Close to graduation need help finding company

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by mbank88, Mar 4, 2016.

  1. mbank88

    mbank88 Bobtail Member

    35
    40
    Mar 4, 2016
    0
    Hello all!

    Thank you for taking the time to read this post. I have been looking at threads on this site for 2 years in my quest to become a trucker. I worked as a dispatcher at the Port of Oakland for 3 years after leaving the Army and I am finally attending school to get my CDL.

    A little background. About 6 months ago my parents had enough with the Bay Area and decided to leave for Tennessee. They let me stay in the house which was very generous but will be selling it next month after I get my CDL. They have been there for me since leaving the army and I am so thankful for that. With the Silicon Valley being so expensive I am looking for a beginner company out of Northern California that would get me to visit TN every few months. I am also open to relocate to the PNW.

    Thank you again for the help and time!!
     
  2. Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.

  3. Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

    74,886
    170,654
    Aug 28, 2011
    Henderson, NV & Orient
    0
    Leavitt's Freight Service
    Oak Harbor Freight Lines
    Pride Transport
    Abilene Motor Express
    Jim Palmer Trucking
     
  4. mbank88

    mbank88 Bobtail Member

    35
    40
    Mar 4, 2016
    0
    Thank you Chinatown. I have been speaking with Jim Palmer and pride. Looks like pride is a good outfit. I see that they follow the produce lanes in California a lot.

    We have been doing a lot of cross docks with TWT. Any opinion on them?

    Thanks again
     
  5. Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

    74,886
    170,654
    Aug 28, 2011
    Henderson, NV & Orient
    0
    From what I understand TWT is ok; just an average reefer outfit. You could do a heck of a lot worse.
    I'm from Tennessee, born and raised about 50 miles from Ft. Campbell.
    I'm sitting right in the middle of Silicon Valley right now. We're visiting friends then flying on to Las Vegas.
     
  6. mbank88

    mbank88 Bobtail Member

    35
    40
    Mar 4, 2016
    0
    Hope you are enjoying your stay here. It is a really neat place but too expensive unless you are in the tech field. I live in the east bay, Fremont to be exact.

    I dispatched for some drivers out of Vegas. I am interested there as well but not sure what companies hire newbies in Vegas.
     
  7. Rocknroller4

    Rocknroller4 Road Train Member

    1,165
    613
    Nov 25, 2015
    0
    Do you mind auto's or 10 speeds? Palmer only use stick I believe.
     
  8. mbank88

    mbank88 Bobtail Member

    35
    40
    Mar 4, 2016
    0
    Hello Rocknroller!

    Thank you for the reply.

    Either works for me. I drove autos in the Army and learned 10 speeds in school.

    Thanks!
     
    Rocknroller4 Thanks this.
  9. Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

    74,886
    170,654
    Aug 28, 2011
    Henderson, NV & Orient
    0
    Newbies in Vegas:
    Watkins-Shepard - has terminal in Vegas
    Pride Transport
    Old Dominion
    Jim Palmer

    The neighborhood I'm in is the million dollar and multi-million dollar townhouses and condos. My buddy lets us stay in a million dollar townhouse he owns, but it's free for us. His townhouse costs $2 million. It's really nice here, but I sure can't afford to live here. Most of the tech nerds don't make as much as I thought; $65K - $160K per year and much of that goes for rent. Rent runs about $3K per month in this neighborhood.Most of them are H1B visa workers from India and second most are H1B from China. Don't hear too much English in this neighborhood. I'm flying out of here for Vegas where my house is. Enjoyed the vacation here though; it's really a beautiful area.
     
  10. Scooter Jones

    Scooter Jones Road Train Member

    9,551
    19,977
    Apr 19, 2011
    0
    I went to for May Trucking out of the Brooks, OR yard fresh out of trucking school 7 years ago. I was on the refer fleet 48 States. It was a good starter company experience for me. I gave them 2.5 years and moved on. They have decent equipment and if you learn how to work the system, you can do alright as a newbie there.

    They can definitely get you through TN as well...

    Good luck with whatever you decide to do.
     
    Rocknroller4 Thanks this.
  11. mbank88

    mbank88 Bobtail Member

    35
    40
    Mar 4, 2016
    0
    Thank you for all of the great info. I can see that your friend is doing well for himself! I would never be able to purchase a house like that. It is getting to the point where the average working person does not stand a chance in the Bay Area. I make 60k a year as a dispatcher and with taxes etc. I cannot afford to rent a place.

    My decision to become a driver is to be able to see my family more often and be able to purchase a house in a more affordable area.
     
  • Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.