Need some advice please, Tanker/flatbed jobs in South Alabama?

Discussion in 'Trucking Schools and CDL Training Forum' started by Vicewire, Apr 8, 2019.

  1. Vicewire

    Vicewire Bobtail Member

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    I've looked at Prime and Jim Palmer a few days ago. I was honestly all set to pull the trigger with prime but wanted to do more research and ask people who were experienced before I did. I know they're one of the bigger companies out there and their routes are no where near my home.
     
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  3. Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

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    They're 48 state irregular route carriers.
     
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  4. Vicewire

    Vicewire Bobtail Member

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    So if I go with prime or any other company and I make it past their school and acquire my cdl license. Lets say I'm out for 5 weeks will they schedule my last route closer to home. Cause I was nervous about that. I really have no experience in the industry and I've read mixed reviews all over. I'm assuming they would atleast attempt to do that.
     
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  5. x1Heavy

    x1Heavy Road Train Member

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    You are going to be GONE a long time.

    Longer than most people will understand or tolerate. It's alien to them to see you gone weeks or months. It will be almost a form of death. You go bye bye and literally don't know when you will be back again.

    As far as loans... don't You say you got three months . whoo hoo. Nice. Save a few more and pay the CDL outright. That way no one can threaten or use contracts againstt you.

    Trucking is the least secure of anythnig people can do for working. You might be dismissed or fired for the smallest damage etc. Or put into jail a while. Or even the hospital at any time.

    Jobs are not guaranteed out of trucking school. You will understand you learned just enough at school to get through the State DMV test without screwing it up royally. You will learn as you go along, but are not expected to last more than a few years. If you get that far into the future with one job trucking, then you literally can choose your next employer and they will do goodies like flying you to orientation and so forth. If you turned out to be a crappy driver breaking stuff, hitting things and so on, you will find yourself unhireable in a hurry.

    It is fortunate you never did a drug in your life. Make sure no one is left in your life that does. This also extends to having say a owie and pain medicine from the doctor. It's illegal to have it as of Jan `1 2018 even though it is not a illegal drug of itself when prescribed to you.

    You will learn that you are a one man army advocating for yourself. A percentage of drivers wear flip flops and could care less about running the USA and all that rah rah.
     
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  6. Av8torcrj

    Av8torcrj Light Load Member

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    Since you asked for advice I’ll offer a friendly suggestion which is based on my personal and direct experience. You obviously put some time and thought into your post and it comes across as well written and sincere.

    First, don’t let all the negativity you can easily find on here about trucking in general or specific companies in particular drag you down. The industry, just like many others, ultimately is what you make if it. The cynical and bitter complainers are often the architects of their own misery. If you have the personality for it, independent thinker, comfortable in unfamiliar environments, able to spend hours on end alone and operating essentially in your own mind without constant social feedback, it can be a rewarding and modestly lucrative career.

    So, my personal advice considering the circumstances you’ve described, particularly as it relates to your mothers health, is to consider a part time position with Schneider if it is in fact offered in your area. Here is why.

    First, it’s a solid organization with an extraordinarily wide freight base. It’s rare that I ever have to wait for a load and should a rare assignment delay occur it’s often very short. The equipment is generally well maintained and any issues in this area are usually the result of a slacker driver not doing a proper post trip and leaving you with an anomaly, not the companies unwillingness to address an issue. Most of the tractors are now automatics which takes the shifting out of the equation. Safety is a priority at the organization and you will NEVER be asked to do anything unsafe or illegal. You will have the authority to stop work and shut down the truck if you believe conditions, primarily weather, have become unsafe.

    Part time in my area requires 7 consecutive days of work per month. You will have to enter your zip code on the Schnieder jobs page to see what, if anything, is offered in your area. You can work as much or as little as you like. This flexibility allowed me to spend most of this past winter in the Caribbean on a cruise ship. I’m now working basically a full time schedule to pay for next winters travel.

    You of course are issued a different tractor for each work period. My boss knows I’m a reliable hard worker, take care of the equipment, clean it up after my work period and don’t like a smoked in vehicle. I typically am assigned the newest and nicest tractor available on the yard. My latest tractor has 150k miles, an Apu and a refrigerator. I’ve never run less than 2000 miles in 7days, typically 2500-2800 with my best week 3300. I can generally expect about $1000 ( + or -) to go into my bank account weekly after 20% into my 401k. I think my rate is around .47 per mile. I’ve always been able to easily achieve the performance bonus.

    Similarly, my mother was in failing health a few years ago. I have a background in medicine and needed to become her full time care taker for a period of months. Schneider graciously and without question gave me a period of personal leave to look after her until her death. I seemlessly returned to my driving position at that point.

    The company has been nothing but good to me. I’ve worked in high paying, well respected white collar professions most of my life. I know BS when I see it and wouldn’t tolerate it. I don’t generally get any from Schnieder and wouldn’t be here if I did despite the inevitable upcoming suggestions that I’m high on orange cool aide. Regardless, best of luck in your endeavors and wishing your mother well.
     
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  7. steverino

    steverino Bobtail Member

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    Prime is a mixed bag. I went to Maverick 1st thing and didn't make it. Then I went to Schneider and made it, but didn't make any money. Then I went to Prime and things started getting better.

    With Prime, it depends on a lot, which division you go into (I went into flatbed) and whether you run company or owner operator.

    My brother went to Prime and got his CDL there. Unfortunately, he ran reefer and from what I understand, they screwed him over left and right with no delay pay, lots of wait time, tons of lumpers (they take too long and charge too much), and short loads. But then again, my brother is also a pathological liar, so take that with a grain of salt.

    Personally, I'd prefer to run with a simple box instead of flatbed or reefer. That way, instead of focusing on the temperature of your load or load securement (strapping or chaining your load down), you primarily focus on your driving. After your comfortable with driving the truck, then go to a specialized division.

    But here's a tip, not all trucking companies keep you out a long time. Once you do your year, there are jobs like Ryder that have local runs yet have guaranteed pay anywhere between $800-1000 a week, or $1,300 if you run teams and stay out a week at a time (home on weekends). Jobs like that makes me wish I moved closer to one of their terminals. And their benefits are awesome!

    Just remember, Trucking is a long term game. You're not going to be getting rich right off the bat. Take your time and be patient. And when you're in the biggest hurry, that's when it's most important to slow down.
     
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  8. Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

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    Trucking companies have hiring areas. Except in extreme circumstances when a driver just begs to work there, they won't hire outside the hiring area.
    The reason for this is if you live outside the hiring area, the company can't get you home for your home time.
    Hiring area is also where their freight lanes are and they don't want to hire a driver that lives too far off the freight lanes.
    So, if a company says they can hire you, that means there won't be any problem getting you home for your scheduled home time.
    Which town are you near in Alabama?
     
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  9. steverino

    steverino Bobtail Member

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    I'm closest to Little Rock, AR, but that's still a 80-90 minute drive and is impractical to drive every day. I prefer just to stay out a bit and save on gas money and wear and tear on the car.

    Now I stay gone about a month at a time but the job I'm on now pays really good and I get a whole 7 days off, not counting travel days, every 4 weeks.
     
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  10. Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

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    FFE (Frozen Food Express) - www.ffeinc.com - is worth a phone call for sure.
    They train in Mississippi. If your bank account needs a quick jump start; you can make 80K your first year as a team driver. @TravR1 can verify this with details on how to do that. Not every one has the drive and work ethic to pull this off, but it can be done.
    FFE is owned by KLLM Transport and both companies train at the same schools.
    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Apr 8, 2019
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  11. Trucking in Tennessee

    Trucking in Tennessee Road Train Member

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    Express is right. I was doing 71 yesterday and one went around me.
     
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