I know several KLLM drivers and if I wanted refer then I would be pulling refer for KLLM out of Portage ONLY. If you can't get Portage I would look elsewhere.
I can tell you that I have been much happier in the MW than I ever was out of Jackson. It's like two different companies, can't tell you if the folks in Atlanta are as good as those in Portage. The girls in Portage run me as hard as I want to run and always get me home when I want to be. They get to know you by your first name. I drove for a FM out of Jackson for 6 months and never even met him. Every time I got in there and gave him a call and asked how about I come over and meet you, he was always too busy for me. I met everybody in Portage the first week I was on the MW, including the terminal manager, who took the time to sit down and talk with me. Again don't know if ATL is like that or not.
I thank you all for the input and the what you knows'. I'm wanting to explain that my family and I being happy or content. It takes a company that will allow me to be able to see family but not leave two teenagers and their step-mom alone. They have been used to me being at their beconing call. I'm soon to be able to live the truckers lifestyle starting Mid-October and this is my 1st job that will keep me out on the road for a while. How do you get the household to understand that they will be able to stand without me being here. Any advice is appreciated and the family and I have already discussed the difference that this lifestyle is gonna be. Please keep that in mind.
There really is no way to know if you or your family are going to be able to adjust to being away from one another, until you try it. I've been driving for about 3 years and now it's me that is reconsidering if this the lifestyle that I want. You give up a lot, when you go over the road. And unfortunately it's difficult to know which company is going to be the best fit for you and your family. Because most of the time when you talk to a company, your talking to recruiters. And most recruiters have never spent a single day in a truck, so they cannot understand your questions or concerns. Their jobs is to find butts to fill seats.
My goal is to turn some wheels and put some miles down, the lifestyle of trucking is the move that will help my family get stronger and put it to the test to see who's real and who's not. If a family love you they would have your back and keep you motivated to do what you need to keep the wheels turning.
I know first hand that CRST is to be avoided. I have heard a lot of bad from CR England too. Swift I have heard mixed good and bad, I think it depends on your performance with them. I have heard good about Schneider but never worked there. I have heard good about KLLM but never worked there. US Express I've heard about the same as Swift. Of course these are all starter companies. In 1999 I had a co driver at Watkins (now Fed-ex National) that started out at Schneider. He said they were a pretty good place to work and had no regrets. For a starter company though. Now he works for Landstar and loves it. Has his own truck and everything. I got out of trucking. I quit in 2003 then tried it again in 2008 and 2009. I just recently made a couple runs and I can't believe how things have changed. All this electronic crap and new regulations! I hate it! They took all the fun out of the job. Give me the the good ol days when you could drive a Pete 379 13 speed with a 550 CAT wide open. No one even talks on the CB anymore. No respect either and no one offers any help if you need it. Prior to 2003 you felt like a one big family out there, now you feel like a loner. All the small good paying companies with fast trucks went out of business or were bought by huge companies. Not cool.
Im on a load for them right now me an my wife have leased a 2009 cascadia from them and either our tractor or one of there trailers breaks down every week. We have made about 1400 dollers take home for both of us for the month...but they have paper logs and.. they leave u alone..I believe compared to all the trucking companies not the worst by a long shot but not the best either
You mean all the small companies with fast 379's and 550 Cats running wide open all the time went out of business? I wonder why...
I like being set at 62. I was tired of always passing cars weaving in and out of traffick. I can put the cruise control on and enjoy the ride. I am happy wth kllm. I run the pilgrimnpride acct. out of Mt. Pleasant Tx.
