Start at McElroy on Monday!

All the best Rev. Saddlrtramp, Owner Thunder Transport, Houston, Texas. Always remember this, You can travel down a mountain 1000 times to slow, but only once to fast.

 

Rev,
Thanks very much for your timely and informative reply.

Funny thing, but initially while considering dry van companies, Averitt also came to the top of my list as well. Like you, I read many posts that reflect the two-sided coin Averitt seems to be.
Getting good miles is important to me as well and that comes as a concern. Big Mike has been a wealth of help on Averitt and possesses a great attitude toward always thinking positive about the life of a "Big Red" driver.

Back in the day..(30 Years ago) I was an OO with the Arrowhead Division of Consolidated Freightways. We were a Specialized Hauler and I can remember many, many days and nights spent hanging around truck stops waiting for the cheap loads they would finally come up with. I had only been trucking about two years and at that time, I was still pretty "young, numb and full of dumb". It all left a bad taste in my mouth as to the time that was killed and the money (my own) that was wasted hanging around because there were "no loads". At home, I lived in Southaven, near you.. all those years.. but that seemingly great trucking base didn't help either. When I hear of complaints of low miles with a company, I automatically "flashback" to those days. Can't help it.

On another note.. I have also found many posts here that reflect the same experience you had in getting Maverick to respond with some kind of answer. It does seem to be a factor that many are experiencing and I am hoping that those in the company (HR??) who are in charge of researching the many applications they obviously get, can get their process more streamlined when it comes to being more responsible as to a timely response and notification toward prospective and hopeful employees.

I honestly do intend to apply to Maverick here in a few weeks as I get further along with CDL school. Waiting around too long for some kind of response from them is not going to increase my faith in their operation. I have read enough and done enough business research to know that they are a fine company of which I would be proud to work for.

I think I can get by the "Maroon Effect" as the VT Hokies around here call it. (I'm a Tarheel Fan).

Equipment has also been a factor in my decision making. When I was with Arrowhead, I purchased a gorgeous "long nose" Pete that I moved into from an old CO4070 Cornbinder. I believe that nice, clean and fresh equipment speaks loudly about the pride a company has in it's drivers and itself. The Pete's 400 Cummins drove through a Fuller RTO12513 13 Speed and I am sure that getting used to an automatic is gonna be a head bowing experience.. though I may smile big and wide when I get trapped in one of the many traffic Snafus that regularly occur on I81

As my research continues, I may decide to take a more closer look at McElroy as well. They certainly have my attention at this point as does TMC. I have personally met a few TMC guys and they are very happy with the paychecks they are taking home and they are just regular guys like me.. no Supertruckers or Rockstars here. McElroy just seems to me to be a WYSIWYG type of operation and that is never a bad thing IMHO.

I'll keep you posted and let you know how things shake out.. It will be interesting to say the least.

 

Thanks for the clarification, Rev. and all the help..
I agree, the Mav guys have been really great and I am indebted to them for their time here.
Wish I could have had this kind of help years ago...
Take Care.

 

How hard are the tarps to manuver and use?
I have been thinking about McElroy too but I haven't tried to see if I can lift anything that weighs approximately 120 lbs. That is what the recruiter said that a tarp weighs. They also don't have any women drivers so that kind of scares me too. I would hate to go there and then be told that "you don't meet the requirements" once in oreintation. I have already a couple of companies that are very interested in me. So, just researching before making any major decisions. I graduate the end of March, so I have time.

 

That is what I have been thinking about trying to see where I can find a tarp and then see if I can lift it on to a trailer deck. However, I don't know anyone who drives a flatbed locally. I have even thought about going to a truck stop and see if someone would let me test with their tarps. LOL