Which is which?

"ditto" on the others. Some of the most disreputable companies have folks working there who're just peachy with where they're at. I'd look at both sides, and ask those happy, what they DON'T like about their company. To date, I've not met a trucker who could'nt find ANYTHING to bellyache about! Look into the co's safety record, and driver turnover. Numbers will tell ya, if they have tons of drivers bailing out on em, there's something wrong.

 

The Truckstop idea is a good one. Also maybe working for a local loading dock you can meet the drivers of different companies.

This is what I have done. I have researched and surfed this site for the last year. Companies like Swift, Werner, and JB Hunt I know to avoid. Yes they may have some happy drivers but the rate of happy driver to disgruntled seems high. I think a smaller company will be able to meet you more personal needs if you have a good attitude and are easy to get along with.

As a schoolbus driver I work with about 100 or so drivers in our district. It's an interesting mix. We have a lot of retired teamster drivers, a lot of railroad retirees, a lot of ex-truckdrivers, a lot of wannabe truckdrivers (this is where I fit in), and a few born into it type schoolbus drivers. They have heard a lot of who and who not to drive for. Or their spouses still drive OTR and have heard the stories. So I am able to get a lot of info from my co-workers.

My School bus experience has also taught me that a job is what you make of it. I love my job. I have a good bus, a good route, and my kids are generally problem free. I know how to dicipline but stay on their good side at the same time. My kids and coworkers respect me. There are SB drivers that hate their jobs or think of only the negatives and they seem to be more miserable. They tend to have more problems and have harder days than most. Some just aren't cut out for it which is why our turnover rate is high.

Money is the only reason why I am quitting. I have always been intersted in trucks, trucking, and I will be the second generation driver in my family. My boss doesn't want me to go but I have no choice. I have the right mindset to do an OTR carreer. If not then I suffer for a year and get something local but I know that this is right for me. So as long as I am treated with respect, get the miles and bennies I need, and the company allows me to be a safe driver then I will be ok. If not I will improvise and adjust accordingly and go with the flow because this is something I want to do.