Overwhelmed

Do some looking around, and hit up some local companies. Find the nearest large city, and call up some local companies or LTL companies. Many people will look favorably on your military experience, and this can be the advantage over other applicants that will be enough to push you through the door. Companies want 1 year of experience to see if your'e reliable, trustworthy, and can handle working like 12 hours a day. you kind of paid your dues with 5 years of military service, so I think you can find this opportunity if you look hard enough.

FYI: my first job was a local, home every night job. my current job is a local, home every night, work 4 days a week job. I have never spent 1 day OTR. you can find it if you look hard enough, this will include cold calling trucking companies, being persuasive. just be a straight up professional and you can usually convince these '2 years of experience' guys to give you a road test. that's what i had to do to get my local job with no experience. you have to convince them that you are the most determined mofo they've ever seen walk into their terminal.

 

ack thank you! I got east and west mixed up in my head lol. Hard to be west of it when my bf is in Atlanta lol.

 

Maverick is a good choice for hometime with their weekend home program plus the pay is good.
McElroy also is flatbed and has weekends at home.
Melton Truck Lines has the best healthcare for driver & family, but you won't be home as often.
Your other choices are also good; TMC, Boyd, but for hometime being a priority Maverick would be best.

 

I would look to answer this question first. What company gets you home or close to it the most.

 

Schneider does not have Flatbed.

 

i feel for you man. family is a big important factor. Roehl has regional. And they have good hometime based on what it says on their website. Flatbed, Reefer,Dry. They got 7 on 7 off. 7 on 4 off. 7 on 3 off. 14 on 7 off. Also, here at central you would be a midwest regional driver. But its still 1 day off per 7 days.

 

This industry, gotta pay your dues before you can move up the chain to better jobs like local. Its rare but those that landed local jobs right out of school were extremely lucky because its rare.

 

I am sure you heard this but if family is your main goal trucking probably isn't for you. I don't have a wife kids or any of that and I go crazy some days. Money flat out sucks your first year for what you are giving the company. But like they say you have to pay your dues. But most importantly DO NOT BELIEVE A WORD A RECRUITER TELLS YOU. I REPEAT DO NOT BELIEVE THEM. I know alot of people that were promised the world and got poo when come time to deliver. Good luck to you.

 

This is may bite me in the butt later but my bf's recruiter didn't promise him the world. They have followed through on everything so far and then some. I don't know if we just got lucky or what but not all recruiters are full of bs IMHO