Advice/Suggestions/Helpful hints

What are your expectations regarding home-time frequency? What are your desires for home-time frequency? At 60, I couldn't in good conscious recommend you pursue any flatbed work unless you are in exceptional good health and just really enjoy physical work and challenges

 

Companies that hire new CDL holders are a crap shoot. You will be very hard-pressed to find any where all drivers rave about how good things are there in year 1. They will all have their own problems and good points and much of these depending on the individual. But since regular, steady home-time is not a need for you [now], that certainly allows you to keep many more options available.

But understand that for many carriers, more time out demands does not necessarily translate to more money earned. Often it simply means more time sitting far from home as opposed to at home. The first 6-12 months for a new driver can be very stressful in many ways and being able to get home semi-regularly to a person who cares and a setting that offers comfortable surroundings will be highly valued by most, sooner rather then later.

 

One of the most important things to do is to empower yourself as a driver.. what I mean that is understand that you are the biggest factor in your success or lack of in this industry.. I have met and talked to drivers who are with a good company yet complain that they are only getting 1500 miles a week... on the other I have met drivers who are with a notoriously bad company and are making a good pay check..

You will will be a noob for longer than you realize.. there is always more to learn.. I have 6 months recent experience and 4 months past experience.. and I have more learning to do.. I am fortunate that I know and understand that, cause a lot of new drivers dont and their over confidence leads to trouble for them... there is a lot more to being a truck driver than driving... and it is in the details that trip up a lot of new drivers..

I believe the thing that has helped me is that I created a care plan or path just like trip planning a load.. I have clearly defined goals for myself.. I go over them often and make sure I am on track.. I make out goals for myself too.. thi gs to work on and improve..

Keep in mind.. if you start with a company and it doesnt go well you can take what experience you have, even if it is just 3 months and go to anotner company.. however.. sometimes it is better in the long run to stay and stick it ojt cause each month of experience opens more doors.. and you dont want to be a job hopper..

In cnoosing a company... I like companies that offer a variety of opportunity for me to try my hand at.. for examp, e with prime.. they pull reefers, van and even tankers.. so, if you are pulling reefer and unhappy with it.. you can give tanker a try and may find you love it...

I have never worked for any of the companies on your list so really dont have any valid information about them..

 

I'd go to Schneider bulk division if I was you honestly.

 

well it always helps to know where you are located
i am 60 also and prefer reefer work no labor at all
Magnum is a good company for that