Advice for Choosing Second Trucking Company

What They Didn't Teach Me at Roadmaster

I chose Roadmaster and paid their high rate because so long as you're willing to work, they will go out of their way to make sure you get your CDL. However, now that I've had some experience, it's obvious that Roadmaster failed to teach me the most important course of all - how to pick your first trucking company.

Having parted from my first company, I suddenly see things on trucking websites that I never saw before. For example: "We don't do forced teaming." If you don't know what forced teaming is (I do now) then you don't actually realize what you're reading. Other students are no help either.

Ok, so now I know ONE of the things I should look out for in the future.

I also know that the per/mile rate is meaningless unless you know the top speed the fleet trucks are governed at. (There's also the question of whether you'll even get any miles but, as you know, that's another matter).

What other common deciding factors would a knowledgeable truck driver take into account when questioning a prospective company?

(As usual, there are other issues, but let's just start with the basics first, please).

THANKS!

 

You have a point. I have several issues and was trying to break the whole thing down into the most simplistic parts so that you all wouldn't have to read an entire novel just to offer advice.

Ok, here's more . . .

I just got fired from let's call 'em "Jesus Christ Superstar Trucking." I picked them because I was impressed with their Christian theme. Turns out that as far as the upper management is concerned, Christianity is simply their marketing niche. I butted heads over the Bible with the VP and now I'm fired.

I don't have enough experience to be picky right now. The last company did forced teaming and they promised they would help me get my hazmat but didn't. Being fired was a blessing in disguise because I've just cleared the TSA backgrounder and two days from now I'll be picking up my new license with hazmat and tanker endorsements.

I'm single with no kids, no wife and no girlfriend. Home time is irrelevant in my case because technically, I'm homeless.

I just need to find a company that I can tolerate for a year. So I'm looking to avoid the major stumbling blocks that would prevent me from staying or get me killed in the process.

I've only been driving since July of last year but I've been put through my paces. (I actually think someone in the company was trying to manipulate me into an accident so they could blame me for firing me, but it didn't work. They provided no reason when they fired me.)

I've negotiated rush hour traffic several times in all the major metros. Survived a timed delivery to a Chicago UPS terminal in a blinding snow storm as well as snow storms in Philadelphia, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, Denver and Salt Lake City.

I drive super-conservatively, set the cruise control to the speed limit and never go over. I'm driving an 80, 000 pound missile - I don't take chances. I leave that to the super-truckers. I'm a professional and have nothing to prove.

As for venue: I was conned into teaming with an O/O who was a smoker (I'm not). And if she can be successful at it, I'm confident that I can too. So my resume on Career Builder is titled "Team/Solo OTR Driver with O/O potential."

I need to be really careful in choosing this second company so that I can establish myself as a consistent worker. I've ordered a copy of my DAC and sent a notarized letter to the company requesting a Separation Notice.

Now it's time to evaluate which starter company to go with and I need to know the more sophisticated pitfalls that I could avoid if only I knew. "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me."

Thanks

 

Thanks, this is good stuff . . .

Can you really collect on these? I know companies love to promise you things. Do the majors actually deliver?

Do you like yours? The last company's insurance was so meager, you were really paying them.

Thanks for this. Profit sharing is hard for them to rip you off on. Either they do it or they don't.

All good points, thanks again

They pretty much fake you out on this one, don't they? I mean, if you don't get this one in writing, they can claim that you're simply an exception to the rule, right?

NOW HERE'S WHERE THE RUBBER MEETS THE ROAD - Can anyone teach me how to become an expert in this? I met a driver in the fleet that was making nearly double what I was making and this was how he was doing it. Please, someone hit me over the head with a baseball bat because I REALLY need to know how you guys have made this work - up front before I sign on the dotted line.

The last company was 65. But I passed people, (PRIME, for example). Amazingly, there are trucks set in the high 50s and low 60s. (Which is what attracts me to O/O. It's handy to have that extra power when necessary).

Thanks for your help.