older fresh grad looking for suggestions

Forget covenant & werner, swift might be a better 1st choice...usxpress
seems to have gone bad for drivers, In the beginning there are no real great choices until you have 1 plus years OTR and do not job hop or mess
up your DAC record.
Read all the threads you can about starter companies, **DO NOT** fall
into the pre-canned promises of recruiters, they are there to fill the seats
and make there money.Talk to drivers of the companies that interest you,
and sift thru the facts and fiction.
Good luck I left covenant and I am not upset about my decision...that
company is run by blood suckers,liars and "religous nuts."
best of luck
MCR.

 

My schooling cost $2000. I do not think I wasted any of the money as my wife paid for the schooling. She gets most of my check direct deposited to her account. She is just better with money then I am.

The truth is you should take any company that hires you. Do not lease or buy a truck until you are a good driver and are sure that trucking is for you. Be a company driver until you know.

No company that hires newbies is a company that is worth working for. They are prey on the fact that newbies will work for next to nothing. But you have to get your foot in the door. That means going with anyone who will hire you.

Remember one thing in your job hunt, there are trucking companies and then there are companies with Trucks. Companies with Trucks tend to pay more. Any company that is distributing a product has trucks. Anyone from Walmart to your local furniture company. I am not sure what Walmart truckers make so that is just a name. Be creative and remember the pay should be .45 per mile or more. Get your time in and move on.

 

I'm not sure which planet WooleyRhino is from but I don't know of any company that is paying newbs 45 cents/miles. That pay is usually reserved for those with 5 yrs or more and proven records.

As a new driver you can expect 30-34 cents per mile. Expect to be with a trainer for 4-8 weeks before being issued a truck. And while having more experience opens more doors I believe there are a few companies taking student drivers that are decent companies and worth staying with if you choose.

And I'm sure you didn't start this thread if you were willing to sign on with any company that offered you a job. There are in fact differences in the standards between companies and you should choose the company that will best mold you in to the best driver.

What you learn in CDL school prepares you to pass the CDL test and really not much more. I wouldn't have believed that statement when I was in your shoes but I know it to be true now, looking back.

What you learn (in the real world) with your trainer in the first 4 weeks or so with your first company sets the foundation for what kind of a driver you will be.

I am a firm believer in the Smith System and practice the tenants of the SS everyday. You should find a training company that puts safety as its top committment.

If you are a safe driver, maintain a clean record and are good with trip planning, getting loads done ontime and turn in legal, accurate logs you will be successful and command better jobs with better pay over time.

 

No training company has safety as its top commitment . Companies with safety as their top commitment only hire drivers with 2 or more years OTR . The top commitment of training companies is profitability and getting the most for the least from drivers .
Since Pat Quinn of USX was the ATA chairman spouting safety while pushing for speed limiters , we should consider USX as the best representative of these carriers . Here are the results of USX being audited shortly after the speed limiter petition was filed . http://ai.fmcsa.dot.gov/SafeStat/SafetySea.asp?ais=&dot=303024&WhichForm=start&PageN=EH#EH When you enter safestat put 303024 in DOT number

 

My thoughts exactly .45 cpm for a student is obsurd

Alot of companies it takes a minimum of five years to be at 45 and there is quite a few it takes 10 yrs exp.

Rick you prove a real good point and that is why i love my job, it takes a minimum 3 yrs exp just to get an application. The exp requirement goes up and the pay, and equipment go up with it i love it.

 

It probably won't be a waste if you can waituntil things turn around, but right now isn't real good anywhere. You might have to take what you can get. If your school is PTDI Certified, Crete could be one of the better companies that hire newbies, but they are being real picky now too.