Where Did You Start Driver?

Hi Everyone.

I've been lurking around for 14 years. It all started way back in 2008 reading about Evertruckerr's adventures at Crete. Anyone remember him? A few years later I officially joined but have never posted. Since then I would peak in from time to time seeing how life was treating everyone. Like many of you, I also found particular joy living vicariously through Wsyrob's journey with Superior Carriers. Both have been instrumental in my interest in trucking. I've seen a lot of drivers come and go over the years. Many seem to have simply vanished. I know with changes in life things can change quickly and before you know it, for one reason or another, you move on.

I'm a veteran who got my CDL and all endorsements 2 years ago. I graduated from a 237 hour course at a local technical college north of Atlanta in early March 2020. Within a matter of weeks the world shut down with Covid. Now in 2022 my hope is that better days/weeks/months/years are ahead of us. I am finally making the leap into trucking. Although I have my CDL and all endorsements, I have no experience.

They say that companies are hurting for drivers right now but I am not sure how much I believe that. My hope is to get hired on by a good company that is not a Mega. I'm not look for a blue screw, or being stuck in a slow wagon in the fast lane type of company. My apologies if you work for either. It is not directed toward you, rather how Mega companies in general treat their drivers.

My Stats:

CDL
All endorsements
No restrictions
Interested in tanker, dry van, or reefer
Areas: Atlanta and Central Florida (Orlando/Lakeland area)
I have family in both areas so could work out of either but to be honest am tired of the cold. I've lived in both New England and Alaska for several years and am ready to have nicer weather year round so leaning toward making central Florida home.
Although open to OTR with no experience, definitely prefer regional or local.
No touch freight or primarily drop and hook would be ideal. We can all have a wish list right?

Some questions for you. Before I ask, thanks in advance for reading this short novel, and for being honest and straight forward in your answers to these questions. I've enjoyed reading a lot of your adventures, some more than others, and look forward to reading about your true experience and learning from your advice.

Questions:

Who was your first company?

What's the good, the bad, and the down right ugly about this company?

If you had to do it all over again, knowing what you now know as a veteran driver, what company would you go with if you had a CDL but no experience?