OTR Co that will let me drive and operate out west?

You’ll enjoy going through Needles, CA when it’s 125 degrees

On a serious note, I’d try getting a little experience under my belt before going to the PNW and surrounding states. It’s no fun trying to learn the basic fundamentals of driving in the snow and ice.

Learn to chain your tires while you’re warm in Alabama. You don’t want to be fumbling around when it snowing and-20 degrees.

Good luck and congratulations on getting your CDL.

Just be careful what you ask for

 

My very first trucking job I went to PNW during a blizzard. I survived! Quite an experience. Old cabover freightliner pulling a dry van.

 

Things are a little different today I’d imagine..congestion, abundance of idiot drivers and new drivers running/sliding into you. Never mind the ones that completely clear the median a take out oncoming drivers.

Today insurance companies are unforgiving so I’d rather manage the risk.

 

@ExoGeniVI --

Since you live on the southside area of B'ham -- given your above stated driving ambitions.....you probably should not overlook Decker Truck Lines:

Driven to Be the Best - Decker Truck Lines (drivedecker.com)

Decker has a terminal right there in the B'ham area.

They run BOTH flatbed and reefer (so you could try both freight types....while driving for the same carrier) -- and they normally accept brand new CDL holders.

However -- in the present freight environment, they may, or may not be taking new drivers.

Regardless, it might not be a bad idea to check them out....

-- L

 

Decker Truck Line, Inc.
deckertruckline.com
1280 Powder Plant Rd, Bessemer, AL 35022
This division hauls steel and you won't get many miles and will never see the West.

 

Follow-up: Decker Truck Lines recently received a "TYSON FOODS PREMIER CARRIER AWARD"...for excellent service/delivery running loads with Tyson Foods.

My point here is -- they obviously have some very good, steady reefer freight...and know how to run a successful reefer fleet.

A lot of their reefer loads go out west, too.

-- L

 

DOT can be a pain at times. Mostly 0/0's don't want to go to California. Speed limit is 55.
Didn't bother me in the least to go there because that's a lot of miles from Tennessee. I pulled lots of flatbed loads out there for Western Express, but the best money was with reefers.
You can do well with reefers and probably also with flatbed loads pulling for Melton or Paul Transportation.