What are some good companies to work for

Get on with any one of those reefer outfits from central CA that haul produce to the midwest or east.

 

Where in cen cal?

 

By your post, I thought you just wanted local or regional.
Plenty more to choose from if you want OTR.
Dynamic Transit
Freymiller
James H. Clark & Son
Pride Transport - @Snowshoes works there.
Navajo Express
Butler Transport
Melton Truck Lines
Jones Bros. Trucking - Missoula,Montana
Contract Freighters Inc. - www.cfidrive.com
May Trucking Company
Leavitt's Freight Service
East-West Inc. (www.goeastwestinc.com)

 

I'm guessing you're in Modesto. You absolutely should get your foot in the door by taking advantage of the agriculture season that is in full swing right now. This is what I did, about 4 years ago I got my first gig hauling grapes to the wineries. Because I got a foot in the door with a local company, I have never, and I mean never, spent a night OTR.

I think your best shot at getting a local gig is to hit up Antonini Fruit Express. They have a terminal downtown. They'll run you hard all season with a set schedule, and if you don't screw up , you leave with either 1) 1 recognized year of Class A experience for having worked just a few short (hard) months, or 2) a permanent job offer hauling freight or ocean containers with Antonini Freight out of Lathrop. Their freight terminal is on D'arcy Parkway in Lathrop... Go get a TWIC card if you get on with Antonini Fruit, and you'll be more marketable when they start taking their pick out of the tomato drivers on who they're going to give a chance. They haul containers out of the Port of Oakland.

You can also look at Tiger Lines in Modesto, but I'm not sure what they pay. They're hauling peaches and whatnot.

Another outfit that will probably give you a shot is Panella Trucking. Again, in Modesto, close to the Antonini Fruit downtown. They're hauling all kinds of produce, like cucumbers and peppers.

You could also look a little further north. Hit up Cherokee Freight Lines in Stockton. Those people are good people. I can personally vouch for them, they'll treat you right and you can work your way into tanker positions. They are actively recruiting on Craigslist Stockton. They're a Teamsters outfit. They also have a terminal in Madera. Those dudes generally only work Monday-Friday.

My career path was 1) Agriculture products with 0 experience, 2) working so hard at that first Agriculture company that they gave me a permanent job, 3) switching to food grade tanker after 1.5 years of experience at the same company I started with, 4) after 1 year of hauling food grade tanker and about 2 years of total driving experience, I went and hauled fuel tankers, and the rest is history. No regrets except for not going to college, heh

Private Message me if you want some more information. I am exceptionally familiar with Stanislaus County's opportunities and can guide you in the right direction. The fastest way out of that #### hole is behind the wheel of an 80,000 pound vehicle, that's for sure...

 

There's all kinds of places also hauling almonds and stuff that will give you a shot. I think Timmerman Starlite in Ceres is looking for guys with a doubles endorsement to haul almonds. They'll probably take a new guy even if the ad says 2 years of experience.

You could also hit up GCU trucking in Oakdale, they advertise that they take drivers with no experience. Could be worth a shot but I know nothing about them.

 

So moloko or anyone else i ran a late season end of july thru end of nov for panella tomatos and walnuts anyone got anything good in the sacramento area i have seen a few places anything to stay away from or anything real great for someone with 2 points i have a
Over 3years reefer 53 ft bin doubles flat bed tarping strapping all trucks 2 pts but lots of experience

 

Hey Molokai do you recommend Cherokee freight lines in Madera where I live they are hiring at the moment. Any advice would be appreciated.

 

I’ve never understood why anyone in a blue collar profession says this, especially if they enjoy what they do. It’s never too late anyway, a trucker can put themselves through college if that’s what they really want.

A lot of white collar professionals spend more time paying off school debt than it would take a tanker driver to bank his own tuition honestly.

 

How’s it going Moloko? Any news for Cherokee freight lines in Madera? Looking to start a new job there.