Originally Posted by largecar2399

well see maybe thats why some of the younger drivers are crappy...you get it handed to you and dont know anything about paying dues

Exactly how does spending a month or more living in a truck while making .25 a mile make someone a better driver than starting off with a company that will pay you a livable wage and actually allow you to have a home life?

If anything I would think starting at a decent company will make you a better employee because you will actually care about your job.

look at Watkins Shepard Trucking, they have a Terminal in Austintown, OH and they just bought a new one somewhere else in OH too not sure where though.



American Trucker

Originally Posted by Radtaz

I will be starting school next week at TDDS in Ohio. I would like some help in finding a trucking company to apply to. A few things I am looking for are, a company that can get me home almost every weekend I don't mind being out a few weeks in a row but would like to stay close to home every weekend as I can. I would also like to be able to take my truck home with me and not slip seat. Another nice thing to have would be a company that has APU's on the trucks as I am a bigger guy and cannot sleep if I get to hot. I don't mind touching the loads as I am not scared of a little work and getting dirty. Another thing you might need to know to help me is that for the last two years I have been a stay at home dad and only have one year work experience in the last three years. I also live in Ohio so I think I am located in most companies hiring areas. Any advice you could give would be great.

You sound like that occupy wall street guy on hannity that night... " I can't work for less than 80k a year" I believe you are trying to get into the wrong industry.. Also riddle me this batman how do you plan on being home every weekend and being out a few weeks at a time.. Trucking isn't a monday through friday job.. I hope you are the one assuming you will find most of this because if a truck driving school told you all of this would be possible they were lying.. I wish you the best but I don't see you being able to get 1 of those with your work history and no experience..

Kudos on taking care of your kid though.. I just don't see how you can make it work right now in this economy.. Trucking companies want to work the new hires like they are a beast of burden for a year then they know you are going to find a better job..

Originally Posted by Radtaz

I have talked with a few companies and have a few emails out with others. Central Refrigerated said they would have no problem since I have at least one year work history in the last three years, but they said they could only get me home one day every couple weeks. I know that I am new and have to earn my way I was just looking to you guys to tell me about some companies I might have not looked at.

Youre doomed to fail. Your mistake is looking at the big companies. They'll promise you everything, and then they'll run you in what ever way suits them best. Find a little company to work for. They're out there you just gotta hunt around.

Try Schneider. The have drop yards out of Ohio, do 34 hours at home on weekends every week, no to very few apu units (you'll get whatever truck they have) and you get your own assigned truck. They treat me pretty good.

Maybe you could find a job hauling grain for a farmer or flatbedding pallets of sod or something. Idk how it is in ohio, but here in east Arkansas there are farmers all over the place who drive 8 hours a day and are home every weekend. Most farmers don't even care how much experience u have, just as long as u don't wreck their truck. Also the Pepsi or coke thing may be good for u. Good luck with ur journey.

Living in Ohio will definitely have its advantages. Its kind in the middle of the freight lanes so you will probably be able to stop by the house every now and then or a little more often than others. Central has a few drop yards in Ohio so that will make it even easier. Just keep in mind that you aren't going to make a whole lot of money taking home time every week. You will probably end up making more at just a regular job at home. The reason truckers make good money is because they work 24/7 and are gone from home for months at a time. Also depending on the company, if a driver needs to be home all the time then your dispatcher will usually utilize you for making everyone's pick ups and deliveries keeping you close to home. Remember I mentioned the drop yards? Well you will be the driver that delivers all the loads that come into the drop yard and then pre-load the trailers and bring them back to the drop yard for the drivers that stay out to run cross country.

The other advantage to living in Ohio is that there are probably more local jobs available.

Originally Posted by Kansas

Youre doomed to fail. Your mistake is looking at the big companies. They'll promise you everything, and then they'll run you in what ever way suits them best. Find a little company to work for. They're out there you just gotta hunt around.

Really? Doomed to fail? Please tell us how you come to this conclusion. The FACT is that here are benefits to both large and smaller carriers depending on the driver and their family's needs.