specific account only. When you ask them to do this, I believe they will decline. And that should tell you everything you need to know about your chances of actually ending up in the account the recruiter is saying you'll end up in.

Trucker_Matt, I agree with jgremlin. Newbies shouldn't expect to be handed 'choice dedicated' routes when there are plenty of drivers out there with YEARS of experience who have 'earned the right' to be home nightly. Don't be surprised if those dedicated runs are 'in-house' promotions after you have paid your dues with 6 months to a year OTR.

Well I don't think I agree with the 'earned the right' statement. You have just as much right to a job as anyone else. Experience is another issue and there a lots of local jobs which for whatever reason, require more experience than a noob will have just out of school. But there are local/regional jobs to be found for those with no experience if you look hard enough. I never wanted to go OTR and I never did. No earned right required. So it can be done. But it ain't easy and you won't do it with any mega carrier.

Well.. I was hoping to get that route but in the back of my mind i had a feeling it wasn't going to be that easy. I hear alot about prime, maybe ill check them out. CRST has probably the worst reputation so i'll unlikely choose them. I appreciate the tips guys. I see most of you are from michigan, who do you drive with? Do any of you know about NTB (or MTB?) the trucks that run from the meijer warehouse in monroe at all?

Never accept a job depending on staying with a dedicated account. Those contracts have to be renewed every year or two and the company that currently has the account may lose it to a carrier bidding lower.