New driver with prehires - which trucking company job?

first, ask yourself what you would like to see from an upstart trucking company. Do you want Team or Solo?,,...Dry-van,... drop-n-hook,...reefer,...flatbed,...Long term career goals?,...narrow them using some criteria, then sort them according to how well you think they can get you home when you need. All the upstart companies have their good and bad, and you will not know if they 'Fit' what you need until you narrow them down, hopefully making you more happy as a driver. Don't get excited just because you got tons of pre-hires,...they do that to everybody that gets a CDL.

Only thing I can advise on weeding out upstart companies is that you absolutely need to stay away from companies that push 'Leasing' a truck onto drivers with less than a year experience. Most of these companies will have you end up work for free, behind on truck payments and expenses.

 

1 year experience if the driver's over 25 years old, 2 years if less than 25.

I drive out of the Hopkinsville Terminal and can answer whatever questions that might come up, dcastle54.

 

Come to Maverick. We have cookies...

 

None of those companies are "upstart". They're all established companies.

Pick one that has better advancement in terms of pay and/or one with a terminal or freight lanes near enough to get you home. Other than that, understand that you'll likely use the company to get a year's worth of experience and then will move on to a company that pays better.

 

To help you compare, Maverick's student pay rates are as follows:

Flatbed: .33 per mile
Temp Control: .35 per mile
Glass: .40 per mile

All divisions get a .03 raise at 3 months and 6 months. I'm in TCD and I'm making .42 and I've been here just a bit over a year.

 

I have never driven for any of them, had a friend at Roehl, he said it was OK, but he wanted local so was only there about 6 months.

Boyd Bros. Has a very good reputation.

 

We have the cookies on the Dark Side. We don't share them anymore unless you're on the dark side!

 

Of those you listed i'd pick Crete. i worked for Shaffer Trucking, the trailers with the funny looking Penguin (also owned by Ackley) it was ok.... there is a flatbed co named Hunt as well. For a large co they seemed driver friendly.
check into a few more choices whilst you are comparing.... Melton and Maverick are good canidates for starting out

 

Have you checked out transport america? I also just finished driving school and decided to go with them. They start at .35 com and if your pulling a hazmat loan, they pay .39 cpm. It's only a 3 day orientation and 21 day training. They seem like a cool starter company, I plan to stick with them for at least 6 months to a year and see how it goes. Anyone else know anything about them?