Finding and deciding on a company...

Hey everyone, well I still cannot decide on a company. I've been doing a lot of research and cannot find what company will be the best for what I am looking for. I do have some prior experience, though only about 6 months worth and that was 2 years ago. Please don't bash me, but I will list the "in a perfect world" list of what I am trying to find, I'm really looking for a company that can hit as many of these or get close to meeting these. I know that I cannot expect to find the absolute perfect company, and I know that "trucking happens," so I know about the normal aggravations on the road...So, in a perfect world the company would:1. Have decent pay (don't care what the cents per mile is, as long as the miles are there)2. Have nice equipment (I do not mind staying out for over a month at a time, so I want a nice truck to live in)3. Run me coast to coast a lot, or keep me out west a lot (I am from Nashville, TN, so a change in scenery would be nice, as well as a little bit of adventure).4. Would be a smaller sized company, somewhere that they know you by name and treat you like a human. 5. Have take home trucks (That way I can come straight home on home time, not park at a terminal, gather my things, drive some more to finally get home, etc...)6. I prefer refer or dry van. 7. I love to drive, I would prefer to spend most of my time driving. Well, I know that all companies have quirks and I don't expect perfection, especially just getting back into the game. I just really want to avoid a bottom feeder company where I am just a number. I drove for one company for only a few weeks because the were only giving me 300-500 mile runs, that was absolutely the worst thing ever to me, and my weekly average was 1500. I really like long hauls and such, and home time isn't a huge issue to me. My last company had most of this list covered, or I should say all of it covered to some extent, but they only have 3 company drivers now so they aren't an option.. I would really like to hear any suggestions! Right now I'm looking at Abilene and May but I would love to hear what companies are out there and what you guys think. Thanks for all the help! I've gotten a lot of great information here so far.

 

@Chinatown
I should have mentioned that I am going back through my local CDL school so that I can open up more doors.

@freightwipper
I will go to McDonalds before I do that haha

 

@Chinatown
thanks for that list! I will definitely check them out. Was actually just looking at Tyson Foods. I do agree with you about them "knowing your name," I guess I meant that as more of a family type atmosphere or where they will treat you decent. At the end of the day, my paycheck and QOL is most important. Thanks again for that list!

@Shiera15

Nope, not sure I've even heard of them. I'd prefer to leave the company I didn't like nameless, but the company I did like was Colonial out of Knoxville. They treated me great, pretty much gave me everything on that list.

 

@Chinatown
Thanks for that info. BTW, almost done applying to all of the ones you listed for me to check out. If you have any other ideas I'm open to them. Seems like the really good ones are the ones that no one ever hears about. Thanks again!

 

@Chinatown
Just wanted to thank you again! Already got a call back from Tyson Foods and Pride transport. I owe you one! Thanks again for the suggestions. Now to try and make a decision haha. Tyson sounds pretty good though.