Retired Military, Advice for Starting as a New CDL in N.C.

You may be dead set on the VA apprenticeship program, but there are places you can go that you will make more without it and you can save your GI Bill. I was set on only going to a company that had the apprenticeship program but I have changed my mind. I also know the Melton hires out of your area, they have the VA program, and I have talked to some of their new drivers and they are making good money. Knee surgery prevented me from doing flatbed. If you went to Miller Motte, don't buy off and that crap the Werner recruiter told you.

Crete

Roehl

Werner

Melton

TMC

US Xpress

Schneider

C.T. Transportation (part of Comcar)

Hogan

Pam

Covenant

Cargo Transporters

EPES

Wil-Trans

Con-Way TL

Jim Palmer (bought out recently, I think)

May Trucking

Trans-Am

Watkins-Shepard

Shaffer (reefer div. of Crete)

When I was searching months ago,all these places have VA apprenticeship programs. Also Cargo Transporters has good starting pay and they are home every 7-10 days. A guy in my class is driving for them and he likes it. 41 CPM after training but all auto trucks.

Edit: I also forgot to include Maverick. They are flatbed and recently started hiring out of eastern NC and after a year of OTR they have dedicated accounts in Eastern, NC. They also have the VA app program. Trucks are all auto

 

That's right; they hire new CDL grads from certain schools. Websites aren't usually up to date for most trucking companies.

Terminal locations don't determine home time. Company policy determines home time.

 

Pay no attention to what is listed on a website....fill out the app and follow up...go in person if possible.

 

That's the way to do it. Going face to face has a lot more advantages than most know. Be honest and ask what it will take to work for them if you like the company. You're going to need something out of the box with all your wants. You've got to remember there's plenty before you "with experience".

 

I think that pay scale is for OTR drivers and not the dedicated lane. Im pretty sure they pay percentage and no CPM.