Big Decisions

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by Buckeyefor88, Oct 20, 2009.

  1. Buckeyefor88

    Buckeyefor88 Bobtail Member

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    Mar 12, 2009
    Jersey Shore PA
    0
    I am about to graduate school I need to choose a company to drive for my school is payed for so i dont owe no one anything here is a few companys i can choose from i have read good and bad things about these companys I just want a good starter company.
    Altmans
    Falcon
    PI & I
    Roehl
    Stevens
    Swift
    TMC
    Transport America
    Werner
    USA Truck
    so if you dont mind just give me a heads up
    thanks
     
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  3. Miles_Of_Truckin

    Miles_Of_Truckin Light Load Member

    260
    38
    Sep 25, 2008
    MD
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    That's really up to you, do some research on them all. But my ADVICE would be take anything you can get, stick it out for your first year. Keep your record clean, then look for something better. Good luck
     
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  4. blown02GT

    blown02GT Light Load Member

    172
    24
    Aug 26, 2009
    Cecil, Ohio
    0
    I would add Millis Transfer to that list.. I just got done with my 2nd day of school and i'll tell ya.. this company hasn't lied once to any of us and is an awesome company! I won't go into huge detail, but I would seriously check them out
     
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  5. Miles_Of_Truckin

    Miles_Of_Truckin Light Load Member

    260
    38
    Sep 25, 2008
    MD
    0
    Opps it posted twice.
     
    Last edited: Oct 20, 2009
  6. Buckeyefor88

    Buckeyefor88 Bobtail Member

    35
    12
    Mar 12, 2009
    Jersey Shore PA
    0
  7. Kix

    Kix Bobtail Member

    14
    1
    Oct 20, 2009
    Wisconsin
    0
    Sounds great. I live in WI and have been thinking about Millis considerably.
     
  8. Palazon

    Palazon Road Train Member

    1,430
    912
    Feb 5, 2009
    Tacoma, WA
    0
    Swift is ok, but your 1st 3 months solo, you'll be very hungry. If you have any questions on them, I'll do my best but we're on opposite coasts.

    Overall, I'd say get a driving gig, hold it for a year. Be careful and play by the rules. After a year or so, you start looking very attractive to other companies.

    For example: I've driven heavy haul for 1.5 years on the west coast. I finally decided to make a change and sent out 6 applications, resulting in 4 callbacks and 3 job offers, including TWT and Interstate.

    Welcome to the road!
     
  9. Buckeyefor88

    Buckeyefor88 Bobtail Member

    35
    12
    Mar 12, 2009
    Jersey Shore PA
    0
    Well whoever I drive for i plan on being professional doing whatever it takes to make money that is my plan to drive for a yr or two and see what else is out there thanks
     
  10. blown02GT

    blown02GT Light Load Member

    172
    24
    Aug 26, 2009
    Cecil, Ohio
    0
    I would definitely give them a call.. I know right now their classes are booked through the end of the year and i'm not sure when their next class will be, but they are definitely worth waiting if you can. The instructors are awesome, the equipment is up to date and the miles are there if you want them. Definitely an A+ company!
     
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  11. Shakeyj

    Shakeyj Bobtail Member

    1
    0
    Nov 7, 2009
    Nashville, TN
    0
    I have been with Falcon for 6 months now running dedicated Toyota out of Memphis Tennessee and can tell you a little about them. To start let
    me tell you first that when GM and Chrysler went Bankrupt Falcon
    lost Millions and is struggling to stay afloat so they are doing all they can
    to cut cost.

    With that in mind I can tell you that all of their equipment is in poor condition the truck I was in the first 5 months had 665000 miles on it when I started driving it and was taken out of service yesterday at 752000 miles to be sold. I brought this truck home the second week I had it and fixed a lot of little things my self that the company would not fix
    like the 12 volt outlets, washer fluid sprayer,front interior lights,map lights
    I was able to get them to fix the sleeper A/C and Heat, Air dump valve,
    adjust the clutch and replace the front tires that were bald.

    The replacment truck has 490000 miles on it and will also need a lot of little things repaired before it is acceptable as far as I'm concerned and will have to have all the tires replaced to meet D.O.T. requirments and is filthy inside and out so maybe in the next couple of weeks I will have time to bring it home and clean the insides and make repairs my self that I am unable to get them to fix. All the trucks in Memphis are 4 to 5 years old and in need of replacment.

    I run out of Nashville and when hired we had a terminal and maintnance shop where we could get supplies and repair parts but 2 months ago they closed it and rented a drop lot on the other side of town laying off about 10 employes at the old terminal so getting the parts I need to fix this truck may not be as easy as the last one.

    They have suspended all bonuses and holiday pay and I was told about the bonus suspension before going to work for them, the holiday pay stoped 1 month after I started.

    Again let me remind you that when GM and Chrysler filed Bankruptcy Falcon lost a lot on money and are doing what it takes to recover and stay in business so I do understand the reasons for most of what they are doing.

    They hired me straight out of school with no OTR experience I had 4 years of yard experience switching trailers for a manufacturing company
    that I was with 22 years but that is nothing when it comes to ORT driving
    and I am very thankful for the chance to get OTR experience as nobody else will hire rookies in this area right now and I will stay with Falcon for at least 1 year to get my experience. Jumping around from job to job will hurt you if you want to work for some of the better companys so bear that in mind when looking at these companys.

    And who knows what the future holds. When Falcon recovers from this loss and things improve I may want to stay with them. Some of the old hands tell me that Falcon was a great place to work before the economy crashed and maybe it will be again.
     
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