Exp. drivers if you were a new grad, who would you pick for a starter company?

The one that had a terminal near my house.

 

I don't know where I would go but I know where I wouldn't go and that is any of the mega companies ! You do not have to be a drone for the megas to be truck driver !!! Look for a local outfit close to home .

 

Lesson 11: 3 truck drivers in 1 room will never agree on any 2 things.

 

I live 10 minutes from my terminal. I does have advantages if you can work it out that way but it doesn't seem to have any bearing in home time or getting me in earlier or longer but it's good to have ready access to the shop, dispatch, hr and payroll if I need to talk to someone face to face as well as not having to worry where I'm going to park the truck.

Beyond that, more important than where the terminal is in relation to your house would be finding the right mix of time out vs home time and type of freight and freight lanes you want to run. Being close to the house isn't going to mean anything if you hate who you're running for

as said above think out of the box and don't look at the usual suspects where nobody knows your name and has to ask for your truck number. There are smaller more local companies that will hire and train but you have to find them they don't come looking for you the way the bottom feeders do. Made all the difference for me. I got on with an 1100 truck company based close to me and it's a different planet from the horror stories you hear on here about the megas

 

make a list of 20 mega trucking company and hung it on the wall. get dart and trow it at the list their u go. work for that company for a year....good luck

 

Many feel the same way you do and I would agree if it wasn't for one thing,no exp.Unfortunately new drivers usually don't have a choice but to go with a starter company.Local companies require exp.Mega companies suck and won't drive for one anymore.Too many drivers and not enough freight to go around.Too many dept trying to play chief and no one gets anything done because they focus on making drivers miserable.But new drivers have to take what they can get till they get some miles in,then more doors will open for them.

 

List your personal priorities - type of equipment, medical benefits, pay scale, home time, room for advancement, type of training, length of training, etc. Search out companies that come closest to meeting those priorities for you & then contact them by phone with a list of questions that you would like answered. Just keep eliminating companies that don't fit your personal needs - and then I bet you end up with a really short list to have to choose from! Good luck!

 

A company with less than 100 trucks,

located within 90 minutes from home.


These new drivers in florida,

hiring on to outfits west of the big creek are foolish.

That's why there so many abandoned trucks down here.......

2-3 every month from Prime alone...