Started the calling process

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by Ordy19, Apr 23, 2015.

  1. Ordy19

    Ordy19 Medium Load Member

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    Hello all. After stumbling over this site almost a year ago and reading everything that I would need to do to become a driver, the reality of it is getting a lot closer. Permit is done and I start school on the 2nd. I will grad on 21 June. I will be out of the military in mid September and thats when I plan on being at orientaiton so I can double dip some pay checks while on terminal leave. I am in Eastern, NC and my hiring area for a lot of companies sucks butts. I have it made up in my mind that I want to start off as a flatbedder. I am still in some decent shape and something about it intrigues me. Eventually, I want to venture into tanks, but not something I want to start to do with a fresh CDL. So, I have gotten 1 pre-hire letter from Boyd Bros. CT Transportation, Melton, and McElroy have all basically said the same thing to me. As soon as you graduate school, let us know and we will set you up with an orientation day.

    The lady at Maverick was really nice but they had nothing for me in my area at this time, and the guy at TMC was not very friendly and also stated that I was out of their hiring area.

    Out of the 4, Melton has the VA Apprenticeship program, and that has me leaning that way but they said a minimum of 2 weeks out, and 2 days home. I am fine with that, the other 3 places are claiming home weekly. So I am up in the air and I guess I will decide where to go out of the blue. Time is flying by and all this is starting to happen. But I got plenty of time to start on my TWIC, HAZMAT, and Passport.

    I hate this being a please help me decide thread, but I am just another greenie trying to make the best decision and any input would be greatly appreciated.
     
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  3. Cranky Yankee

    Cranky Yankee Cranky old ######

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    my theory is it doesnt really matter where or how you start
    what you think now and after a years experience will all be different
    you might even hate it all :biggrin_25520:

    I have only ever run reefer liked it kept doing it
    some hate it
    really liked running from Outer Banks to NYC with the fish back in the day
     
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  4. Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

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    Melton is probably the best, but has those driver facing cameras. I'd probably go with Boyd.
    What about Howard Transportation?
     
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  5. Ordy19

    Ordy19 Medium Load Member

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    Howard's website isn't the greatest but I have searched here about the company. They are on my list to call and question. I don't know what to think about the forward facing cameras. From all the specualtion, all major carriers are going to go to them. Sounds like insurance companies want it that way.
     
  6. CruisingAlong

    CruisingAlong Medium Load Member

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    McElroy gets you home every friday and you'd usually leave out Sunday afternoon. They pull a lot of lumber out of vanceboro and have a terminal in pleasant hill nc for your orientation.
     
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  7. Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

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    Forward facing and driver facing are different. I think flatbed carrier Cypress Truck Lines has forward facing. I can deal with forward facing, but not driver facing.
     
  8. Flatbedn

    Flatbedn Road Train Member

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    I have the camera and it doesn't bother me. The truck Melton assigned me is brand new and the pay is good. I can live with a camera that only goes off if I do something to trigger it for the benefits Melton offers.
     
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  9. WingNut72

    WingNut72 Bobtail Member

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    Feb 18, 2015
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    Ordy19, Good Day and Welcome. I am in the same shoes you are walking. I have been on this website for past 6 months or so. I retire Next year around July with 22 yrs in the Army. I am down here at Fort Stewart, GA but looking to move to TN area as it seems make trucking easier and wife is ready for a change as it just me and her and she works on base and will switch to Fort Campbell when I retire. I will have about 3 months of terminal leave so plan on doing the trucks2transport for school and get on with a company and double dip for a month or so like yourself. I am also looking at Flatbed was looking Tanker but since just me and the wife I think down the road she might stop working and join me month on and month off type deal. I am open to Dry Van.. I want to get on with company for GI Bill for first year or two so get the max out of that benefit. Seems TMC would be able to make that the best. I already have a degree and no kids to transfer to so use it up. So I have TMC, Maverick, Melton, WTI, KEIM TS, Britton and looking at CRETE and Scheider. Keeping my eyes on the prize. I already have my Passport and getting my TWIC while here near Savannah since it good for 5yrs, wait until about 6 months from retirement to get that. Where are you going to CDL school Ordy19? If I can help from my research let me know as seems we are doing the same thing but you a little earlier then me. I love the Army but 22yrs and 5 deployment ready for a change, good or bad. Any change is good right now lol. Thanks for your service. Jay. (US Army)
     
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  10. Ordy19

    Ordy19 Medium Load Member

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    And thank you for your service, the Marine Corps has run it's course and I will leave it at that. I hear yah on all the deployments lol. I'm taking an 160 hour CDL course from a community college, doing it on the weekend so I can have it done before I get out. I am also going to put in for my TWIC and get a Passport. Hazmat too, but I think I am going to wait until I am about done with my CDL course. Do I need to go to the TSA office starting out for my TWIC card? The one here is like 15 miles away so that's a plus. I was on the website earlier today but it was a little confusing. I just want to have all my paperwork stuff done before I go to any of these companies orientation. The GI Bill plan really does sound like a good deal, it is kind of hard to pass up 11K worth of money over your first year. The only company for me that offers that is Melton(Hiring Area). I have 4 kids, and three of them are under 10, so it will be me rolling solo for a while. My wife is good with me doing this, and she is used to me being gone. I wouldnt care to be out for longer but not seeing the kids would guilt me some. Best of luck to you too man, let me know who you decide to go with and I will do the same.
     
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  11. WingNut72

    WingNut72 Bobtail Member

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    Feb 18, 2015
    Fort Stewart, GA
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    Ordy19, also check out YouTube I watch Daly Clay he just retired Air Force and works for Maverick (Great VLOG) Learned a lot ..........search Daly Clay

    Also, TheLittleGuyShow, TrainerJames2013, Ike Stephens, JBG Travels, Captain Kevin and IndianaJack Trucker (very nice guy).

    The good one for TMC w/Flatbed is AK49bwl. He does not drive for them any more but look up him and go to his old VLOGS can learn a lot.

    I do not know any of these people, all I can say is I have enjoyed learning and watching their VLOGs and you can take the good with the bad to learn for your benefit. Thanks Jay.
     
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