The "Final Four"

I just graduated from Driving school on 5/13 and tested at the DMV obtaining my class A with all endorsements (D/T, Tankers, Hazmat). I have been a member here a couple of months and have been reading as much as possible about prospective companies. In addition I drove about a 20 mile stretch of I-80 each day to and from school. I carried a pad of paper and would try and write down as many companies as possible and conduct research on them.

As has been said countless times there is no absolutely "perfect" company. You try to research and pick what you think will be the best fit for your individual situation. Some of what I have read here in conjunction with talking to company drivers and the type of response I received when I called the company to ask some questions.

What follows are 3 lists. List #1 is "popular" companies that I never even applied to. List #2 is companies that I applied to and received a pre-hire from, but eliminated from consideration. List #3 is the "Final Four" that I am going to pick form in the next day or two.



LIST #1---Did not apply
Werner
Swift
CRE
Roehl
Knight
Prime
Watkins & Shepard
PAM
Covenant
KLLM
USA Truck


LIST #2---Applied and pre-hired-eliminated from consideration
BTC
US Express
Crete
R Delivery
ITS
Star Transportation (IL)
Con-Way Freight**
Cassens Transport**

**I applied at these 2 companies but my application is still being reviewed to determine if the company wants to further consider me.

LIST #3'The "Final Four"

Schneider--Green Bay, WI
Position: Driver on dedicated Target account. Running refers from Cedar Falls, IA DC to target stores (1-5 per load) staying within the following states: IA, IL, OH, MI, MO

Estimated miles per week: 2200

Pay: 30.5cpm to start 33cpm after 6 months 36cpm after 12 months

Home time: 5 days out 2 days home per week. (2 days home will not always be a weekend)

Orientation and training: 6 day orientation and 2 weeks with TE. $300/week orientation & training pay

Bonus program?: Yes, based upon number of factors

APU?: No
Inverters?: only up to 300w that will plug into 12v outlet.
Idle policy: 10% to achieve bonus

Equipment: Primarily Freightliner 10 speeds governed at 60mph


TMC--DesMoines, IA
Position: Flatbed driver. Anywhere east of the Mississippi and as far west as Denver.

Estimated miles per week: 2500

Pay: Percentage pay or CPM. Percentage starts at 23% but can adjust monthly based upon performance. Most common range seems to be 26-28% CPM is 30cpm to start, 33cpm after 6 months and 38cpm after 12 months.

Home time: Company states will be home 46 of 52 weekends per year,

Orientation and training: 12 days orientation and 5 weeks with TE. $350/week orientation & training pay

Bonus program: yes, based upon several factors

APU?: Some trucks have them and all new trucks will have them
Inverters?: Yes, any size so long as it is approved and installed by TMC shop (1 time $180 installation charge to driver)
Idle policy: 10% (less if you have an APU)

Equipment: Peterbilt 13 speeds governed at 62mph


Maverick--Little Rock, AR
Position: Flatbed driver. Similar Geographic area to TMC

Estimated miles per week: 2200

Pay: 33cpm to start 36cpm after 3 months 41cpm after 6 months

Home time: 45 of 52 weekends per year

Orientation & training: 5 day orientation and 21 days with TE. $500/week orientation and training pay

Bonus program: Yes, based upon several factors

APU?: no
Inverters: All OK
Idle policy: None. However, "excessive" idling can effect fuel bonus

Equipment: Freightliner Automatics governed at 65 mph


Luckey Transport'Streator, IL
Position: Dry van driver with a service area of IL, IN, OH, KY with routes to Minneapolis, Dallas, and Atlanta for regular customers.

Estimated miles per week: 2700-3000

Pay: 34cpm to start 36cpm after 6 months and 41cpm after 12 months

Home time: Home every weekend for at least 45 hours

Orientation & training: 3 day orientation and 1 week with TE (unless TE says a 2nd week is needed). $64 per day pay for orientation and training

Bonus program: yes. Based upon 5 factors (On time delivery, attendance, no tickets, no accidents, and idle time)
EDIT: They also have a profit sharing program for all employees. Over the past 3 years it has averaged an annual payment to drivers of between 2-3k.

APU?: New trucks will have battery powered APU
Inverters: all OK, must be installed by company shop (Driver provide inverter-no charge for installation)
Idle policy: 25%

Equipment: Kenworth 10 speeds, ungoverned.

 

I should add that the vacation time, holidays, and cost of benefits are very similar for all of the final fours. CLose enough that the differences are inconsequential.

 

Yeah, Luckey was my target all along. They don't always have open slots and don't really advertise their openings when they have them. Pretty much word as mouth the only method of getting the word out on open spots. They also have a tanker division hauling acids and a dry bulk division for plastics. Both of those divisions are higher paying and home daily so if a guy does well for them their is an opportunity to get a "local" type job without having to switch companies.

I feel pretty fortunate to have the opportunity to start with them.

 

Schneider does have tuition reimbursement ($150/mo)
The companies I listed as not applying to were not all because they were "bad" companies (although some certainly are), they may not have fit what I was looking for for other reasons (miles, hometime, etc).

 

Oh, tuition reimbursement wasn't on my list of criteria for any company.