Good companies in Illinois

Do plenty of research...you are in a good area so you don't have to settle for a crappy company.

 

I can tell who to avoid in Illinois and that is McLeod Express.....I would also avoid PAM and Western Express.....Western Express have a terrible safety record. When you do your search take into account the CSA SMS scores of each and every company https://ai.fmcsa.dot.gov/sms/Default.aspx this links to the SMS data search. Look through the many boards on here...and physically ask other drivers at truck stops if you can....I see you are in Marseilles,IL....try also Roehl and Crete...both are excellent starter companies with great safety records.....try to avoid the 'bottom feeder' companies like Swift,Schneider,Werner, USA Truck....unless you get tied to them from a training company (I am not denigrating any drivers for choosing those companies anyone can look at my posts and I say time and time again a trucking company is a very personal thing- what may fit for some may not for others). It may take you a while and several companies before you find what works for YOU. Make the decision yourself and look at what you need...balance what they can offer you with regards to home time against pay, and the balance between regional which gets you home weekly but usually less miles unless you are on a dedicated against higher pay and home less.....as I said TALK with drivers and try to get a balanced view on what they say ask them how often they get home, how the company is about getting you home, if they get you home under a are home under load (this is actually important as if you get home under a load they may try to force you out of the house early....NEVER EVER accept that).

A few general words of advice too.....don't listen to too much a lot of other drivers tell you in the truck stops about hours of service,DOT requirements etc. etc.....they don't know that much about it.

Think long and hard about whether you want OTR or Regional....and like I said balance pay and home time. DON'T believe everything recruiters tell you, most will say things like AVERAGE W2 $60,000.......nonsense....while I know many who have made $50k+ it is rare for a driver who wants to go home and have some kind of life to make much more than $50k!

Above all discuss your options with your family and come to an informed choice about where to go from here. Like I said a choice of Trucking Company is a very personal thing. Don't get disheartened if the first company doesn't look like what you want....you may go through several. Above all good luck!

 

I would definetly try double d. When I went through IVCC they hired out of there. That was 8 years ago, so may have changed im not sure.

 

Being in that area of IL, I would look at Schneider and HO Wolding. Theres a lot of decent companies out there. Just have to look hard.

 

If your looking to stay local check out con-way freight in lasalle. They hire new drivers, you'll most likely be on linehaul working night until you get some people under you. I personaly dont care for them but i work at a different terminal but its experiance needed to go elswere. You have to apply on there website and be ready to sit for a while cuz the application is long.

 

What about Nussbaum?

 

brian i live in marseilles too. i see scheider drivers parked up at the hill top . deke trucking in ancona might give you shot hauling hopper bottoms

 

Anyone else know of Companies in Illinois for Hopper and or End dump I know this post is 2weeks old but I live in Pontiac and Have some experience with hopper bottoms I tried to call Deke but line is busy it seems all the time. I would like to be home almost every night to min every weekend max.

 

Does anyone have any comments about First Choice Logistics? ( hazmat tanker )