Advice & Recommendations

I need some advice and recommendations. Let me start by saying that I currently do NOT have my cdl but I will be getting it soon through a community college. I will then be doing OTR training with a company for 6 months. The do not pay well and I don't plan on it being a permanent thing. When my 6 months is up, I'll be moving on. I will NOT need home time at all. I'm 51 and want to make as much as possible to retire in 4 years so I'll be working and living in the truck and saving 95% of what I make.

Here's my questions:

1. I've heard the Chicago Slavic companies pay well but there's always issues. I'm not one that will need to take days off or home time and I noticed a lot of people that work for them are whiny little #####es that need to be home twice a month. I do not. Does this give me an advantage so that the companies will respect me more and not leave me stranded somewhere?

2. I do not want to work for a company that requires me to touch the freight. I prefer to be paid 1099 and worry about my own taxes etc. To work 1099 with their equipment, do I have to have my own leased truck, insurance, authority, etc?

3. Will I be able to get on with one of these companies with only 6 months of experience?

4. After the first 6 months with my second Chicago company, I will need to take off for 2 months for a surgery. These companies seem to have a bad reputation for screwing people that take time off. I want to stick with one company but if I don't get this surgery, things could go terribly bad for me. The surgery is going to be done overseas where it's affordable and I need time to recover. Are they compassionate when it comes to things like this?

5. Can you recommend some good companies that won't screw me and pay like I need to be paid? I have a list I'm looking at but could always use more and others' opinions.

Thanks for any info and help you can give.

 

First, thanks for answering all my questions. You've given me a lot to think about with your long, well thought out and informative response.

Second, I am well aware of how 1099's work. I am current business owner and use 1099 sub-contractors, HOWEVER, I do NOT own a Slavic trucking company that skirts around rules, hence the reason I asked for advice from someone that does know about it.

Did you even read what the post?

 

Let me reiterate this..... I do NOT need home time. Thanks for reading the full post & answering all my questions thoroughly though. Your answers were very insightful and full of knowledge and wisdom. J/k

 

Thanks for the insight. Are you not able to answer my questions like the other gentlemen?