Starting out for rookies

Okay, I just signed up to the forum and I am looking for current information on a few companies listed below.

I have been reading these forums for about 3 months and I have found a bunch of useful information on here.

I have concluded that for me the options for becoming a Professional Truck Driver have been narrowed down to a few companies that provide training.

1. FFE
2. Prime Inc.
3. Roehl
4. Swift

I have applied to both FFE and Prime Inc.
The other 2 I haven't done much with. After reading a bunch of information on here and other sites I have not much information on Roehl. And Swift is on the bottom of my list.

What I would like to know is some good feedback, both Positive and Negative in regards to the choices I have made.

Considering the price of private schooling and that I am currently employed I don't have a bunch of money to outlay on school, and I am trying to avoid getting a loan.


Keeping in mind that I have read alot of the forums on here. I am a NuBe and would like to make an informed decision. So hit me with them.

 

Best thing is just to put in your time OTR and get the experience

 

I heard at one time you can get a government grant that will pay for school room an board included one company u might look in to is Conway truckload they do a trainning program I think good luck

 

When you wanna be's or more inexperienced drivers look are investigating trucking companies to work for, spend more time looking at their freight base. This is especially true in this recession.

Reefer companies are good to train with because they have a huge freight base. BUT you will sit a lot too, and that cuts into the money.

I would steer clear of Prime, not because they are a bad company, but because when you are new, you don't even know how you like to run. More importantly you can't even comprehend the pressured in the trucking business when you are tired and fatigued. If one does go with Prime, better go with "Eyes wide open" kiss the wife or girlfriend goodbye because you are going to be married to your truck. Of course for some that might be a good thing.

 

I just got my Class A CDL today (WHOO_HOO!) and am looking for a job. Due to issues at home, I really don't want to be away for a week at a time. The only big rig companies that don't require prior experience are the big ones (Schneider, US Xpress, Werner, etc.), but that's all OTR to start off.

Anyone know what kind of local jobs or dedicated/intermodal options someone can get without exp.? Money is not a major concern at the moment, it's mostly the hours/home time.

 

First off where do you live?

Congrats on your CDL!!!!!

 

Congrats happyserial!! and Welcome to the Truckers Report!!!

and yes where do you Live?
finding 'local' work with a brand new CDL A is pretty much not going to happen and even the old ''I only need 6 months'' to go local is today going to be hard considering you would be going up for a job against drivers with years of OTR experience. I would check Craigslist under transport for local driving jobs. Have you considered getting your B? Bus driving? Dump truck/construction/garbage etc would be local jobs I would think you could get depending on where you live.

Good luck on your job search!

 

I live in Memphis, TN. I don't know if it's different for other states, but in TN a Class A lets you drive Class B,C, and D vehicles, too. So yeah, any Class B or C jobs would be fine as well. Like I said, money is secondary to home time.

 

Hey Serial....probably apples to oranges BUT...I live in the Bay Area, Ca, where there are tons of trucking companies. I went to school and was told there is no way you will get a local job fresh out of school. What I did was as I was driving around town I would look at all the day cabs, write down there name and do a little research on them and applied at the ones I liked. Even the ones who said 1 year plus experience needed to apply. To make a short story long I landed a local job EVEN BEFORE I was out of school. I was persistant in buggy the driving manager of the company to take me out for a test drive. Once we went out for the drive he looked over at me and said I was hired. It was hauling doubles with no experience. I worked there for a while but was offered a job driving a 5000 gallon fuel truck, class B, for a bit more $$ and closer to home. A bigger truck doean't always mean for $$. Anyway Late$ and good luck!

 

True but the B work might just bite you in the butt if you ever want a Class A job down the road, the B experiance wont be worth anything.


American Trucker