Opinion About These Companies ( Having A Hard Time Choosing )

Prime apparently hasn't updated their website with the current information. Take a look in the prime section, the sticky that silent eagle (I think it was him...) wrote. That's the current information. Prime has treated me quite nicely so far. Had an issue with my first trainer. I am now waiting for a new one. At the Campus Inn in Springfield, MO with a very nice room, and meal cards. My wife and I really like how well Prime takes care of me.

 

WOW...that sucks. My first solo week was 3100 miles and I avg'd around 23-2400. You got a sucky DM man

 

Have heard very bad things about crst. not worth the risk unless you're at the bottom of the barrel.

 

Only company I have experience in the list you gave was Swift. But those companies you said all sound good except for CRST. After that Roehl, Millis, Central Refrigerated, Prime, Stevens and Swift are good. I started out with Swift and stayed with them for 1 year and went on to Werner. I had a hard year in the beginning but later on things began to improve and change. Prime on the other hand was a company I had in mind to start with after I left Werner, but driving a lightweight truck was what stopped me. For the Top 3 companies out of the list I would say is Central Refrigerated, Prime, and Roehl. Then Stevens and Millis, and last would be Swift. I wouldnt recommend CRST to you but if you are looking to team up with another driver then CRST would be a company for that. I heard many negative things about that company. Do more research on these companies, you may be starting new but it be better for you starting out with a good training company

 

Well I will be honest with you, they gave me a hard time in the beginning. I was getting low miles and short runs all the time. But after sometime around 6-7 months things had changed for me. Their school was good to me, I did my part of the job and got my CDL on time. But I would recommend another company instead of Swift. I left to Werner after 1 year with them. Werner was working out for me and thats why I was there for 2 years. At the end I was getting really low miles, and a lot of sitting so I was getting tired of it after a while. So then that time I was planning to go to Prime and be a L/O and a trainer there. But after reading and learning more about leasing I decided to leave it for next year around March-April. So what I did was I looked for a small reefer company to save so later I could lease. So far I been with them since late August and been getting miles. Before I was in a 2010 Cascadia and that truck was governed at 74 mph. I average 2500-2900. The only problem I had with them was that last month I was stuck in Miami for almost 5 days. But after I got into another truck, its a Kenworth T700. I really like it I just think that a Cascadia has a better mpg then would in a T700. Prime is a good choice and I think you would be fine with them

 

Excellent points you make. Was wondering some of the tricks that megas use to turn practical miles into "impractical" (non-paid) miles. I plan to attend TDI (truck drivers institute) and they seem to have a few smaller companies on their "hook you up" list but I suspect they might not be as slick and appealing on paper, so to speak, when it comes down to convincing a newbee (me) that they're offering a better long term situation (all things considered). Like you, I'd rather forego a buck or two and be treated humanely as opposed to being a piece of meat left dangling for days so a company can pinch a penny or two, not that savings isn't an issue for all.

Would you mind dropping a few mom and pop names hiring in the midwest (indiana/ohio specifically) that you may be aware of? I might still have to cut my teeth with satan but would be good info for future reference.