Driver out of work for a while. Need company recomendations

So I have held my CDL since 2014 and used it for a few local construction jobs. I am looking for either a regional or OTR job that won’t make me go through a refresher course and enslave me to a contract.
I’m in CT and willing to run the northeast. I just don’t want to be a slave to a company.

 

My husband has been looking for new work too, as a result I've done a crap ton of research on trucking companies and I've spoken to a lot of trucker wives who have given recommendations to companies that have good pay, and doesn't treat their truckers like dirt.

For the record, most of them require 6 months to 1 year of driving experience, but it might get you your foot in the door and start giving recruiters a call to see which one might be a good fit for you and your needs.

1. Melton Truck Lines (Flatbed) w/ a hazmat starting pay is around .45 CPM, 6 months you get a .05 CPM, Canadian .06 extra / Hazmat .06 extra for the load
   
2. Shaffer Trucking (Reefer), I haven't spoken to them but I believe their starting for experienced drivers is .52-.53 CPM
3. America's Service Line LLC (Reefer), I believe they promise minimum $1000/week and top company drivers make around $70,000, but I wouldn't believe too much into what recruiters say lol.
4. ARD Trucking Company, around .48 CPM for Dry van
5. Boyd Bros Transportation (Flatbed), I think average is around .61 CPM, but I haven't called them yet.

Good luck!

 

I think Schneider might be an option if you are required to take a refresher, there training isn’t very long.

 

The answers you get will rely greatly on "how" you obtained your CDL. I would say you'll have a difficult time getting hired >IF< you didn't go to CDL school to get your CDL. Even if you did, without any real experience, you'll most likely be looking at a refresher course and weeks in a trainer's truck.

 

I went though a school. I drove for local construction companies for a year then got a job offer without using my CDL for more money so took it and have been here 3 years.
Really don’t want to have to go through a refresher.

 

Well, you'll most likely have to. Not saying someone won't come in 10 minutes from now and say company x is good and will hire you and put you in a truck next day. But it's unlikely. Insurance companies make the rules for all this nowadays. And they generally want recent OTR experience.

 

Finding one that will show you what is going on with logging and customers,rules sure have changed the last couple of years.Pack light in case you get bailed quickly.

 

Agreed I never understood that either! If you can drive city streets without tearing up equipment and you’re constantly bumping docks, what’s the issue!

 

I’m with you but if you have 30 years of local driving and you’re considering going otr then something went very wrong with your career path.