Arkansas for new CDL driver

I lived most of my life in Arkansas. People might laugh at this, but I would be tempted to check JB Hunt for local work. They have an AG division hauling logs and wood chips that offers good money and home every night. Idk about dogs. That might be a problem. I almost hate to recommend them because the local logging crews hated them for stealing their drivers, but it’s a better gig for the driver no doubt.

There’s lots of local hopper, end dump, wood chip, log, and flatbed work.

Some of the companies around Little Rock for OTR were Maverick for flatbed work or CalArk for van and possibly some reefer work. Idk much about that I always ran local.

 

I understand Little Rock and West Memphis have a crime problem.
~
CalArk Local Delivery
~
Home | CalArk |
~

 

Research those places in Post #4

 

JB has a good reputation.

 

Ya they do have a crime problem. The ideal place to move in Arkansas is the Northwest part of the state. Unfortunately that means real estate is high and Californians are flocking there like sheep so it probably won’t stay that way.

 

OTR, by definition is NOT home every night. OTR means going to any state, no regular route. Typically OTR means getting home AT MOST each weekend, or every few weekends.

No company that hires newbies is going to allow pets in the truck during the weeks you spend with a trainer in his truck. When you get assigned your truck for solo driving, some companies will allow pets. Those companies have different rules for pets and/or passengers. Maybe 25% of trucking companies allow pets. Some companies do not allow pets until the new-hire has 90 days of incident free driving. EVERY COMPANY HAS DIFFERENT RULES. The most common rule among companies if they fire drivers that sneek a pet into a no-pet company. Never sneek a pet into the truck. There are many ways you will be discovered. Getting fired makes it harder to get next job, especially if you have little experience. I took my pet with me. This isn't just a theory I read about online.

If you want to live somewhere and do OTR live near a company terminal (easiest) or live in the travel lanes of the company. Look for places on maps where federal interstate highways cross. Those places often have lots of trucking companies.

Trucking companies are not evenly distributed everywhere. If you live in a small town away from major highways, no population you might get hired. You are not getting home often because you live far away from customers & companies. You also have to find safe & legal parking for truck & trailer. Just because you have space doesn't always mean you can legally park in that space. Most HOAs do not allow commercial vehicle parking. Some cities don't allow commercial vehicle parking. You cannot assume truck parking is legal, EVEN IF YOU SAW A TRUCK PARKED SOMEWHERE. Maybe it was legal or maybe he was ticketed and doesn't park there anymore.

You need to get any trucking company put you in contact with current working drivers to find out about a company. Most truck drivers are not on this forum. Recruiters will tell newbies anything to put a behind in a seat.

 

How are you with swamp monsters…..anywhere in the Delta they are so bad you can’t breathe after dark.

plenty of local work for small outfits. Pay, benefits etc I don’t see being top shelf

 

West Memphis crime? It’s a trucker’s paradise.it’s the only place you can get fuel wash your truck polish your wheels change the oil have your cb worked on,buy your drugs and a lot lizard get a hair cut,eat and never leave the truck stop

 

Look at JB, and NW/Ft Smith ish. They've pretty much cornered the AG market here. Hauling chickens, turkeys, feed, logs, sludge, etc.

An acquaintance with a fairly new CDL (couple months) hired on with them early summer running feed to the houses, and has already moved to day shift

He hasn't mentioned pay, but he's happy there