Where/Who for new CDL rookie in Maryland?

The son of a good friend of mine will have his CDL soon and has asked me for advise. He is 23 and wants to make a good decision.

I hate to admit this,.. but I am not with the current times and am not up to date with the mega carriers. I know which main bottom feeders to stay away from. But for the most part,.. I am clueless.

I've never worked for a mega in my life. I started out with a small company in Md back in the mid 80's. I have only worked for O/O's and now as an O/O myself.

So I'm reaching out to experienced TTR members. His son lives in Laurel, Md. Where/Who would be a good company for him to get his feet wet in trucking?

He is not sure if he wants to do flatbed, van or reefer. He would like a company with decent home time. Weekends preferably,.. but is willing to man up and stay out and pay his dues to make it work. Does Melton hire out of Md? I'd like to see him get into Flatbed first,.. only because everything else will seem like cake. Though, he may need Van or Reefer first if only to master his backing skills bumping docks.

I'm trying to look back and remember what worked for me when I was his age. But I didnt start like most people. I started in with a Towing and Heavy transport company. I started with a Chauffeurs license and when the time came to pull my first RGN,.. I was told to swim or sink. So I am not sure I am the right person to give advise for choosing the right company to start with.

Help,..

Hurst

 

They are all over MD,.. I remember them from 20 yrs ago. Laurel Md is in PG county,.. part of the Northern VA, Wash DC, Suburban MD area. Hagerstown is considered western Md,.. up in the hills. Usually anything west of Frederick is too far to commute to the DC area.

I dont know anything about Bowman, other than they have a lot of trucks. Do you know anyone who drives for them? Would they be a good fit for a rookie?

I dont want to send the kid on a hard path and scar him from trucking.

Hurst

 

Glad you chimed in.

He has a GF,.. which you and I both know may create problems in this business. He is young,.. so I'm sure he will want to spend time with friends.

I was fortunate when I was driving at his age, I was home almost daily and was rarely gone for more than 3 - 4 days once or twice a month. I made very good money, paid hourly and percentage.

The company I worked for said they could hire him after 36 months,.. but not before. Still a smaller outfit with only 18 trucks now. Guys who work there usually stay for many years,.. the towing and straight trucks has drivers who come and go,.. thats where he would start before getting into the RGN heavy haul. They would train and guide him properly once there. Getting him to that point is where I am struggling.

Thanks guys.

Hurst

 

LOL so true,.. I had a few I would call on when I was that age. I had the stamina back then to handle it. Unfortunately,.. never had the money needed to maintain it properly.

Hurst

 

I'll let him figure that out on his own. I dont want to be the instigation that sent him on a path he might get hooked on and never stop. LOL

Hurst