6 months Solo driver, considering trying to find a new company

The CDL job market is not in your favor right now....especially for newer drivers like yourself.

Thus -- I recommend that you put in at least a full year with Swift -- before moving on.

In the meantime -- make good use of your time -- if you don't already have those CDL endorsements, go back & get them: tanker, hazmat...& doubles/triples.

MORE ENDORSEMENTS = MORE OPPORTUNITIES = MORE MONEY

-- L

 

Up until a couple decades ago, being type 1 diabetic was virtually a ‘hard denial’ for obtaining a CDL in the USA.
Will those now relaxed rules be reversed? If things are going half way decent with your current employer, I would advise to keep going with what you have. Now is not the time jump.

 

You are probably going to have to stick it out another 6 months. By next summer things in the trucking industry should be looking up and with that year behind you more doors will open up. I hear mixed about Marten, think they require 6 months experience last I checked. Dont know what their health insurance cost is. Holland enterprises has a deal that once you have been with them 2 years they pay all of your health insurance but they require a year experience and you need to lhave true otr mountain driving knowledge. 800 a month? How the hell can anyone afford that? Wow. The crazy thing is you never hear about any kind of fix to our Healthcare situation. The news spends all their time talking about stupid nonsense instead of what really matters to us working stiffs like healthcare wages etc.

 

As a small business owner, I am paying $3400 per month for my wife and I. $9000 deductible.

 

WTH???

 

Go do food service. Physical work but most offer good benefits.

 

WTF . I looked into Kaiser a few months back and it was just over 1/2 of the $3400. $1800 IIRC. Oh wait, that was for 1. I didn’t asked for 2.

 

Your best bet is to find a union job. Unions have the best healthcare costs for the driver and some also for the drivers family.
I'm not big on unions, but in your case, that would be the best option.
Lots of union driving jobs in NY. Some, not all, will require 12 mos experience and will need all the endorsements.
~
Where are you in New York? Maybe some drivers can give you some leads to union driving jobs.

 

I’d suck it up for another 6 months and then yeah, see if you can get an LTL job. They usually have better group plans. Don’t know where in NY you’re at but go stop in at some of the local LTL terminals and see if they’ll talk to you with 6 months. They might.