In school Monday, looking for job advice for when I graduate

MachiatoMan · Jan 4, 2026

As title says, I'll be starting my CDL school on Monday through Feb 26 at a community college in New Bern. I've been looking around at jobs so I can be prepared for when I graduate, but I also know that my school has connections to TMC and other large scale companies.

I have my tanker endorsement passed and going to get my hazmat once I graduate and have the time to do that, school runs at the same time as the offices so I can't get that until I'm through the course. Mostly looking to get into flatbeds or tanker work. Fuel hauling then transition into cryogenics once I have the experience to qualify for those fields, but will do about anything if it puts food on the table.

I'm 27, have done manual labor with no major issues so not averse to tarping and having to do something physical, but transitioning out of chef work currently.

I've skimmed the jobs section of this website and indeed and I'm not seeing too much opportunity out my way. I have a girl and I'm not looking to spend 2 months out on the road if I can help it, but if needs be, she's loyal and as long as I'm sending money back to her to support, I think we could work it out as we share hobbies and can still communicate and "hang out" together online (though I'm not saying it wouldn't take its toll, she's just fairly antisocial and not too needy) as long as it's for a temporary path.

So far I'm seeing Milton Truck Lines, Coca Cola, Sysco, and Sirva out my way, but would much rather not do Sirva. Closer to Morehead City than New Bern, and Wilmington wouldn't be great for a "home daily" job as that's 1.5hrs from where I live currently.

Does anyone live/know of companies based out this way that are open to hiring grads/have decent home time after training? I say "decent" but it's more of a "would like 3-4 days after a 2 week outing/doing resets at home" if it's further from my home area. I'm not delusional into thinking my first year won't be rough, I know opportunities unlock a lot after that first year and I'll be required to shut up and put in my dues, but I'd also like to be kind to her and not force her into a "when do I even get to see him" situation if I can help it.

Much appreciated for responses!

snowmantrucking101 · Jan 4, 2026

MachiatoMan said: ↑

As title says, I'll be starting my CDL school on Monday through Feb 26 at a community college in New Bern. I've been looking around at jobs so I can be prepared for when I graduate, but I also know that my school has connections to TMC and other large scale companies.

I have my tanker endorsement passed and going to get my hazmat once I graduate and have the time to do that, school runs at the same time as the offices so I can't get that until I'm through the course. Mostly looking to get into flatbeds or tanker work. Fuel hauling then transition into cryogenics once I have the experience to qualify for those fields, but will do about anything if it puts food on the table.

I'm 27, have done manual labor with no major issues so not averse to tarping and having to do something physical, but transitioning out of chef work currently.

I've skimmed the jobs section of this website and indeed and I'm not seeing too much opportunity out my way. I have a girl and I'm not looking to spend 2 months out on the road if I can help it, but if needs be, she's loyal and as long as I'm sending money back to her to support, I think we could work it out as we share hobbies and can still communicate and "hang out" together online (though I'm not saying it wouldn't take its toll, she's just fairly antisocial and not too needy) as long as it's for a temporary path.

So far I'm seeing Milton Truck Lines, Coca Cola, Sysco, and Sirva out my way, but would much rather not do Sirva. Closer to Morehead City than New Bern, and Wilmington wouldn't be great for a "home daily" job as that's 1.5hrs from where I live currently.

Does anyone live/know of companies based out this way that are open to hiring grads/have decent home time after training? I say "decent" but it's more of a "would like 3-4 days after a 2 week outing/doing resets at home" if it's further from my home area. I'm not delusional into thinking my first year won't be rough, I know opportunities unlock a lot after that first year and I'll be required to shut up and put in my dues, but I'd also like to be kind to her and not force her into a "when do I even get to see him" situation if I can help it.

Much appreciated for responses!
Click to expand...

Check with Useless Express = US Xpress & Total Transportation of Mississippi. They train grads and don't require a contract to do so.

Stay far away from Swifty & Knight themselves, even though they merged with Useless & Total a while back.

Bro_Dave · Jan 4, 2026

TMC will fill your need. You'll be home pretty much every weekend.

Allow Me. · Jan 4, 2026

The thing about trucking is, you are working for a transportation industry. Name of the game is transporting freight for manufacturers. The name of the game is not coddling drivers. So this means the job comes first (transporting freight) . FYI, it also means on time, no accidents or claims, etc. Trucking Mgmt. wants continuous business, loyal employees, basically a smooth running operation. Let's talk about drivers for a minute. Yes, they want happy drivers in their fleet, drivers that stay working there. But, are they more interested in coddling drivers or transporting freight ? Read the 2nd sentence above. Can they do both ? Yes, however, and trust me on this, they will definitely have to deliver the freight as a first priority rather than get driver Fred home to spend time with family etc. He will get home at some time, just probably not exactly when he wants. Can you imagine United airlines re-scheduling flights to cater to pilots who want their time off ? Or the railroad. My whole point, just be flexable. Luck to Ya'

Chinatown · Jan 4, 2026

New Bern being East of I-95 puts some limits on choices of trucking companies. A few won't hire East of I-95. Just have to apply and find out.
TMC is a good choice for decent pay and home time. Contact the company and ask if you're in the hiring area.
Flatbed Trucking, Hauling & Shipping Carrier | TMC Transportation

GreenPete359 · Jan 4, 2026

Don’t be afraid of knocking on some doors. If you know of any local businesses that own a truck, talk to them. You might end up with a job where the truck is only part of the job.

Moosetek13 · Jan 5, 2026

Allow Me. said: ↑

The thing about trucking is, you are working for a transportation industry. Name of the game is transporting freight for manufacturers. The name of the game is not coddling drivers. So this means the job comes first (transporting freight) . FYI, it also means on time, no accidents or claims, etc. Trucking Mgmt. wants continuous business, loyal employees, basically a smooth running operation. Let's talk about drivers for a minute. Yes, they want happy drivers in their fleet, drivers that stay working there. But, are they more interested in coddling drivers or transporting freight ? Read the 2nd sentence above. Can they do both ? Yes, however, and trust me on this, they will definitely have to deliver the freight as a first priority rather than get driver Fred home to spend time with family etc. He will get home at some time, just probably not exactly when he wants. Can you imagine United airlines re-scheduling flights to cater to pilots who want their time off ? Or the railroad. My whole point, just be flexable. Luck to Ya'
Click to expand...

At Swift they usually got me home within a day of my ht request, plus or minus. Very seldom did I get home more than 1 day past the requested date.
In fact, one the the few valid reasons for flatly turning down a load was for a home time request. No questions asked, the load pplan was removed and another was sent that would either get me home or closer to it.

A few times in my 14 years with them a planner would call me directly and ask me if I could please do that load as they had no one else, and they would make a special effort to route me home directly after. I always did it, and so did they.

Loyalty is always a two way street, and everyone I worked with at Swift recognized that.

Chinatown · Jan 5, 2026

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BrothaTrucka513 · Jan 5, 2026

snowmantrucking101 said: ↑

Check with Useless Express = US Xpress & Total Transportation of Mississippi. They train grads and don't require a contract to do so.

Stay far away from Swifty & Knight themselves, even though they merged with Useless & Total a while back.
Click to expand...

Swift owns Knight, Knight owns US Xpress and US Xpress bailed out Total, yet Total pays better and has more consistent freight than US Xpress. Please don't go to US Xpress because they are a bottom feeder company that will have you doing more sitting than anything. If putting food on the table is your goal, avoid that USX.
I'd went to orientation for them in June of last year and they had no trucks available for 1/3rd of the class. More cons of orientation: low quality breakfast at hotel; low quality orientation that didn't even discuss benefits; I left with more questions than answers post-orientation but couldn't find a soul who knew anything.
I ended up convincing the fleet manager to book me a ticket to wherever the co-driver was so that I could hit the ground and start making money. Coast to coast loads paid crumbs. They'll opt to put driver's with little to no experience in the latest model trucks, but put driver's with a year or more experience in 2021 Freightliners (with #### near 500k miles on the Odometer). We were seeing a lot of newer model trucks totaled and we knew why. It didn't take long to realize that I wasn't gonna be making money at all.

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In school Monday, looking for job advice for when I graduate

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