chance to work for O/O small company or mega company Which should I choose

Most small companies have little to no benefits. The milage pay doesn't mean much if accessorial pays are non-existant. If he's willing to give you the refresher and some miles afterward, might be a good deal to get started. After 3-6-12 months you can move on to many other companies; doesn't have to be a mega either. Those mid-size companies can be pretty good and have good benefits.
While with this small outfit, get all the endorsements plus TWIC. Trimac Transportation has a terminal somewhere near you and those guys make well over $60K just starting out. Their drivers that qualify for the "elite fleet" jump to $100K+ per year.
Yes, probably a good deal to drive for the family friend just to get back on the road. Start your backup plan soon though so you can move to the big money in a few months. After 12 months it's a whole new world for jobs; almost all companies hire drivers that have 12 months experience.
Another good company to look at is A&R Transport. They used to require 12 months experience, but now don't. One of my former neighbors in Tennessee makes $72K working there. Haven't checked the website lately, but they have stuff going on in Southern California.

 

Working for a O/O can be better and also can be worse, if you know this guy, might be better, does he offer benefits? Like med, dental? If so, you might just consider staying with him, if your unsure of this guy? Might not want to stay to long, many have been screwed by an O/O, look at the pic in my profile, you'll see a guy that's been screwed, the only way I'll ever chance that again, is if I know the guy, and won't have to wait hours and hours to get fuel, because his comcheck is no good, or get a phone call because my pay check bounced, good luck

 

What are the benefits like? I worked for a small company (x < 20 employees) for years and had GREAT benefits, so you can't judge a company (making an assumption of benefits being good or bad ) based only on it's size.

My $.02...I'd want some additional information before I make a decision. Don't focus too much on pay. Yeah...you need to make ends meet, but salary is only one part of a compensation package.

 

Being on a 1099 means your responsible for 100% of the taxes, on a W2 the company picks up a percentage of the taxes, the only way I'd work on a 1099 as a company driver would be based on benefit package and rate of pay, one or the other not there, I'd have to look else where, knowing your trying to get you feet back in the industry, you'll have to make that choice

 

Sounds good then; since you need vacation time soon to be with your new born and wife, this 0/0 company is probably the best route. If it's not a company you want to stay with, then you can move on after returning to USA and have good family healthcare benefits.
Breath that clean air in the USA and enjoy it; I'm choking to death.

 

Ultimately the decision is yours to make, all I can do is share my experience. I've never worked for a big or " mega " company. Always seemed to me the bigger the company the more nonsense there is to put up with. Health insurance and other benefits were never a big concern of mine either though. The biggest place I ever worked for had 100 trucks. When I started they had 15. When I started drivers were offered traditional BC/bs no copay go to whatever doctor hospital you wanted 100% paid for by the company family coverage paid for also. When I left they were at just over 100 trucks. I can't remember the name of the insurance, I do remember it only covered 60% of most expenses and the company only paid 40% of the premiums at that time. When I started I could walk right in the front door down to the owners office sit down have a conversation with him. When I left the office doors all had locks on them, and you talked to dispatch through bullet proof glass. Not an environment I wanted to be a part of. I guess it's all in what you want need from your employment.

 

One thing to consider... Working for a friend or family friend: if things go sideways, now you've got bad blood in what otherwise was a good relationship. Still your decision, just something to consider.

 

from what i've seen of insurance, obamacare is much cheaper then going through work. there are also other sights for self insurance. specially when it comes to a family plan.

smaller is the way to go. they don't give you a criminal background when you leave. your also gauranteed to be known by name and not a number. you get that family type atmosphere. lotsa reasons to stay small. not many reason to go big.