Looking for company suggestions.

You live in a good market but the biggest challenge is the home time. Even with the awful pay, you are going to cost any company more money than a driver with 5-years experience. If you expand your time out you can open up the companies you are looking at and likely get more quality home time. Getting home one night and leaving out the next night isn't much of a home time. But being home for two full days before heading out allows you to have some quality time with your family.

And expect to be asked to pay a fee to have the dog with you.

 

HE JESTS! k&b has been getting all that bad publicity on here in that one thread elsewhere on here.this post ^was kind of funny though,but not for you gw87. keep reading and go to the section where other inexperienced drivers have typed up reviews of starter outfits.

glad that you want to take care of the dog.i have 3 that my neighbors feed&water&let in and out for me in my absence.

best of luck man-

 

I'd recommend starting with the most difficult needs first (probably pet policy) then filtering those who allow 8 year old family rider, then see what's there to choose from. A lot of places start at about 12 years old. some younger, some older.

 

I'm glad some can understand me. I really do try to help, but I have to give you the real deal and I'm sure the other guys will try to Rosy up this industry for you. I just go straight to the heart instead of beat around the bush. No harm intended. I'm serious though just go take a look at that video from the KB dispatcher. Starter companies run you in and give you crappy training. You have an incident they fire you. Nobody else wants to hire you. Now you and your dog are trying to find a ride home. These starter companies know you are not going to make your home their. So they don't really offer you much.

I'm sorry but you really aren't thinking about the people who will get in the truck after you. Who have to be in a truck that smell's like a dog and Phillip Morris factory. I am getting flash backs as I think of this. You will be off doing your local 9 to 5 gig making big bucks, and some newbie will be trying to breath, drive and spray fabreeze all at the same time. When is he going to have time to text? I'm just saying bud. This is probably why some of the starters don't allow pets. Or they allow pets but you get home once a month. You got to pick your poison. Hope this made ya smile. It sure made me chuckle a time or two. We back quiet Young timmer!!! YEeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee Hawwww

 

gw87, IMHO get your HAZMAT, tanker, and DBL/TRPL, endorsements. Apply at local LTL outfits and tell them you'll wash trucks, paint trlrs or do any thing that needs doing. Your forklift cert. and securement exp. will look good to a LTL. HAZMAT, tanker, and DBL/TRPL, endorsements are required by most LTLs . They're easy to get, simple test and cheap. The HAZMAT is kinda a bugger with the background/fingerprint and test, but doable.
Going OTR green with a dog or kid probably won't work out well.
Going OTR usually requires at least being away for a minimum 3 weeks at a time, with a family that's gonna be tough.
Hiring requirements fluctuate with freight volume and spring is right around the corner. My company has several drivers with no OTR experience that got hired on simply because they are hard workers with a CDL. Maybe even look at foodservice, moving companies, or propane/fuel/lumber/masonary supply outfits in your area.

Just my $.02.
Walk and Drive in Peace............

 

hahahhahahaha....

............... Hahhahahahahahahhahahahaahahaha

 

Have to agree with some the others that weekly home time for a newbie is going to be tough. You may find that you might have to bite the bullet for the first year to get some experience under your belt and then start looking for something more local. Some places say they have a pet policy but only up to a certain weight for the pet plus they usually require pet deposits. Also with pets some shippers and receivers do not allow pets on the property or they must stay in the truck while loading or unloading.

 

I think he was just being straightforward witn you.. as a driver with no experience you will have to go through training.. which means being in a trainers truck for at least 6 weeks.. but often longer.. I do not know of any starter company where you can bring pets and children along witn you for training... and even if they did it would be up to the trainer if your dog and child were allowed... keep in mind, that often when hoj are trainj g yoh have the top bunk.. so you, your kid, your dog and all your belongings will be in tne bunk with you.. I am 5'3" and 135 lbs and founf the top bunk to be small and confined with no room to stretch out.. and that was without a kid and dog and only one duffle bag and a book bag..

After training, I got on a dedicated account and am home weekly.... however, that is because there was an opening for this account in my area and my performance was good.. so I got on the account... there are more factors to it getting on to a dedicated account.. and often there are waiting lists...

Not trying to rain on your parade... just being straight witn you...

 

I also want to add.. that I am a solo driver now.. I have about 6 months combined experience... at this tkme I could bring my dog with me or have a rider.. but, I don't because j am just not ready or willi g to take on tbat added responsibility right now..
I do not pee in my truck, many drivers do.. they pee in bottles or have some set up that works for them.. I bought some go johns for emergency. ? If I need to go and there is no restroom around.... the other dah I came close to needing to use one.. got to the receivers and needed to go and they have no public restrooms... I had to go.. but was able to drop my trailer and make it to a truck stop.. but just barely and it was not comfortable... a 7 year old cant be asked or expected to do that.. and, neither can a dog.. and no, the reciever doest allow you to walk your dog o. Their property....

I believe a driver needs to be out here and know what it is like.. for the account they are on before they decide weather they cojld bri g a dog or child along... on some accounts it is easier than others...

 

We also live in the Louisville area. My bf drives for Boyd and has really good hometime (when he wants it). I know Boyd was discussing changing their pet policy so you might call and ask about it again. Your lil one is too young to ride though. Their rider policy is 10 & up (broke my 9 yr olds heart).

As as for other companies, I know I see ads for drivers all the time in the paper. I know there's even a couple small companies outside of Louisville hiring. My bf chooses to stay with Boyd instead of going to a smaller company because we are moving soon. However I know if he wanted Van instead of flatbed he probably would've tried for Pegasus. They do OTR and local. A friend of ours drives OTR for them and loves it.

As for your dog, maybe twice a week doggie day care would help. I know locally it's about $10 for a full day. Please don't get rid of your dog just because he can't go out with you. My bf would love to take our dog but can't. She has actually become a better guard dog since he left. Much more protective of our family (at least til she figures out the person means no harm then it's a full on love fest lol). Your wife might like to have that added security measure with you gone.