Assistance In Finding A Good Company???

If you research there are companies that will pay you better; even as a newbie. Some even if you don't have a CDL. Look at maverick, they start around .39-.40 cpm and most first year drivers make over $52,500 their first year with 97% of weekends home.

 

I just talked to a millis driver the other day,he said hes been there quite a few years with very little to complain about. I haven't heard alot of negative feedback from drivers I have listened and talked to. We need great teachers everywhere,too bad,on your off season you couldn't drive a bus for children,to supplement your income,especially since you are a teacher. I have never been sorry for driving a truck either,over 40 yrs now and still not had enough. good luck ,did you check on ny grants,you must know where to look,get into a cummunity college to get cdl,alot of companies respect that longer training and I think you will retain more than rushing right thru it all,although they say the big orange has a good school,drivers I have seen out there of theirs' seem to be better than alot of others and are safer to be around.

 

So, JohnB, you got the real estate license and went for the big bucks, only the big bucks never materialized? Surprise, surprise.

One thing I've learned in my few hours on this planet (trucking companies believe you and I both were born yesterday), is that no good job is advertised. Good jobs are like those twenty-dollar bills on the sidewalk--you're never going to find one just out of the blue. "The sweepstakes van ain't coiming", my friend. "Word of mouth" is the way the real world works when it comes time to find a great job, even a good job. This is especially true in an era of downsizing and outsourcing. Yeap, you gotta know somebody these days.

THINK. If those real estate jobs were/are such great, high paying extravaganzas, everybody and everybody's uncle would be doing them and there would have been no openings for you at the inn when you got in. Nope, little ol' YOU would never have seen any advertisements for those jobs, which are the same advertisements I've seen, especially on the late-night infomercials. But, boy, they are advertised, and advertised a LOT. Well, if you're a sucker........

The same goes for trucking jobs. Recruiters will spout about how much you can make, but it's just BS. If one could make that much, the recruiters wouldn't even be there. They'd be out of their recruting jobs themselves because no one would ever quit those jobs, meaning recruiters wouldn't be needed. Hell, if one COULD make the income the recruiters claim, those recruiters would be doing the jobs themselves they speak so highly of. But they aren't, are they? Hell no. This is because their claims are just a bunch of BS, just like the real estate BS you ran into.

Have you ever seen a NASA job advertised anywhere? I know I haven't. Why is this? Answer that question and you will have achieved job-hunting enlightenment.

Stay away from trucking. If you DO get into it, be #### sure to get a grant to pay for it. Do NOT pay for any training out of your own pocket. Trucking is too insecure for one to foot his own training bill. If you have an accident, you'll be in the breadline back at square one. No thanks.

 

Does anyone know of a company that runs from Washington State to Mid West/East Coast and return?

There was such a company in Yakima, but I don't remember the name.

Refer or Dry Box. No Haz Mat. / Doesn't pay enough.

If you do, please send me a message. I would like to keep semi active, even though I am retired. Working nine months out of the year is all I want.

Thanks for considerations and any help in locating a good company.

 

10-4 all the way around. There are no Get Rich Jobs. Fortunately there are good opportunities for those who want to work that do pay incredible incomes to those who will organize into teams; but not in trucking!

What did I say? You bet there are, but I won't expound on that because no one believes it.

Fact is they have to do their due diligence if they want to learn, but who wants to learn? Nobody!

Why? Because they just want to do things the hard way because that is what has been taught in society.

I am about to publish a book where I have one chapter entitled, "All you ever wanted to know about truck driving, but could not find anyone to tell the truth!"

One of my articles was picked up by Routers who wanted to publish it some time ago. Likewise, OOIDA President read my article and was interested in publishing excerpts out of it, but I felt it was worthy to publish the whole thing so I did not allow it. It was read around the world anyway.

Tomorrow I will print out my draft and send it for reviews. Hopefully all will be ready for print shortly.

As far as staying away from the Trucking Industry, I would never say to do that, but I will say, people who just start are in for a tough time until they have their time in. After that, they can pretty much pick and chose from the best companies, depending on where they live. Unfortunately, even the best of the best are not so great, but the pay is not bad for a company slave today as long as people learn to spend wisely while on the road.

Whats that? Yes, stay away from the arcades, and the night truck stop parking lot entertainment. Eat healthy and leave all the snack junk food alone. Enjoy your entertainment when you are off the truck at home.

I would still like to work part time and I know there was a company in Yakima, WA that ran east coast and back as well as mid west and back, but I don't know if they are still in business. That would be right up my alley as they pay .40 cents per mile. Don't want any of that .32 cent per mile garbage. I'd just as soon stay home and forget driving.

 

Hey John, I used to teach (McKinney High School) but here I am a trucker. I too have a Masters, but I do make a lot more than teaching. My five year plan is to pay off my house and get out. Then I can do whatever without a mortgage hanging over my head. I went to trucking school in Okla,(Central Tech), and they paid the tutition (because I was hired by a Okla based trucking firm: Arrow). I only had to work for Arrow one day for my tution to be covered. But I stayed 6 months, then jumped to another company that I thought I could do better (another story). Don't look for a company that is based near you. Look for any company that will provide what you want, that will let you take your truck home (or park in a secure lot near your house). Some truckers work like dogs for a few years, save their money by living in the truck, and then go pay cash for a house (or a healthy down payment).

 

I've read your posts and am at the same part in the decision process. I just wanted to let you know that I have found a company I will start with in Sept. The company is called Watkins Shepard and they seem to have a pretty good reputation in this forum. They start at .29c/mi, which moves up to .30 in 6 months plus bonuses, and they also offer training. If you search for Watkins Shepard in this forum you will find some good info.

The only other good alternative to Watkins would be Schneider in my opinion. Swift, Prime, Covenant, and CR England seem to only generate horror stories.

 

You've got to start somewhere, WS has a good rep. Just make sure you're not indebted to them in anyway, so if things go bad, you can jump. Keep the driving record clean, and keep doing your research; there is money to be made out here, but mostly by the companies. Find your niche and set some goals, so your not just working, but working for something. Good luck to ya!