24yo no-lifer, need company / newbie advice.

Most decent companies do have PTO (paid time off) for full time employees. For instance the company I work for offers one week (five working days) the first year. I’ve been with them for six years now and have been up to three weeks off for a year now.

 

Where do you plan to hang out overseas?
There's drivers on here hanging out in South America, Europe, Africa, Taiwan, Philippines, China, Thailand.

 

Also, wait for it......Swifty. They have flatbed division plus other's if that doesn't trip your fancy.

 

He’s eventually going heavyhaul. Those are stick and brick companies. He needs to look at companies like EW Wylie, ATS, BULLDOG, Rinaudo, RE West, LoneStar….then work his way up to companies like Keen, JK Hackl,and that company that @kylefitzy drives for…can’t remember the name. And then the ultimate…Mammoet.

 

watch this guy

 

Sure are a bunch of negative Nancy’s in here. Any company that wouldn’t let a driver take a week to two weeks off after working for three months is not worth working for. Even as a New driver.

if I were starting over and wanted to get into specialized I would look at ATS. They take new drivers and train them in flats and steps and eventually you work your way up. They have one of, if not the most diversified fleets of trailers in the USA. Just stay a company driver and don’t get talked into leasing a truck.

some guys like the bigger companies and the support systems they typically have in place. Others like the more independent driver experience at the smaller companies. I think smaller companies have a much steeper learning curve when starting out. It’s very much sink or swim where I’m at currently.

edit to add: most say to get into to heavy haul you need flatbed experience, or it at least helps a lot. And you need to work for a company that does heavy haul. (obviously)
That’s why a recommend ATS, they do both so not need to change companies.

 

Go snchieder SNI. Go tanker and get all endorsements. Tanker companies after the first year pay well. Prime does food grade, you might be able to start with them.

Or stay with flatbedding. Ghent ky has a big steel mill there.

I have flat bedded. Dry box and reefer is much cleaner. I have tanked too.

 

Rinaudo does heavy haul and hires new cdl school grads.
Have to live within 75 miles of Jacksonville, Florida.