Trying to start in car hauling...

They are the union Shop. Where do you live?

 

I guess Lansing is your closest plant. @NuCarCarriers may be able to let you know if Jack Cooper is, or is planning to hire in Lansing. If Cooper or Cassens isn't hiring and since you said you don't care about being home, United Road might be a great job for you. I have been told their rates are good. Some of their terminals will get you home on the weekend, others I have been told 2 weeks out.

 

Does JC train? I know I saw Cassens training a guy in Jessup. (Kind of off topic...but worth sharing) The trainee was crawling around on the headrack trying to strap a car down. The trainer said what are you doing?? The trainee said "I'm afraid of heights" Dude! Really?!

 

Hey, I'm impressed! Finally a guy (With some driving experience even!) looking for information on where to best go to get hired to learn car hauling, not a new guy wanting to go get a CDL and be an instant car hauling owner operator!

Best of luck to you!!

 

Yes they do train. They are like many other carriers, they try to hire experienced carhaulers but train when they can't find enough with experience.
I don't think someone afraid of heights will make it out of training.

 

If it's me at your age definitelygo union, that's a must for a smart guy. Again, I don't know jc or cases bit from what I see on the road I would go for cassens, also considering cooper is at some financial trouble

 

JCT in Lansing is not hiring right now and with the GM product holds it may be awhile, next year at best. Here is the website, current today, Search Jobs - Realize Your Potential: jackcooper - Search Jobs

I recently spoke with a new JCT driver out of Ft Wayne, he had only 1 yr driving experience and was provided carhaul training.

The best terminal for long miles is Corvettes out of Bowling Green, Ky. The hiring bonanza is over tho. JCT was paying $10,000 a head hiring bonus a few years ago.

One strategy would be to hire on at any JCT terminal that will train you, then transfer to a terminal you want to work at, you'll have more than your foot in the door that way. There is no hiring 'off the street' until job openings are offered to all current drivers, which you'd be one of, after 30 days. JCT does pay your hotels when you're working, you can check a few of my other posts on how that works.

If that doesn't work you could get carhaul experience anywhere you can and then keep calling, say once a month, to the terminal you want to work at. You're in a sales position now and ideally you have to get past the receptionist to the Terminal Manager so he remembers how enthusiastically you want to work for him. When your name and app come across his desk you want him to remember you. Stop in and say 'hey' if you can. Your purpose is to get info and be the next guy hired, your seniority will mean alot later on. Talk to anyone who might know, network is the new buzzword.

When you make pay comparisons, realize a 1099 job is not the same as a real job. 1099 pays no unemployment, layoffs are frequent in carhaul. Medical is on you. 7.5% (roughly) additional taxes on you, vacation pay?!, right, you. If it's a union job the company is going to pay $24,000 annually for your medical and pension on your behalf. Vacation and holidays will ad $2 to 5K+ to your yrly income.

It can be alot of work to get, then keep a union job (layoffs and junk equipment when you start) but it's good to be in the 'club'.
Good Luck!
BTW When I first started in '79 I always had a ace in the hole side job during layoffs.

 

Good rates only go as far as the manufacturer is willing to pay. Always goes to the cheapest bidder. Cooper just lost Toyota to United Road.
I drive for Moore and it's been a good deal. We've had drivers that have come over from both Cooper and Cassens.

The money is ok but I'm not completely happy with the money that I make because I used to make a lot more but the whole industry has gone downhill and car Hauling has just been feeling it in recent years.
They need to regulate the rates and keep the market open so no one company will have the monopoly on it. The other thorn is that Union Jobs went downhill when they took striking away. If you don't like what the company has to offer you no longer have any defense. Pension has gone downhill too.

Back to the OP's question, Moore has a yard in Toledo, 2 in the Detroit area, Chicago and Elwood which is by Joliet. There is plenty of freight out of Baltimore going to Michigan. I'm not sure what the minimum driving requirements are for their training program. You will need to give them a call.
Truck Away Solutions | Moore Transport

Also: talk to several drivers with each outfit before you decide.