Best questions to ask company recruiters?...

Forget about 3500 miles its just not going to happen.Think about safe companies,good equipment,and companies that wont try to make you run illegal.Companies that at least try to care about their driver.The way your going to find this out is at the truck stop talking to drivers from those companies.Under no circumstance CR E ngland.Other training companies.Stevens,Werner,Swift,Roehl,Crete in some instances,Millis,Prime,etc,etc,.Take anything a recruiter says with a grain of salt.They are salespeople and get paid to put people in the seat.Talk to the drivers and try to make an informed decision.You will get a better feel that way.Good luck to you.And last,try not to job hop.Keep your record clean.Then after a year or so your options expand exponentionally.

 

None of their drivers get 3500 a week unless they team or train.

 

Wow passing trucker did you ever give a big dose of reality. Yet guys are lined up to take those jobs. I agree with you though trucking has some MAJOR problems.....but the allure of driving a big truck goes a long ways still!

 

Honestly on a good week most companys are 2200-2800..If miles is what your really looking for, find a team mate and run teams then u might get 3500 +...
Companys are all about the same.Its really a trade off. Depends what you are wanting. Like mentioned above they all have pros and cons, at the end of the day its what your willing to put up with. Do your research and talk to ppl that all ready know.Most drivers will be str up with u. Go to a truck stop and ask drivers, most will be more then willing to help...Good Luck

 

If you are looking for 3500 miles a week.........


that company will NOT have any recruiters to ask !!!!


It will be a small operation, but they are out there.........

 

What companies will offer that? They all tell you what you want to hear and I know that but I haven't been to a truck stop locally where I seen any of the carriers that I'm looking to go to.

 

I get 2800 - 3200 miles per week and the 3200 mile week is when I am going nonstop so 3500 is really pushing it unless you have a lot of drop n hooks and the shippers/receivers have brains.

 

New guy what carrier you with? Crete? I see you have started as well recently.. Or within the last year?

 

123456, funny but absolutely true!!!

You hit the nail on the head! I will sum up what 123456 said in newbie language! You aren't going to run 3500-4000 miles with any mega-carrier, especially running e-logs. Not that you have to lie but sometimes have to re-arrange or be creative. The smaller companies say like Windy Hill for example. They run paper logs and they run their drivers hard! They also don't have a ton of drivers so the loads match up more easily with the drivers. The dispatchers are responsible for 5-20 drivers instead of 200 thus giving the drivers more personal attention.

Crete is a good company though and out of all the mega's I would personally say they are one of the best. They will keep you busy. As a new driver though it would be really rare for you to do that many miles. You just don't have any experience and you won't know how to plan and stack your loads for optimum mileage. You will learn this though and in time you will be able to do it. Some drivers do pick it up fairly quickly. If you know AmericanTrucker, he was a newbie that really accelerated quickly and was able to do 3500-4000 a week. Not many newbies do though.

You do have to be very, very proactive for yourself out there! You have to really be a hustler to get those kind of miles! Always let your DM know where you stand as far as hours and availability. As soon as they give you a load, you plan it out and tell them exactly when you will be there. If you have 6 days to go 2000 miles you want to get there asap! Don't plan to deliver for the time scheduled. You tell your DM the quickest time you think you will be pulling in that receiver/shipper and put the pedal down! While in route you have your DM either find you a nearby drop yard or have them reschedule the appointment time. If your company permits it, you do some of the legwork. Your DM will love the help! Beware though, don't come right out and tell the customer you are the driver. Just tell them you are with (example) Crete and would like to reschedule an earlier appointment time if possible. (something along those lines) Just don't tell them, "Hey this is Chuck and I drive a truck and I'm a gonna be der really early!" Be professional!

You should do pretty well with Crete! They are an all around good company! Don't worry about the miles, they will come. You will also make much better money due to the fact that you won't be going home all the time. Taking home time really disrupts the flow of your miles. Really throws a wrench in the gears, even if you just go home for a day or two!

Good luck man!

 

Hey chompi appreciate the encouraging words about trucking and Crete... Kinda builds my momentum back up that they will be a good first carrier!