Evaluating companies as employers

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by Commuter69, Oct 29, 2014.

  1. Commuter69

    Commuter69 Road Train Member

    1,115
    618
    Jul 2, 2014
    0
    I am currently in CDL school and as part of my process, I applied/inquired at several companies to acquire conditional prehires, with the condition being that I complete CDL school and come in as a CDL holder. I will come out with the following:


    • CDL with the following endorsements:
      1. Combinations
      2. Air Brakes
      3. HazMat
      4. Tanker
      5. Doubles/Triples
    • Hazmat Threat Assessment (fingerprinting)
    • TWIC (applied for/in process)
    • Passport card (applied for/in process)

    I received conditional hires from the following companies, I have decided that I am no longer applying to additional companies and, even though some companies have told me that they would like me to get back in touch when I am in school and have an estimated completion date; I will be deciding within my last week between these 5 companies based on advice I receive:

    1. Swift (Phoenix) https://ai.fmcsa.dot.gov/SMS/Carrier/54283/CompleteProfile.aspx
    2. Covenant (Chattanooga) https://ai.fmcsa.dot.gov/SMS/Carrier/273818/CompleteProfile.aspx
    3. Henderson (Salem, IL) https://ai.fmcsa.dot.gov/SMS/Carrier/146458/CompleteProfile.aspx
    4. May (Salem, OR) https://ai.fmcsa.dot.gov/SMS/Carrier/94081/CompleteProfile.aspx
    5. Western Express (Nashville, TN) https://ai.fmcsa.dot.gov/SMS/Carrier/511412/CompleteProfile.aspx


    What I would like to know is the following:

    • What the bottom line CSA score is for each company (advice on how to read the reports from the website linked above)
    • Which of these companies will give the best experience for the new driver and why.



    Any information / advice is great. Thanks in advance.
     
  2. Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.

  3. lakerized805

    lakerized805 Light Load Member

    183
    59
    Apr 2, 2014
    Simi Valley, CA
    0
    I've done a lot of research, I start Prime Inc November 23. I've heard May pays very poorly and not very good equipment. My buddy just started at Swift last month and already does not like it. Wants to get his experience in and move to another company. Those are the ones I can really comment on.
     
  4. Commuter69

    Commuter69 Road Train Member

    1,115
    618
    Jul 2, 2014
    0
    An army buddy of mine just passed the 2 year mark with Swift and is happy. Just saying.
     
  5. popcorn169

    popcorn169 Road Train Member

    2,194
    1,712
    Sep 5, 2011
    state of confusion
    0
    You should be able to use search bar for some if not all of these companies. I know that Swift is going to get a bad name just because they are Swift. Western Express from what I have read is not a good choice but you know we all had to start somewhere and after a year you can move to a better company or you might like the company you are with. And welcome to the trucking world.
     
  6. ramblingman

    ramblingman Road Train Member

    1,152
    1,114
    Jan 12, 2014
    0
    The only company in there that may possibly be worth 1/4 of half a #### is May and i think that's being generous. I'd suggest you keep looking.
     
  7. Commuter69

    Commuter69 Road Train Member

    1,115
    618
    Jul 2, 2014
    0
    I appreciate the honesty, but I would also like to ask that the comments be kept helpful and professional. It is okay if you have negative comments, but I would appreciate any comments (good or bad) be qualified with information and not just opinion.
     
  8. popcorn169

    popcorn169 Road Train Member

    2,194
    1,712
    Sep 5, 2011
    state of confusion
    0
    If these are the only companies you are interested in then it is basically a toss up but as said before read all you can on these companies. I know Swift and Western Express have threads you can read Covenant should have but not sure about the others.
     
    Chinatown Thanks this.
  9. lakerized805

    lakerized805 Light Load Member

    183
    59
    Apr 2, 2014
    Simi Valley, CA
    0
    When I was looking to chose my company I used this site. Search the company and read through the threads. I Googled news info about each company, looked on glassdoor, indeed and other sites to gather all my information about them.
     
  10. FuzzyBuda

    FuzzyBuda Bobtail Member

    7
    4
    Oct 20, 2014
    0

    Generally this is a good way to go, though it can still be rather limiting. There are good outfits that people are just not commenting on and this can be frustrating. When I was looking around, this site provided a wealth of info, but still limited for what I was looking for. In the end, I did find enough info here that was good enough for me to move forward and I chose. So far, the further I go the better it is.

    Unfortunately, too much is expressed about negative experiences. The larger outfits have more employees so the % of complaints might appear high because more people are commenting. This does not necessarily equate to a higher dissatisfaction ratio overall for a company, nor does it mean the entire operation is poorly managed; it could just be a few terminals or dispatchers. Conversely, the ratio of satisfaction may seem low because fewer folks are expressing it. This criteria should be used as a measure in the decision, not the quantifying factor.

    Do your research and when someplace seems right for what you are looking for then apply. That action alone can generate more opportunities for you. Keep researching. Learn 2-3 specifics from that agency's website that you can bring up in the interview. That action alone can generate additional opportunities. The pattern here is that you are developing yourself as you proceed and this creates better conditioning in your thought process. As you continue to hone your search skills, something will connect. Then you choose. If it seems to be flowing naturally, go with it rather than resist. If it seems forced, it likely will be for the duration you are there.

    We never know about something until we move into that space and do it. Also, your experience may be totally acceptable while another's was not.

    Good luck.
     
    popcorn169 Thanks this.
  11. Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

    68,034
    142,285
    Aug 28, 2011
    Henderson, NV & Orient
    0
    From all the reading I've done on this forum; flip a coin between Swift and Western Express.
    No details to give, just my overall impression.

    I think I would rather work for Navajo Express or Halvor Lines than those. Navajo has inverters and APU's factory installed. Just my opinion.
     
    popcorn169 Thanks this.
  • Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.