Best companies for a CDL holder in Chicago, IL?

If you continue with Swift, tell them you want Refrigerated Division.
This way, if you later decide to leave Swift Refrigerated, you'll be in demand at dozens of companies because you have refrigerated experience.
During downturns or recession in our economy, food & medicine still has to be shipped and those are refrigerated freight.

 

OP, you git some good choices. I'd pick Magnum out of that list. They're heavy in your area, and you'll need hazmat running with them. I think they may even pay for you to get your hazmat.

 

YRC is in Chicago Heights off of 394&Route 30. I believe they hire with no experience.

 

Much of that depends on your driver manager, and the terminal you work out of.
I have always been at the smaller terminals, which seem to be more driver friendly.

The 2 terminals in your area are Gary, IN and Manteno, IL, both smaller terminals.
Of the two I would choose Manteno. They seem a bit more laid back and more to my style.
I don't have personal experience working at either. My opinion is just what I feel when I get through those places.

China likes to push reefer over dry. But you can make the same money with either, and dry usually has better working hours unless you like working the wee hours.

My time at Swift has been good. Many of the stories you read about are from drivers that are unhappy because they were lacking in some way.

 

I agree with China pushing reefer, because of the versatility of a reefer trailer. You can haul temp control or dry freight. I've done dry, reefer, and flatbed and I've found reefer is the most steady money of the 3. Folks gotta eat year round, on top of the versatility.

 

Fair enough.
But dry freight will always be there as well.

Being able to do dry and wet does give an advantage at times. But I would not give up my dry lifestyle for that small advantage.

 

I like their running lanes, the fact that they're primarily reefer, and you'll make very good money there, even for a new driver. They pay for your hazmat, and they have incentives. Not to mention the equipment looks very good, as they run Freightliner and Peterbilt trucks. I felt they were a pretty straightforward company concerning how they like to do business. Most importantly, they are all about safety. If a driver has a CSA score that's too high, they won't even hire him/her. I almost went there before I got hired at my current company, but my CSA score at the time was too high. It's under control now, but if I suddenly became unhappy where I am now, they'd be at the top of my list.

 

Lots of tanker companies on the Southside and NWI area, Many wil train you, Quality carriers and Trimac are 2 that will take you.
Very good money in this side of work. Local or Regional which is usually out and back runs maybe a night or 2 in the truck.
And it's NOT hard work

 

Know anything about this one? Hires new cdl school grads. Tanker/hazmat.
Chicago Service Center
2031 North Griffith Boulevard
Griffith IN 46319
ACV Enviro
www.acvenviro.com