Best way to move forward?

I got my toe back in the water with Swift a few years ago. I did two years of dry van, then left them to run flatbed for the oil field out of OKC. Nothing wrong with Swift as a start IMHO.

Out of Kalispell there should be plenty of work in the wood products and farming industries. As was noted earlier, your BEST bet is to start finding small local trucking companies. Make phone calls and knock on doors.

Get your Hazmat and your FAST card to run into Canada. Everything you add to that CDL adds value for your paycheck.

Edited to add: CALLING @Chinatown !!!

 

There are a few companies hauling beets or head a little east work the oil patch.

 

I got a buddy who is no longer employed at the same place I am. Hard on equipment and hit to many things. Got a job swinging dead animals and delivering to the rendering plant. 900.00 a week and home every night.

Said it wasn't bad this winter. Been dry heaving a little now that it's warm.

There is always a job for a guy with a valid cdl.

 

That may change. Im not sure exactly where we are on regulating.

 

You only need two numbers on the RPM gauge.

When you run out your gear at high horse and she is pulling ### off, it's time to upshift That is your high horse number call it 1600 for this post.

If you have hit a hill and the rpms drop enough to make her buck and lug it's time to drop a gear before you get that far down too much. Call it 1250.

Take the power off with clutch (Not all the way in...) and get out of gear. Wait a few beats of heart and be in the next gear quickly. If you are downshifting, you have to slap the hammer to kick her RPM's up to match the next gear down you are going to.

And that's it. Two little numbers. Anywhere out of that range you grind, scratch, miss gears etc.