Questions, advice, or anyone that wants to give me a heads up

TMC or the NS RR. Both are military friendly and seem like really good companies. TMC seems to be run like a military op. Trucks are always clean but if you come in the yard they look inside and dock you for soda cans etc. One driver I talked to was angry because he pulled in the yd and they got him for having something on the floor before he even got out of the truck. NS has great retirement, you can get on as a conductor and pay is great, hometime is too but you are on call all the time after your down time. They have retirement, insurance and all the benefits whereas trucking has barely if any.

 

Check out Volunteer Express. They're based out of Nashville but they have a terminal in Chatt with several local positions. Just don't expect the pay to be as good as OTR.

 

First let me say thank you for your service to this great country! Your military experience does count today in trucking. If you are looking for a company with a pension that you could retire from one day I would try the union companies first. UPS parcel, UPS Freight, ABF, USF Holland and YRC all have terminals near you and most have relaxed their experience requirements. Also these companies and the Teamsters union are doing their best to get Vets hired first when possible. The union jobs offer free "Cadillac plan" insurance for you and your familly and some form of a pension currently. There are also plenty of great paying non union LTL companies as well and some are very comparable in pay as the union jobs. Old Dominion, Con Way LTL, Fed Ex Freight and others. Most of these jobs you could work local and be home daily or run the road and be home several days a week. Good luck.

 

you already asked this question in the questions from the general public forum. chinatown gave you some companies. you can get a local job now, you do not need a year experiance. most local drivers that I know have not spent 1 day OTR

 

I do not know what powder haulers there make, here in Ca they make around 55 = 62K depending on the Co. Home every weekend sor sure and most every night.

 

There are 1,000 other jobs out there, RR.
If you have a clean background and a strong work ethic, there are lots of ways to go.
Just start looking.
Trucking hours just suck and that's the truth of it, especially for young families.

Very much like you, I found a great smaller company and the money was good.
But after a time I realized that no amount of money could ever buy back the time I was losing with my kids.
It was a wrenching decision, but after all this work, this learning curve, CDL school, gaining hard-won skills, and road time, I decided to seek a non-driving local job for a while. I'll keep my CDL in my pocket, but until my kids are bigger I just can't run DOT hours. Maybe some time later, when that kind of thing works better for my family, I'll get back in a truck. But not now. There's no dishonor in trying something, giving it your best shot, but finding out it's not the best thing for you at this time. Money won't buy back the time. Plus, I knew that I needed my head in the game 100 percent while driving and it was at home more often than I liked. I mean, I'm a focused person and a pretty fair driver, but still.

There's a stigma attached to the perception that doing something -- then doing something different -- makes a person a "quitter." But every job isn't for every person and you're not under orders to drive a truck and be away from home.
Follow your gut and do the most correct thing for your family. I decided that being there was more important than working all the time and having a little bit more money and missing them until it hurt. Even my boss understood this when I told him and he agreed with me and gave me his blessing in whatever else I do.

When you go into your duffel bag for something and your seven-year-old daughter looks at you with a sad look and your kids start to treat you differently, you know something has to give. For me? Not worth it.

There are a thousand jobs out there that will let you be home and sleep at night like a normal person.
Plus, you will still have that CDL in your pocket.
Just my 50 cents...

Be safe, driver!

 

If you want a local job look into the temp agencies. There is one near you if its still open called best drivers. A lot of local companies will use temp agencies to "try before they buy" if you get my meaning. A lot of those local temp positions work their way into being permanent positions. Also using the temp agency had the added benefit of allowing you to try out several companies until you find the one you want to stay with without marking up your record with multiple jobs. I think there is a select staffing near you too that does yard dog jobs at the VW plant in Chattanooga. That plant is scheduled to double in size in the near future. Anyway good luck.

 

Rogers Cartage in Chattanooga.

First Fleet in Cleveland.

Prime Inc. - tanker food grade terminal in Chattanooga.

[h=2]Transwood Incorporated[/h]Cargo Service

959 Lower River Rd Nw, Charleston, TN 37310

• Cross Streets: Between Old Lower River Rd NW and Jenkins Ln/Potter Place Rd NW

(423) 336-9161

 

First - Thanks for your service !! Not sure what you will find for local work, most likely will be a pay cut. I would think anywhere between Nashville and Memphis would be good for a local trucking future. Too far away in VA to know a lot about that area. Maybe an opportunity will pop up at RE West before you leave. Good Luck, and be patient.