Got My Class A CDL , Companies Advice ?

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by James77, Aug 31, 2013.

  1. James77

    James77 Light Load Member

    87
    3
    Apr 30, 2012
    Northern Florida
    0
    I got my CDL now and im looking for a good company to get trained and stay for atleast 2-3 years. My first and best choice were Crete Carrier but for my location I need 4 months experience so I changed my mind. I looked at some other companies but im unsure on which one to decide. The companies I've been looking at is

    1. Stevens Transport
    2. Knight Refrigerated Or Knight Transportation
    3. Prime Inc
    4. KLLM
    5. May
    6. Swift
    7. Werner
    8. Schneider

    And after getting some experience I would move on to a higher paying company. I just want to know what would be the best option for me
     
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  3. HotH2o

    HotH2o Road Train Member

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    Sep 23, 2012
    Bunyan Springs, Colorado
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    Schneider is my vote. They're the only company on your list I have worked for and I was treated really well. Got lots of miles. Got home when I wanted.
     
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  4. Iceman85

    Iceman85 Bobtail Member

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    7
    Jun 16, 2012
    lenoir nc
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    stay away from stevens my old cdl school wont even take there money to train students there so bad to work for. KLLM i think all they do is lease options and id stay away from that til you feel ur ready prime and swift are slow and with schnieder talk about what you will do they got some weird options and while being home every other week (7 on7 off) sounds nice i dnt see it paying my bills and im single
     
  5. Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

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    Aug 28, 2011
    Henderson, NV & Orient
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    Did you graduate from CDL school?
    The good money is in tanker or flatbed.
    Here's a few that hire new CDL grads:

    Melton Truck Lines
    Rinaudo Enterprise (Jacksonville)
    SVTN
    Schneider (tanker division)

    Benny Whitehead Trucking runs teams mostly, but runs Florida/West Coast turns.

    Iceman mentioned KLLM; they recently purchased FFE.
     
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  6. 8thnote

    8thnote Road Train Member

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    Aug 12, 2013
    Chattanooga, TN
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    My first trucking job was with Stevens. I didn't go to their CDL school, i went to an independent one, but it was nothing but a positive experience for me. Their OTR training is first rate if you get a good trainer, which I did. Their emphasis is on safety first and foremost. I feel that I learned to do the job the right way. The only down side to Stevens is a lack of home time. They expect you to be out 5-6 weeks at a time. I see a lot of folks trashing Stevens on this board, but I enjoyed my time there. Any job is what you make of it and I made the decision to make the most of my time there. I got a lot of good experience driving in every part of the country and every major city in the country. I was treated with respect, for the most part, by everyone there. And their safety first attitude has stuck with me, even after I left there, and I'm a better driver for it. I now work for a company that pays better and gets me home weekly, but Stevens was a good starter company for me and I would recommend them to new drivers looking to learn to be drivers instead of wheel-holders.
     
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  7. cadillacdude1975

    cadillacdude1975 Road Train Member

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    Mar 20, 2010
    Chattanooga, TN
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    anywhere you go as a recent grad will make you team. Crete/Shaffer will make you team for at least 6 weeks, usually 8.
     
  8. James77

    James77 Light Load Member

    87
    3
    Apr 30, 2012
    Northern Florida
    0
    Melton sounds good how much they pay ? And yes from Roadmaster
     
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  9. James77

    James77 Light Load Member

    87
    3
    Apr 30, 2012
    Northern Florida
    0
    yea Stevens home time is something I see a lot on this forum and other reviews.
     
  10. Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

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    Aug 28, 2011
    Henderson, NV & Orient
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    Very good, Roadmaster. Melton drivers average $50K + per year and their trucks have APU's. Healthcare benefits are excellent for driver and family.
     
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  11. James77

    James77 Light Load Member

    87
    3
    Apr 30, 2012
    Northern Florida
    0
    Their equipments is in good shape , and looks new. But I wanted experience in a refrigerated company or a dry van company to start off. Flatbed is something I will get experience on in the future
     
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