Newbie looking for some advice

The home time requirement really kills the chance of making great money. Here's the thing about trucking, especially being new, your pay often times is not consistent. You may have a great week, then 2 horrible ones. New guys generally do not get the prime runs. Right time right place kinda thing.

On top of that your home time requirements. Generally the week you go home, and the week you come back are lower mile weeks. They have to find loads coming near your home, then loads picking up near so you get passed up for decent runs.

Its not impossible to do what your trying to do, but it won't be easy. My advice would be to pick a company who's main terminal is very near your home, or a company with a major customer near your home. You can sneak home for 10 and 34 hour breaks. Getting you to and from home won't be a major issue either.

Good luck, but be prepared to be flexible on at least one of those requirements until you get some time in and pay your dues.

 

Yeah....itsa cold hard fact. If you need to be home, you are in the wrong business. Don't fool yourself into thinking you will be home weekends and driving like crazy 5 days a week to make that 800 buck requirement. If you can't do the time, ya can't make the dime.

 

Started with TMC-10 years ago. worked there for five. It was pure hell, ran like a military op. Worked my ### off. Driving a flatbed is hard work, and I stress "hard". If you want a challenge go with TMC- best training, best equipment and support, decent $. ..and they will get you home most weekends. Pulling a van is ok, ya drive then hop out walk 53 feet and open doors-its nice. Backin is alot easier with a van! haha... soo if you want to be pissed off, tired and sore-go with TMC. Or make it a bit easier to make your money, go with a van co. My advice, go pull a flatbed for a couple of years, if you make it that long you can sign up with any other co. ...and its good exercise for you.

 

From someone considering Swift, thanks for the info!

And yes, I know and have read all the awful comments regarding Swift, but perhaps it's not a bad decision to "learn the ropes" so to speak?

Thanks to all,
Gman

 

To make the kind of money you want with plenty of hometime, food service or chemical tanker is best.
Otherwise :

TMC
Melton Truck Lines
Schneider (tanker/hazmat or dedicated logistics accounts)
Maverick
Holland Enterprises is a coast to coast reefer outfit.

 

regardless, everyone has to pay their dues.. nothing wrong with having a goal.. just be realistic

 

True....am pulling a chemical tanker now....1500 bucks a week, and im home every weekend plus 2 to3 nights during the week.....you just have to really want to pull that moving liquid, or you will never learn to control it...then it becomes abusive and annoying!

 

I love tanker work; easy load/unload, no sitting in truckstops waiting/hoping for your next load. Love those paychecks and that $65K per year. Many hazmat/tanker companies are hiring newbies now fresh out of CDL school. One posted on here this week, he was hired by SVTN.

 

really? How many miles you run? How long do you stay out?

And I bet you keep the left door down/right foot down.....

Don't listen to them.....lol.