Which companies are the best

I got your PM. It was GREAT. Now I'll have to go easier on u when u start asking for evidence. As a matter of fact I'm may have to agree with everything u say from here on out, maybe.

Now, the question is will companies continue to hire OR will they cut back, lay off drivers. What's ur sense. I looked up Gordan, thanks to the list u sent me, and looked under their 'what to do about fuel' section, and I believe it said they have parked 100 trucks. It didn't say they laid off 100 drivers. The question remains "did they cut drivers.

I personally believe soon there will be major layoffs through out the industry. I have no evience for u though, except the subprime crisis, that takes us to the prime crisis, that takes us to the credit crisis, AND the OIL CRISIS.

I hope I'm wrong I would like to get into driving.

Anyway thanks

 

Let's narrow your field a little to find the company you want to work for.

You want a decent truck that is well maintained. Somewhat easy to do this in the beginning, just look at the condition of the trucks that pull into truck stops. Are they clean? Do a lot have obvious damage?
With that you want to ask the question "when I have a problem how fast is it corrected?"

Next what kind of truck do you want to drive? Pete, Volvo, KW, Freightliner, Mack, etc. Most companies use FL's but some drive other models.

That should help narrow your field a little. Next look at what you want to haul. Dry van, Refer, flat bed, tanker, doubles, etc. This answer will narrow your companies down again. Dry and Refer are very popular for beginners. Some flat beds will also train.

Do you want to drive over the road, regional, or local. A lot of companies will offer OTR and regional. Some private fleets may require you haul doubles for regional hauls.

You should have a good narrow field by now. Next is to look at pay scale. You have some choices in pay scales. The truck load (full load hauls only) will pay less (.28 to around .32 for new drivers under 1 year) and the LTL (less than truck load) will pay a little more (.38 to .65 or more) Many LTL will want doubles and Hazmat endorsements. Some LTL will haul 53'. I personally don't like to haul doubles. There is something I noticed about pay and good tractors. Great looking tractors with all the perks will usually get you less in pay. It's a trade off you have to ask yourself. A Hazmat endorsement is becoming almost standard, it also opens you to more loads you can haul. Something to consider.

Once you have pay figured out look at the benefits. Assigned tractors and dedicated dispatch is a huge plus in my book. I hate thinking I will lose my truck if I park at home for to long (slip seat) or dealing with different dispatchers every time I turn around.

Now I look at the miles. Many drivers look at miles first, but to me I can always get miles if I'm efficient enough and choose not to sit between loads. I will shag and shuttle just to keep moving if I have to, though not preferred.

Additional benefits such as Medical, dental, 401k is something else you will want to look at. If possible find out how much it costs. Does not do much good if you get high pay and your medical and dental take it all away every week. Yet you don't want to get screwed on the benefits either with cheap insurance.

Other considerations if you are going over the road. Does the carrier provide APU's or cover IdleAir costs? With current regulations in many states this will save you tons of money and help keep your DAC clean from citations.

Take a look to see if the carrier covers Toll roads (EZPass), scales is a plus (PrePass) costs you nothing either way except time, lumpers etc. I don't do the reimbursement thing where I pay upfront and trust them to pay me back.

Final thing I look for is Transflow where I fax in the paperwork. TripPak is okay but it goes through the mail system. I like it done fast so I get paid at the end of the week without a delay in shipping of the forms. Personal preference again on my part.

Not every company offers all of this but it can narrow your search to find a company that will suit you for a time. Once you have your search narrowed to what you want to do you can find a good company.

Hope this helps in your search for a good company.

 

Knighted - Very good post!

Manmk - I don't see the industry shutting down trucks. Individual companies might if they can't make the transition well. But the industry overall will adjust. There will be thin times, but I think two things are going to happen over the next number of years: (call it 10 to 15)

OTR will essentially become a niche market - kinda like heavy haul is today. Most long haul stuff will go by rail, and most trucking jobs will be regional/local.

Shipping charges will go up. A lot. They absolutely have to, or *every* carrier out there will pop like an over-filled balloon. The cost of living will jump, and so will the pay for drivers. We may make squat, but we CAN live on what we make. When that ceases to be true, drivers will hunt down other jobs. Companies will raise pay rates just to stay in business, since without drivers they get *jack* from shippers.

 

Crete takes people right out of driving school but you have to go with a trainer for 2 months but it's worth it to get as much learning in as you can. According to Marten's website they take recent graduates too. So does Trans Am trucking.

 

Transport Topics is reporting that truckload executives are warning shippers that freight rates will increase dramatically, maybe as early as next quarter. Hopefully, those increases will flow down to the drivers.

 

<<Choke>>!!! <gasp> <wheeze>!

not a hope in hell we'll see that money.

But then, I'm a pessimist by trade...

 

driving job itself I guess is something to stay away if there is a choice