Chicago Trucking Companies

If it's a 1099 company, and you have a good record, you don't need to drive for them. Those companies are for drivers who have had hiccups in the industry and need to rehab their careers. Some have violations, positive drug tests, or any other issues thay keeps a reputable company from hiring them. I did the 1099 thing for a few years. I had a positive drug test, and later on an accident on my record. Once all of that got cleared up, I was able to get to a reputable carrier. T

hose 1099 companies will probably offer an exorbitant amount of money per mile, to bait you. The average pay for an experienced driver is 55 to 65 cpm right now, most drivers will be around 60 cpm or lower. The Chicago companies will probably offer you 70 cpm or higher. You'll have to take out your own taxes and buy your own insurance so by the time you do both of those, you'll be making what the average driver makes, perhaps even less.

They will get you up there, wine and dine you, treat you well honestly. On the first day, you'll do the drug test, and they'll have you sign some papers. I'm here to tell you, you'll be signing off on all kinds of foolery. They are definitely screwing you. They take money out of your check for escrow. 200 bucks a week or so til it comes up to 2000 bucks, or more. The paperwork says you get it back when you quit. You ain't getting that back. You may as well chalk that to the game. You'll run really good initially because the escrow is coming out.

Once the escrow comes out, then you're barely running 2500 miles per week. One thing about these 1099 Chicago companies, they love running the northeast, east coast, up and down I-95. You'll do some NYC runs. I guarantee it.

It wasn't all bad for me, because I knew what I was getting into. I was able to take care of my business, rehab my career, and move on. They treated me well. I kept my head down and ran the miles. You can't make a career out of those jobs. If your record is good, there are reputable companies like GP Transco, Triton Logistics, or HMD. I believe all of them are W-2 companies. I know for sure GP Transco is. Hell, look at Nussbaum Transportation down the highway on 55.There guys on here who have worked for them in recent years and done well there.

If you're looking for a good place to work, amd have a decent record, post your experience level and location, and we will help you.

 

From what I've seen of GP Transco, I believe they are either Lithuanian or Latvian (certainly one of those Baltic countries), which are NOT Slavic, so don't lump then in with your average "Boris Badanov" Chicago Russian mob companies. These countries HATE Russia, and are all EU and NATO members today.

Also, man, their trucks are top-notch, with FULL air disc brakes, tractor and trailer, and are well maintained. Your average Slavic cr@p company drives old, poorly maintained junk.

 

They are 1099, which means if they provide the truck, pick your loads, etc they are tax criminals and they will steal money from your pay, probably not return any required deposits, or disappear with no notice if the IRS or state comes after them for various issues. They'll ignore HOS & maintenance which puts you on the hook for inspections & wreck your PSP. It's like borrowing money from the mafia.

Since they are 1099, you will need to put aside 25-30% of all settlement checks to pay taxes to state, Social Security, IRS. If you doubt pay those taxes quarterly you will pay a penalty.

 

There are some above average Private OTR/Local Carrier gigs in Chicago area , why even take a chance on a deadbeat.
Simoniz Wax Romeoville
Bagcraft Chicago
Ecolab Joliet
Freeman McCormick Place , Chicago
Upstaging Kankakee

Good Luck

 

HMD is eastern Europe...they have option 1099 or w2

 

there are good companies among them with new trucks and maintenance, I have one co trucks parked across from me , new Volvo with same drivers for years , home every weekend , they seem happy ....I'm sure there are ton more , just need to find them