*Almost* have one year otr, looking to make a move to regional?

So I'll have one year of otr driving in January and I'm looking to make a move to more regional w/ better home time. Ideally I like something that's out 4-6 days/wk and home at least two. Also would like to net at least $1k/wk. I live in the Houston area so there are some descent options and these are the companies I'm considering based on my research:

1. Highway Transport
2. Messer Americas
3. Hub Group
4. Trimac
5. Quality Carriers

Just wanting to know if anyone has an ideas on how these companies are hiring, paying or keeping people running in the Houston area?

 

Thanks for the suggestion, I've actually heard good things about J Rayl. They are the ones that run a lot of LNG trucks right? They do mostly box from what I understand and I'd like to stick w/ tankers for now, I'll definitely keep them in mind though.

 

Oddly I haven't been able to find a lot on Messer Americas good or bad? Apparently they've operated in Europe for decades but just started operations in North America in 2019 so I haven't been able to run down many reviews of what it's like to work for them? Even their Wikipedia page is pretty sparse: Messer Group - Wikipedia

One thing I've been wondering is if they run regional to surrounding states or is it more of a local delivery kind of thing? Being stuck in Houston traffic in a truck all day every day really doesn't appeal to me frankly but I hear generally good things about cryo work otherwise.

Sure, but only being a year into driving I wouldn't mind learning something new and if gets me better home time and pay it would be worth to learn a new skill set. One thing I have wondered w/ the cryo hauling is how the tank surge compares to regular smooth bore chem tankers?

 

Yeah I had definitely intended to stay at the good company I started w/ for at least two years, but unfortunately they got bought out by a not so good company this year and things have really gone down hill rapidly! I definitely want something regional that gets me better home time so cryo might be the way to go though I've heard some odd stories about PraxAir and AirGas working their people to the bone?! Haven't seen too much on Messer one way or the other though. I put QC and Trimac on the list b/c I've seen some job postings by them recently where they were talking .60cpm loaded and unloaded but I know both of those are mega-ish kinds of companies w/ high turnover and who knows how much they actually keep folks running at that pay rate???