choosing a carrier

Read the company sections in this forum and stop at a truck stop in your area and speak with a few drivers.

 

I looked at miles that drivers get, pay per mile after you have been there 1 year, age of trucks, training, and customer base. You can research this forum and many other places to get this information.

I decided to go with Swift. I did not listen to the people that praise or bad mouth a company. Many of the people that praise a company have been there a long time and want new students to mentor so they can make money from the student. Many people that bad mouth company's are bad apples that would not be a good employee anywhere. So be careful as you read opinions and use your inner voice to help get through the misinformation you read.

Now if you go with one of the so called "Training Companies" keep an open mind. I am going into Swift with an open mind. I will judge them on how they treat me, not what someone else said. If they treat me good, I will be proud to stay. If they treat me poorly, I have not lost anything. I gained experience that will help me move on to a new position somewhere else. Also, if you spend a year at a "Training Company" you will have enough experience to choose a position that suits your lifestyle going forward.

 

Out of all of them I would say Roehl,Prime isn't that bad either,I would stay away from Swift and US Express also have some issues but they do a lot of NE runs.

 

Welcome.

 

I went to Roehl. Been with them 2-3 months now and so far I've enjoyed being with them. Good miles though maybe not the best truck but it runs strong and has been pretty reliable so I'm happy for far. I also put alot of research into company's before I made my choice and Roehl was #1 on my list. May not be for you, but I liked what I saw. Hell I got a christmas bonus (check just came in a christmas card so....).. after only a few months of working for them.

With ANY company you go with. Go in with a very open mind and you will do fine. I've been stuck in the mud, lost, you name it. It happens. Having a level head will keep you above water. Don't expect easy runs, don't expect timely loads, but do expect what can go wrong will go wrong if you are not paying attention. You may read this and go "Oh I know". Trust me I did that as well, but trust me when I say this, You do not know. I feel stupid every day because something new emerges I didn't know but I accept that and you will to! That is my only poorly worded advice.

 

Well, with Prime you'd get NE as well. My husband spent almost a week bee-bopping around up there this last time. There's a terminal in Pittston, PA.

Size up your options, and make your choice.

 

Hi every one over here...

 

I would also check their SMS safety ratings at the FMCSA website. Only consider carriers with lower scores. Otherwise, you are just putting a bullseye on your forehead and asking for more scrutiny from enforcement personnel.

http://ai.fmcsa.dot.gov/sms/Data/Search.aspx