I've been reading comments from you all for about a month now. I am in school with Baker College in Michigan. Should be finishing up Sept 1 07 and hope to have a position selected by then.

My cousin runs for USA Truck - Scott, thanks for the input!

Anyway, I can see that this is a good forum for information and ideas and I plan for this to be the last career for me until I retire. I want to find a company that runs locally to me - I am willing to trade higher $ for being home more. My wife and I have spoken about it and we feel we will be ok with the potential for long absences but I have one in College and 2 more getting there - my youngest is just turning 9. I am concerned about how the absence will affect them. I know some of you have this same situation - for some probably have had it for years. How did you deal with it and overcome the lack of time with them?

Looking also for input on good south east to mid thumb michigan based companies. I have about a years experience with driving a 26' straight truck with a 9 speed trans but just getting my feet wet with truck and trailer.

Anything you can offer would be helpful and again thanks for what you've offered so far.

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PRINRD

I hope this helps, I am currently an otr driver with Roehl I drive national van, with the hopes of once I have put in the miles/time I can get something local. Here is what I know, Roehl offers a 7on 7off if u live within 150 miles of a terminal/drop yard I have talked to several of those drivers on the hometime fleets and they love it, roehl also offers a 7-4/7-3 (work 7 off 4 work 7 off 3) the folks on these fleets get 3000-3500miles a week and you get home when supposed to because u share a truck with another driver and need to be there for them to go out on time, so the $$ is better than half of what u make on national fleets and also the company is a good one.

by the way, whare are u located??

r u just going to school in Mi or do u live there? (I live by Indianapolis, but went to school in Wi)

Bluegrassbandmom:

Thank You for the input - Roehl is one of the companies I have been researching among several others.

I live in South East Michigan, about 35 Miles North of Detroit. I am going to school locally here and would like to find a company based or with a terminal near here.

If I am not mistaken Roehl has a terminal in indianapolis? Or is it Chicago?

Thanks again for the input.

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PRINRD