4 Companies, 4 Hard Choices

Swift isn't as bad as they used to be....they're a decent choice to start your career...swift has a terminal in ocala Florida as well.

 

Swift is a ok company to me. You will get your CDL thru them if you stay strong in their academy. Their instructors are not the best, but they do their job and you will have to do yours. Its just that your first year will be very hard with them. But after a year, after proving yourself you can do the job you will do better. Their training may not be the best because they have some bad mentors to but you will get the training you will need to drive. Good Luck

 

I would say that all of the mega-carriers are pretty much the same. They will all tell you the same miles and home time and pay can vary a little. Be weary about pay though. Just because the pay is high doesn't mean at all that you are going to make more money. You can be paid $.52 a mile but it you are sitting in a truck stop not moving you aren't going to make crap. Sometimes the ones that pay less run more miles.

 

I have a 'work smarter, not harder' philosophy that was summed up neatly by another TTR member - less miles, more money.

Why work your butt off chasing 3200 miles per week for the same take-home paycheck as another driver that's putting in 1800 miles per week?

Out of the choices that you mentioned, Prime rises to the top, without question.

 

I started with stevens and stayed with stevens. All and all they have been a good company. I don't have any major complaints about them. They treated me fairly and kept me running. The people are friendly and care. But it is a training company if you want to make money serious money you gotta be an otr trainer. I have been all over the map with stevens. I was in their school I drove company and leased a truck and otr trainer and now work as instructor.

 

Pretty much all starter companies are the same. Stay clean for a year, get experience and a whole new set of doors will open up for you. Good Luck!

 

Or try for a good company that trains and people stay till retirement!

 

While I am only a recent school graduate myself (got my CDL this week), I too am struggling with who to start with to get further training and that first year of experience. Leaning towards Roehl (I like the fact they're not just using students to form a team). My resume looks fairly impressive and I've had preHires from all those I applied to who were hiring in my area.

wsyrob, who might be some of those second level companies?