Starting out for rookies

I am a newbie trying to get a job. I have a clean record and did well in CDL school worked for the last company for 12 years and the company before that for 22 years. I am running into road blocks. Every company that I have contacted says you have no experience.
When these companies start taking new drivers and training them then I will say there is a driver shortage. The only driver shortage is at the Mega bottom feeder companies that treat the drivers like crap and pay nothing.

 

What companies have you been looking at? Gotta crawl b 4 you can walk

 

Unfortunately that's what your going to have to do. Get a job with one of them, get a few months experience then go with a better company. That's what I do with the new recruits I deal with. Sometimes you have to suck it up, just to get the OTR experience. Send me an email to cheryl_webb@live.com

 

When I say companies I am not talking about bottom feeders. I am talking about legit companies that take care of employee's and have decent cents per mile and good benefits. Companies that you can make a career with. When those companies start hiring newbie's then I will say they have a driver shortage in the USA. I am in Florida so even some of the bottom feeder companies want consider me.
It is frustrating.

 

Hello. I am trying to decide which company to start my career with. I've been researching Baylor, US Express, Burris Logistics, Heartland Express, Crete, Central Fridge and Schneider. I would prefer to haul dry van, but may be interested in TMC for flatbed. I will graduate from a local CC in mid Dec and need help from you experienced drivers, Thanks, Dirtynecker.

 

Hi, I recently got my CDL and leave for orientation at Roehl Transportation in Gary,IN om Sat Sept 1. I worked as a P&D Driver for Fed Ex for about a year and half. After getting laid off I decide to get my CDL with a local school in NJ. Everything I have read about Roehl has been positive except for like 2 post that are 4 or more years old. I chose them since they would take me fresh out of school, have decent starter pay, great safety record and what really sold me is the HomeTime Plus fleet. I will post updates on here and at truckers forum for other new drivers and inform them of my adventures with Roehl. Hope all my research pays off. See you on the road

 

Yeah if you've been out on the road and driven on your own there's really nothing to it what it really comes down to is which company you prefer to drive for i've always found the smaller companies the best way to go they seem to give a more personal service and actually know who there talking and dealing with unlike JB Hunt or Swift etc etc.

 

Thanks for the info. I am still a few months away and look forward to hearing as many opinions as possible. Be safe. regards, Dirtynecker.

 

I'm in Florida, too. I've been researching smaller companies and networking like crazy, chatting up drivers whenever the situation permits. My plan is to land a job with one of the smaller companies to get that needed experience under my belt before going after the position I really want. I'm willing to forgo a higher pay for more home time, such as once a week, 7/7, 14/7 or something along those lines. If I get real lucky after CDL graduation, I'll snag a local or statewide gig but I'm committed to staying away from the larger carriers with questionable reputations, even to obtain that initial experience. My approach obviously isn't for everyone but it's my plan and I'm sticking to it.

 

That really sounds like a good plan. Hometime is not real important to me. My kids are grown and being away from home will not be nearly as hard as it would have been when they were younger. The total pay package is more important for me. However,if I could find a good fit with a local or regional job, that would be ideal. Schneider seems to have lots of options, but need to get experience before any of the big companies give "good" jobs. Regards, Dirtynecker.