Heading to Covenant Orientation in Chattanooga, TN on the 27th of April. Any advice?

ask them if you will have to sign any authorized to deduct forms other than taxes..if i recall correctly their was like 10 things they wanted me to sign allowing them to take money..see if they will fax it to you...

 

I got a chuckle out of the poll especially the 3rd one,great place to work and they keep their word,lol.Zack you're going to find out no companies keep their word,they're on an hr to hr basis.

 

I have to agree with you..I started out there 13 yrs ago I stayed almost 1 1/2 yr. I didn't do well pay wise when I teamed and it was hard to get home time and I lived in Chatt. When I was solo it was good had a great dispatcher Billy Johnson was his name if you can get him if he's still there you will do good so long as your not late on loads or complain a lot he will run you.On the bad side night dispatch an weekend they like to play games too much. When I left there I made .41cpm that is good money but you got to get miles or you won't do well.you got to start somewhere its really not a bad place to start..just plz when you get out on the road remember common sense will take u a long way..good luck

 

Covenant did alright by me -- I made good money teaming, got by when solo.

If your goal is to drive solo, I would not recommend them just because the solo pay scale was so low (their team pay was pretty good).

They are a training company though so they do have a lot of turnover. Lots of folks wash out of trucking in general, while others, like me, find a home elsewhere once they get enough experience. But many do stick around, particularly trainers & ready-made teams. My trainer, for example, had been with them since the 80's.

 

To summarize my posts.

Yes I am happy there. Why?
-They keep us running.
-I'm on a reefer division which brings me to California at least once a week
-my car is parked at the terminal in California which allows me to visit family when time allows between loads
-co driver and I get along pretty good
-pay scale is fair
-Dispatcher is pretty cool

I don't plan on staying here too long though because the job itself. Too much inactivity doing otr, I try to get a workout when I have the chance....but the freight needs to move to make money. I'm in good shape right now...in 5 years not too sure about that.

If they offered more fexible home time in the near future I might reconsider. Something like 3 weeks out 5 days home....or maybe 2weeks out 3 days home.

 

Good Luck Driver

 

I agree with you, orangepicker seems to have a real problem with Covenant. As a trainer for them, we sadly can not take every driver that goes into training. The reason, some people are not cut out for trucking. Various reasons, I will say this, pay close attention to everything said in Orientation. Take the log class, Smith System and Quall-com class or Navigo if you prefer. The trainer that you are assigned, is not your boss,but they have certain things that they have to teach you. But, there is a lot more about Commercial truck driving, than what is on the curriculum. If you ask, they will show you all of the things, so that you are ahead of the learning curve, before you get co-driver. One last thing, you will meet a lot of people, when it comes time for your upgrade. Most will be potential co-drivers for your 90 days, before OTR. Talk about and set ground rules, before accepting a co-driver. Ask your trainer about important topics, in ref. to this. Be safe out there.Ccrutt.

 

One more short comment. CovenANT is the lead company in CTG, Covenant Transport GroupWise. They have currently 2 other companies, Star and Southern. Star is mainly South East, but solo. Transitioning after FOR, is not a problem. Good luck, ccrutt.