About to graduate, looking at carriers now…

Discussion in 'The Welcome Wagon' started by SGT_A-RAY, Oct 21, 2022.

  1. SGT_A-RAY

    SGT_A-RAY Bobtail Member

    1
    2
    Oct 21, 2022
    Central Indiana
    0
    Newbie to the forum!

    Father and husband, sole earner, and needed a new gig, so here we are lol…

    I graduate next week, and need to get working quick. I have a job lined up with Carter Express (I live right by the IN terminal), but as I’m an Army vet and my Post-9/11 benefits run out soon, I’m looking for carriers that are set up for VA OJT.

    I was a truck driver in the Army, and I used to dig flatbed type stuff. I’ve been looking at TMC and Maverick mostly, and POSSIBLY Schneider if they can offer an account I like, though flatbed appeals the most.

    plan on getting hazmat/tanker/doubles-triples in the next couple weeks, but wondering if anyone could help shed some light on other carriers I might be missing? Many thanks in advance!
     
    MartinFromBC and Chinatown Thank this.
  2. Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.

  3. Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

    68,033
    142,281
    Aug 28, 2011
    Henderson, NV & Orient
    0
    The good money is with cryogenic tankers and LTL such as Old Dominion.
    ~
    Maverick (glass division)
    TMC
    Melton Truck Line
    All are good places to get started for flatbed.
     
    Last edited: Oct 21, 2022
    MartinFromBC Thanks this.
  4. lual

    lual Road Train Member

    3,256
    5,868
    Oct 22, 2020
    SW Georgia
    0
    Right out of CDL school--you really don't have enough experience for cryogenic tankers, yet. :(

    Old Dominion is very likely more money than the other remaining suggestions above--and they may hire you with no driving experience--depending on their local demand for drivers, and if they hire from your CDL school.

    Since you're a vet--they may well also give you special consideration for that, too.

    With Old Dominion--or any of the LTL carriers--you'll need hazmat, tanker, and doubles/triples endorsements to work with them.

    Also--with Old Dominion--you'd very likely be home daily.

    That's obviously a super-important consideration, since you're a husband and a father (especially with young children).

    The flatbed options above are all very good--but you won't be home daily with any of them.

    --Lual
     
  5. Eight Omens

    Eight Omens Light Load Member

    163
    370
    Oct 10, 2022
    Central Texas
    0
    First welcome home brother. I am getting my creds back this month classes start Monday. Through my digging many of the tanker companies want you to have some OTR experience first. I did flatbed my first go around but have been looking for tanker opportunities as well. Schneider takes students/recent grads and has all divisions van/reefer/tanker, no belly dumps or hoppers as far as I understand. A couple notes were that you need to be in the hiring area for the division you want, and they can pre-hire you if you are 30 days from graduation. If nothing else, you could get the tanker experience there and then move to a cryo company. I called them just out of curiosity to see what they had in my area. They have a dedicated/regional near me and maybe a flatbed. I would need to move closer to the Tanker area that I could transfer into once I am settled in with them. For me not too big of a deal my wife and I were looking to move to a couple places a few hours from where we are now. I cannot think off the top of my head, but since you were an 88M some of the mega carriers will count your military driving as experience for their pay scale. The forums resident company advisor may have some ideas of where you can go right off the bat for tanker. Calling out to @Chinatown he needs the skinny! Let us know what city and state you live in that will help Chinatown narrow your search.

    As a side note my first go around, I got suckered into the mega fleets lease purchase program. I advise staying away from them. lots of threads about them. If you cannot get into Tanker right away, fleece purchase aside, flatbed was making good money back then and appears to be making good now. Home time also seems to be a lot better with flatbed now too. A few other positives with flatbed too, if you have trouble getting into tanker right off the bat, I recommend at least giving flatbed a look.
     
    Last edited: Oct 21, 2022
  6. Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

    68,033
    142,281
    Aug 28, 2011
    Henderson, NV & Orient
    0
  7. Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

    68,033
    142,281
    Aug 28, 2011
    Henderson, NV & Orient
    0
  8. Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

    68,033
    142,281
    Aug 28, 2011
    Henderson, NV & Orient
    0
    Last edited: Oct 21, 2022
  9. Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

    68,033
    142,281
    Aug 28, 2011
    Henderson, NV & Orient
    0
    AWL Transport
    ~
    Need a CDL - If you are over 22, have a clean MVR, have a clean criminal background - We have a solution for you. Contact our recruiting department and ask about our in house "Tuition-Free" CLD training program. TLX will hire and pay you to obtain your Class A CDL, train you to secure Flatbed freight, and put you on the path to make $60,000 to $80,000 per year at TLX.
     
  • Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.