Truckers Report Jobs

Find Trucking Jobs

Company Driver Company Driver Dry Van Dry Van Flatbed Flatbed Refrigerated Refrigerated Specialized Specialized Owner Operator Owner Operator
More Trucking Job Searches ⌄ Fewer Trucking Job Searches
⌃

Need advice about best starter companies

Discussion in 'Motor Carrier Questions - The Inside Scoop' started by Viking84, Jan 11, 2009.

  1. Jan 11, 2009 #1
    Viking84

    Viking84 Light Load Member

    197
    86
    Dec 27, 2008
    Valdosta Georgia
    0
    From the reading on this board I have done, it sounds like I would be better off picking up cans along the side of the road than applying to any starter company such as Werner,Swift etc.... The forum is full of posts bashing every starter company out there.

    Regardless, I am going to have to make the best of it, as I am committed to getting into the trucking industry.

    My question for you experienced drivers is this..

    Can you give me the names of a few starter companies that are the least evil of the lot. Time away from home, flatbeds,Reefers,Tankers,Vans etc...or hard physical labor is not an issue.
    Going on the advice of the experience drivers,atleast then, I could put priority in applying to those companies instead of one that you experienced drivers feel is the very worst of the bunch.

    Thanks in advance...
     
    Viking84, Jan 11, 2009
    Viking84, Jan 11, 2009
    #1
  2. Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.

  3. Jan 11, 2009 #2
    IronRydr

    IronRydr Light Load Member

    154
    73
    Dec 1, 2008
    0
    Viking,

    Are you already in school or planning on attending a driving school? If so, does the school have different recruiters visit? I just finished school, and prior to enrolling, I too was planning on going to one of the 'starter companies' mentioned on here. During school, however, we had recruiters from several different companies visit us. Most were smaller companies, 100-300 trucks, and most are companies you'll rarely see mentioned here. I was pleasantly surprised by some of their offers, compared to the traditional starter companies. My point is, obviously, there are many companies out there that take students, and have decent starting pay and programs, if you have some way to find them.

    Good luck!
    IronRydr
     
    IronRydr, Jan 11, 2009
    IronRydr, Jan 11, 2009
    #2
  4. Jan 11, 2009 #3
    Viking84

    Viking84 Light Load Member

    197
    86
    Dec 27, 2008
    Valdosta Georgia
    0
    I am in the 5th week of a 10 week school in South Georgia. We graduate Jan 29th.
    Werner is the only recruiter that has come by, but several other companies such as Swift,USXpress, USA Truck all have applications there at our class room.
     
    Viking84, Jan 11, 2009
    Viking84, Jan 11, 2009
    #3
  5. Jan 11, 2009 #4
    Stealth75711

    Stealth75711 Bobtail Member

    22
    0
    Jan 5, 2009
    In a truck
    0
    i hear central reefrigerated is good
     
    Stealth75711, Jan 11, 2009
    Stealth75711, Jan 11, 2009
    #4
  7. Jan 12, 2009 #5
    soon2betrucking

    soon2betrucking Road Train Member

    1,658
    473
    Sep 28, 2007
    Philadelphia, Pa
    0
    you may want to check out Watkins Shepard. they are a great starter company... actually, a great company to work for weather your starting out or have been driving for a some time.. i drive for them, and i dont see me going anywhere anytime soon...unless they get rid of me.. :biggrin_2553:
    but im not sure if they hire out of your area, call them and find out... theres a thread on here about the company/.
     
    soon2betrucking, Jan 12, 2009
    soon2betrucking, Jan 12, 2009
    #5
  8. Jan 12, 2009 #6
    kingsson

    kingsson Heavy Load Member

    757
    244
    Nov 29, 2008
    Omaha, NE
    0
    Stay away from Werner. Not a bad company, but at this time they have trainees stacked up at the terminals waiting for trucks to get into. Werner has just shut down 1,000 trucks for lack of freight, and laid off a whole bunch of drivers. Of the ones you mentioned, Swift may be the best choice. US Xpress is not a bad company, but they drive automatic transmissions, making it harder to move to another company down the road. I actually don't know anything about Watkins Shepard. Didn't even realize they took trainees!
     
    kingsson, Jan 12, 2009
    kingsson, Jan 12, 2009
    #6
  9. Jan 13, 2009 #7
    soon2betrucking

    soon2betrucking Road Train Member

    1,658
    473
    Sep 28, 2007
    Philadelphia, Pa
    0
    yeah, watkins even has a 30 day school out in Montana too.
    i didnt no about watkins, i was heading to Werner, and the night before i was leaving to orientation at werener i was on line and saw a link for W/S and iv been here ever since..
    like i said, im not leaving till they toss me to the curb..
     
    soon2betrucking, Jan 13, 2009
    soon2betrucking, Jan 13, 2009
    #7
  10. Feb 16, 2009 #8
    meatball138

    meatball138 Bobtail Member

    32
    1
    Feb 14, 2009
    the south west
    0
    might be starting school at the end of march, do you feel you are making an ok amount of money for the amount of work you are putting in? they said .28 mile OTR dry van and expect about 2500 /week, 3 weeks out a time, i would be going out from santa fe springs,ca



     
    meatball138, Feb 16, 2009
    meatball138, Feb 16, 2009
    #8
  • Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.