Questions about team driving

No. Anytime you are going into something you know nothing about without any knowledge from the "guy" you know. You are getting screwed!

Business opportunities are presented with real numbers, tax returns, bank statements, and business plans for the future. Minimally.

It's like that life coach that wants to help you out that can't get their own crap together.

150k isn't enough money to be stuck with that kind of responsibility. That sounds like one week away from being broke when you factor in gas and maintenance... Forget about health care!

My friend made 150k last year and only ended the year pays taxes on 30k after REAL BUSINESS EXPENSES! That's what he lived on for a whole year..... He works three times harder than a company driver. No health insurance.

If you don't have business knowledge... This isn't the industry to try your best at a "business."

 

Ok.

First we call in TTR's resident company match guru @Chinatown . He's got the skinny on job options no matter where you are in the country. He's a great guy that just does this to help new folks out.

Any starter company is a CDL mill. CRE, Swift, Werner, all of 'em. They'll get you a license and get you on the road with a "trainer". Don't expect to make huge money out of the gate, no matter what anyone says. Even if you get a great team high value dedicated reefer hazmat steady lane on an established account, you're the new guy. Like any other job, you're going to have to earn the best miles and best money.

Be on time. Early=on time. On time= late. Late= not an option. Ya?
Stay well groomed and presentable.
Act professionally to everyone you deal with as a driver. Even if you don't agree. Agree to disagree.
Safety always. No matter what.
GOAL. Every time. Even in the rain. Or you're tired.
Know your rules and regs. Stay legal.
Take care of your truck and keep it clean inside and out.

This is how you earn that respect to get those miles.

What you haul, where you go, what you drive (long as it runs), team, weather, none of that matters. You're a git-r-done pro. The opportunities and money will follow. You have my word.

 

Why not KLLM? Their school is at a community college in Hinds Community College in MS and they provide meals and lodging also. Sometimes they ask if anyone wants to go with FFE at graduation, which is a good deal. KLLM owns FFE (Frozen Food Express).

 

Hey timf.

I live in stone county. I went with a dry van mega for cdl school and my first year because it was the best fit for my life situation, but there are other options. Look up Mississippi gulf coast's cdl program. Whether it's still in perk or moved to Jackson county or wherever, you'll have more freedom of choice with your schooling from a community college. Fill out a fafsa and try to get a pell grant (or use va benefits if you are a veteran) to cover the costs.

Specific to that freedom of choice, you become more attractive to better companies. Companies like the one I currently work for, magnum. Or Crete/schaefer.

If you have to go to a company school, kllm is a solid option. Knight may be a better option for you than most because they have a terminal in Gulfport.

About freight, you will run into the same problem I have. Specifically, south Mississippi has dry freight going out, but none coming in. We have refrigerated going out, but none coming in. Getting home is a problem, and that is why you should give strong consideration to knight and kllm.

The best you will do in reefer is jackson. Associated grocer in Pearl river, la, Winn Dixie in Covington, la, and Walmart in Robert, la, are all closer, but take forever to get you empty.

In dry van, you'll be going to Walmart in Brookhaven a lot. I have deadheaded from Memphis, olive branch, byhalia, Indianola, and Saltillo during my relatively brief stint pulling a van. I'd rather sit at Walmart for another five hours than do that dollar general distributing center in indianola again. All of these places are 300+ miles from Gulfport. Reefer freight into Jackson is about 160 miles.

So yeah, aim for kllm if you can't do mgccc for cdl training. Or knight.

 

Some good advice but remember.. Pulling a reefer box gives you options because you can haul dry in a reefer but you can't haul reefer in a dry van. So, theres one issue solved... Pulling reefer out and dry getting back home. Only thing that potentially could get in the way of this happening would be whoever looks for and puts you under loads, in-house sales and/or your dispatcher.