Best OTR/flatbed/regional companies for GI Bill Apprenticeship

Schneider Bulk - tankers

 

Melton Truck Lines

 

Do you have a CDL and/or experience, military or otherwise driving big trucks?

Chinatown, as usual, has some up with some very good choices.

I am familiar with TMC, and I like them, although, any outfit you choose will be very rigid. Of course, with your military background, you might thrive on that. Me personally, I am soft, old, fat and lazy, and prefer to work when I want, not based on someone else's demands or lack there of!

If you really want a challenge, there are some other flatbed organizations you might look into...there is nothing in it for me, but, when you are ready, you might be able to get on with Daily Express...they are a PA based company with lots on the east coast...www.dailyexpress.com. I have talked to Chris Gibney there, but, he is a terminal manager in Davenport Iowa...but, he could tell you if they are hiring and what the requirements are. The cool thing about them is, they also do a lot of heavy haul, so, if that is something you look to get into, could be a starting point.

There are really lots and lots of companies that probably would hire you. So, your better bet is to do some research, find a few your are interested in, and then come back and ask again just like you did or search the name on old posts of Truckers Report.

One name I CAN give you that I would recommend you stay FAR away from is Buchanan Hauling and Rigging out of Ft. Wayne IN. They do a LOT of work along the east coast. They would LOVE to have you come work for them as a company driver for peanuts, treat you like dirt the entire time, and maybe one day, hope to con you into their "Owner Operator" program buying one of their worn out POS tractors and REALLY sticking it to you with an over-priced lease on their hunk of junk that will fall apart and leave you stranded on your first run. Can you tell I have contempt for them? In general, it is a BAD idea to get your work from the same outfit you lease your truck from, or, be confined to only working with a select handful. But, that might be years down the road for you.

Just be careful. Chinatown has shown you some options here. They are all, for the most part, mega fleets. Again, I have no clue on your background and experience, if you are coming into this as a rookie. It seems so, based on what you are asking, but, I don't like to assume.

Mega carriers all LOVE to recruit fresh blood, especially one that never experienced trucking. They make LOTS of promises. Their dirty little secret is, only a small percentage of what they are telling you is true and, their "washout" rates are through the roof. But, if they can get a small percentage of rookie recruits to come in and "make it", they know they will have dirt cheap labor at their disposal. And, they will run you until you wise up to what is what and figure it out, and leave. Maybe you will go somewhere else, maybe you will wash out of the industry entirely.

That isn't to say all are bad. UPS, FedEx, even WalMart pays their drivers very well these days. I have friends who drive for them who make over six figures, have steady, regular shifts and are home in their own bed nightly!

The REAL opportunity for you lies in the Mom and Pop shops of the world...or, being a completely independent Owner Operator running under your own authority.

That is what I have done for 23 years. I am 55 and trucking was not my chosen profession as a kid....although, I always enjoyed driving and LOVED big trucks and heavy equipment!

If you were my son, depending on your skills and inclinations, I might tell you to use your benefits to go into a better career such as being a mechanic or even a heavy equipment operator. Seasoned crane operators (who have nerves of steel and a strong work ethic) make well over 6 figures easily and have terrific benefits.

You will not find as many opportunities as a company driver that pay even close to 6 figures, depending on where you live and what you are willing to do, but, it is improving.

Best of luck to you.

 

You are welcome. You came here for info, and we are happy to provide for you...this is one of the best places to get it.

You provided your services to this country already, I think it's the very least thing we can do for you.

Heavy haul and over dimensional is cool. Definitely challenges you to be your best and pays you well, or at least SHOULD.

I used to be leased to Miller Transfer and Rigging in Rootstown OH. Lots of open deck work on the east coast. They were all very good people, family owned and operated. I left because rates were going down and they were very selective about backhauls, a lot of deadhead miles. Maybe some of that has changed. I also grew tired of primarily east coast driving.

I didnt mention them before, not knowing your experience level or aspirations. As well, at least when I was there, they had only a few company drivers and mostly owner ops like me.

There website says you need 2 yrs verifiable but, give them a call...let them know you are a veteran and maybe they can give you a chance.

If you can get in there, you probably stand a better chance getting into their cool heavy haul projects than an O/O.

You can check them out below. Some good videos on what they do and if you look around on YouTube, probably see time lapse video of some major projects. Cool stuff.

I ran for Jim Miller (no relation) out of South Holland IL, he was very good terminal manager. Not sure if he us still around or if he retired. He's probably been around the industry 35 or 40 years.

Most of their managers come from within, so, they KNOW what it takes to be you. Very important in finding a good place to be versus joining some mega carrier where you are just a driver number.

Home - Miller Transfer

Even if you don't qualify today, go to an outfit like TMC and get the exp. Then move over.

Also, check out Roehl. My cousin got on with them doing flatbed work right out of driving school. He switched careers in his 40's after 20 years as a new & used car salesman at a Chrysler dealer in Chicago. I was surprised they put him in flatbed from the start, but, I think if they see initiative in you and that you can physically handle the work they will try you out.

He liked Roehl, just didn't like being OTR. He now works for a waste management company close to home as a union driver doing roll-off work. Good, steady pay and home every day.

Good luck to you!

 

And...I'll give you same advice I gave my son. He is 22 and tried college, didn't like it. He played baseball from age 5 to 18, was on his varsity team in HS until he hurt his shoulder and needed 2 surgeries to fix, which disqualified him from military service, which he really wanted to do.

He went to a local Jr College and got certified as a diesel mechanic. He's been working for 4 years as a mechanic, he hurt his other shoulder in a car accident a year ago, and needed surgery as well, missed 5 mo of work. If your counting, that's 3 shoulder surgeries in a little over 4 years. Shoulder strength and flexibility are critical to be a mechanic, especially on heavy duty equipment.

He works nearby for Rush Truck Center which is owned by Intl trucks.

He now got his CDL this summer so he can move trucks around.

I think he realizes that his days doing hard physical work like turning a wrench are numbered.

We were talking about this just last night...he wants to become a 150 operators mechanic (heavy equipment) and work his way into being an operator as well. He has an instructor from school that is a mentor to him who is all 3, operator, mechanic and CDL.

The union frowns on it but, in smaller jobs, he can drive the truck and piece of equipment to the job, take it off the trailer, DO the digging or whatever needs to be done, drive it all back and, if something needs fixing, do that as well.

With that kind of talent, the world is your oyster. You can work for just about anyone, or land a cushy govt job with a nice pension AND/OR be in bizz for yourself.

Your future is bright. Run it right.

 

ATS won't put you into heavy haul with your experience.

You could get on to the specialized division and do oversize freight there. Work your way into the heavy haul division.