Mega carrier or smaller company...

I've had better experiences with smaller ones.

unless all your after is the $$, with me it's been about being treated like a human.

 

Depends what you want out of your CDL everything is situational. Some reasons go mega is experience, another is mega might have freight near you often enough have a local position whereas a smaller company won't. Most want you to have one to two years experience. the smaller companies will not let you use them to get a lot times as experience without yet the mega carriers will funny how the small ones people go for want experience yet don't want to train yet they complain when they get garbage well did you see where they came from didn't you. Personally, if you don't want to invest in your drivers why would you be worth my time.

The other thing about smaller carriers they know you by name but the equipment may be garbage and may have worry about if that DOT pulls you over. There's big carriers too that have bad equipment too so be aware what you willing to do and not if your willing to risk your CDL or not to drive bad equipment.

Your not gonna get rich from trucking but you can make a living.

There are some good big companies old dominion, Estes express, Walmart and more people like, but it boils down to what you want and willing to do for money.

 

Ok, In my artist opinion if you're just first starting out with absolutely no experience I would actually recommend going with a mega carrier. With Warner your guaranteed to have a truck that's not going to die on you you will have some experience , like the way shippers and receivers work and what to load what not to load and how to load it etc etc etc and they usually don't run illegally smaller carriers a lot of the time you're expecting to bend a few laws here and there and you really don't want that when your first get started

 

I might tend to go with G&P or Senn. Probably get better training.
Keep looking? Mid size company seems to be the best?

 

I suggest a compromise. Don't do a Mega but also don't do a 2 truck company starting out. I work for a company that has about 115 trucks. Look for something around that size. My company does take new CDL holders but the only problem is they only have 3 trainers so there might be a wait due to a trainer being unavailable. If interested go to Britton transport.com. Best wishes to you!

 

I work for a company with 350 trucks, and I like it. Big enough to keep busy, small enough to be treated like a person not a number. It seems like I’m making more money than I would with a mega, too.

 

G&P is a pretty good company with lots of types of trucking. Is there a G&P yard near you? You could be home weekends.

There are a lot of factors to consider, not just Mega vs small. Megas usually have clear rules, predictable pay and an answer for most situations. Small companies can be great or the most dishonest people you've ever dealt with. It's like asking should you marry a right hander or a red-head. The specific companies and your needs must match.

 

I drive for Werner. You can read my thread on pros and cons. If you have an in with a small company that you know is good, go with the small company. They will be more flexible and actually care who you are. I’m not saying there aren’t nice people at Werner, but the only person who will know who you are is your fleet manager.

I know a guy with the same experience getting .52 cents a mile to pull reefers for a small company. He gets to pick “roughly” where he wants to go and takes about half the month off because he gets enough in two weeks to do so.

All the megas will give you about 1 day off per week out. Werner will let you take that time anywhere, and is somewhat flexible on the whole 1 d per week but what load you pull out of the hat is anyone’s guess.

 

Some of this depends on who you know. If you're a nobody, that's gonna earn it, you're going to have to basically start with a mega.

Almost everyone beyond the mega's requires a year verifiable experience.

Plus you are going to THRASH on that truck until you get some experience. Small companies don't want THRASHED trucks.

I have 2 trucks, number 3 is on the way. And small companies simply cannot be trusted.

Should you decide to pursue this endeavor, imho, here's a short list of companies to start with - Schneider.

Do you're first year at one company, and one only. It will make it much easier when / if you decide to move on. Jumping around is only going to hurt you. It's the same #### at every big company, and some are really ####ty, with a different name on the door.

Good luck to you.