Best School and Company to Start With

I'm looking to go into trucking myself soon and I have a degree. Your prob. going to have to start w/one of the mega carriers (SWIFT, PRIME, C.R. England, etc). KLLM, however accepts trainees and is out of Jackson, MS. Good Luck!

 

Most companies hire from about any 160 hr. CDL school. Look for that around Birmingham and then call companies you're interested in and ask if they recognize the school.

Decker Truck Line has a new terminal in Birmingham.
Keim TS
Waggoners Trucking Co.
Melton Truck Lines

 

Don't most companies like TMC require at least 1-year OTR?

 

No, they don't. In fact, many companies may have 6 mos. or 1 yr. experience required on the website, but they bend their own hiring rules for a high quality applicant. The good money is in hazmat/tankers where you can start your new career making $60K+ per year.

Superior Carriers
CTL Transportation
SVTN
Groendyke Transport
A&R Logistics - terminal in Decatur
Tidewater Transit - terminal in Decatur
Schneider Bulk
Trimac Transportation

 

There's a number of other flatbed outfits that train or take new CDL school grads. Not to discount Boyd and TMC, but don't limit your options. Do some research. Pick up truck job booklets they have near the front door at truck stops to get a better sense of who trains. Again there's at least a half dozen other decent flatbed companies who train

 

I'm a new flatbedder and I'm driving with Prime, so I don't have hands on experience with the companies I'm about to comment on. If your trying to decide between TMC and Boyd to flatbed, they're both great options it seems. It looks like Boyd pays really well. Meanwhile, I've been told TMC (and Maverick) have the best securement and tarping training. TMC has really pretty Petes and you better keep it really pretty. Another flatbed company called McElroy advertises to pay very well and get you home every weekend.

Myself if I were to leave Prime for another flatbed OTR company, I would be deciding between Boyd and McElroy. Being that the options you gave were Boyd and TMC, I might steer you towards Boyd. TMC also seems to be a great company though.

That's the thing about flatbed though. There's a lot of good companies, and they respect their drivers, new or not. Flatbedders work hard, have to be a little crazy, and deserve respect. Hard to find a CR England to work for in this segment.

 

Maverick has a CDL school now. They have flatbed, glass, and temp controlled divisions.
Its in Little Rock but I just thought I'd throw it out there...

 

Do any freight/flatbed companies pay for your school?