Where do we go from here?

My husband and I have 1 and 1/2 years driving team experience. We have taken the last 3 months off thinking we needed a 'normal' life and 'normal' jobs...but have found that we have just become more and more yearning for the open road and the driving job we miss so much! We both have hazmat and tanker endorsements....we like to run at least 5000 miles per week. We didn't HATE the old company we were with, but even after a 6000 mile week if we NEEDED a night down for showers, laundry, and sleep, they would offer to either give us a service failure (load refusal), or run the load tired in dirty laundry and our 6th day in a row with out a shower. They were fond of 54 mph dispatches for loads everywhere...including PA to CA...

We live in Phoenix, AZ and were thinking of the following companies:

GTI
Hill Bros.
Roehl
Crete
AutoZone
Interstate Dist.
Watkins Shepard

We both have clean MVR. I have one DOT reportable on my DAC, but it wasn't an actual accident, 12 months ago. Any helpful advice or information would be appreciated.

Thanks Guys!

 

Hill Bros. was actually our first choice, but I have to admit, that after talking to the recruiting department and dealing with the whole process over the last week, we are a bit discouraged! We had high hopes for the company, have heard great things, and were VERY excited about the lease program....but the person we got stuck with in recruiting (Paula) didn't know ANYTHING about the company, the equipment, etc. She was unable to answer my most basic questions, was not forthcoming with information regarding timeline, interview, orientation, etc. At this point, we are still keeping them in the running (don't want to write them off because of one person not knowing what she's talking about) but have already had an offer from a different company, whom we actually contact AFTER Hill Bros. The other company already got everything done...why is it taking Hill Bros. so long? Every time I ask her for the next step, or a time line for what we are looking at....she kinda blows me off. This is a big decision for us (as it is for everyone) we are going to be leaving our current jobs...risking financial hardship, and the possibility of after orientation, maybe not even having a job (no guarantees obviously, and you just never know!)....we hate to think that we may possibly be making the wrong choice....HELP! lol

 

We like to run hard, between 5500 to 6500 miles per week. we usually stay out for 5-9 weeks at a time...but eventually you need time to do laundry, grocery shop, and catch a few hours of un-interrupted sleep on a non-moving truck...not to mention we are married....ya know? Our old company didn't have the eta/pta system, which both of these do. We were expected to be on the board within minuts of finishing a load...no matter what! We once went 3 1/2 weeks without being able to do laundry and over a week without a shower...a dispatcher tried to tell me I had to leave the terminal within 20 minutes of getting there because they had a hot load we couldn't refuse...but there were 40 other trucks idling in the parking lot...I just don't understand that kinda crap!

We have no desire to jump head first right into a least program, but Hill Bros. lease program is attractive for future planning. So now, we are up in the air with two companies that are completely different...we are hearing really great things about both, and are having a hard time choosing:

Interstate Dist. - or - Hill Bros.

Anyone have any other input we should think about before a final decision?

 

Not on all their trucks. We would most likely be in a Columbia, which I have heard okay things about. I have to admit, I was really excited about a volvo with the bottom work station! Our main draw back for Interstate right now is the equipment.

 

Like I haven't heard THAT one before!
But good punch line, I actually get it a lot.