Abilene Motor Express....A New Place To Call Home

Also, am I looking at my map right? The directions I got on the qc said take 93 to 95 into Reno. 95 is 2 lane for like 350 miles? Am I seeing things? Never been anywhere but Vegas in NV. At least the weather is supposed to be okay.

 

Hello everyone. My name is Brian and I will be starting CDL school at the end of the month and I'm hoping to pick y'alls brain a little bit here so I'm sorry if this has been answered before but I just had a question about the company in relationship to another. I have been doing a lot of research and I have come down to my top two companies to start out with being Abilene or Magnum. I have been reading both threads on the companies and they both look very good(meaning miles/equipment/treatment of drivers) so my question is this. Is there any real difference between the two other than the color/type of truck? It looks like Magnum pays more cpm but I know its not always about the cpm if you don't have the miles etc... I know you may not be able to really give the difference between the two if you have not driven for both but I am just curious and I appreciate any help you all are able to give.

 

hey brian, upon doing your research did you hang around the truck stops in your area to see how you'll be living on your ten hour breaks? you might get lucky to find a parking spot. elogs and companies that want you to camp out at the customers gate with no facilities.get a local job where your paid by the hour while your on duty and your ten hour breaks are at home. i've seen ltl companies with trainee programs starting up. good luck stay safe.

 

I wouldn't say hangout but I have been to truck stops. I'm getting out of the Army in April so spending time in a place with no facilities doesn't really bother me much. I have looked into LTL companies and although spending my 10 hr breaks at home would be nice I think getting at least 1 year of OTR experience would benefit me more than just starting out on local. Thank you for your help.

 

Brian I have not driven for either company but they both impress me
your location would be one of the deciding motivators for me
being right in either companies major route lanes makes it easier to get home
or even getting a drive by on the fly
If all things were equal as a brand new driver it appears to me the traing phase at Abilene is superior and they dont have you on poverty wages doing it

 

I live in Atlanta, Ga.

 

No, you're not seeing things. I used to live in Phoenix, and when you run in the west, it's not uncommon to go hundreds of miles on a 2 lane highway. The interstates are far more spread out than they are on the east coast. If you are on I-40 right now, or will be running that way, that's about the best way to get to Reno.

 

I have driven for both, they are about even. Both have great equiptment, treat there drivers right. Abilenes truck will go faster, but Magnum does a far superior job of pre planning drivers, sometimes at Magnum you will know what your doing all week long. It's really a toss up in my humble opinion.

 

Thanks runningman0661