Entry Company Reccomendations

If you have a clean driving record (that accident was not your fault) -- and no criminal history -- then drop Western Express from your list.

If you want true OTR....with flatbed....Melton is your best choice...of those listed.

Most flatbed carriers seem to have a fairly friendly pet policy.

I see more job ads posted of late....for flatbed....than other types of freight.

Regardless of the flatbed carrier you go with -- you will indeed earn every penny you get paid:

• Are you in really good physical shape?
• Do you like the idea of tarping loads -- with ice & snow on the trailer?
• Do you think you would like working outside to tarp a load -- even in blistering heat &/or humidity?
• Do you like "dirty" jobs? Then you'll enjoy securing/tarping a steel coil.

Flatbedding is cool stuff -- but to be successful at it....you'll basically need the work ethic of a freight train.

Woof, woof....

-- L

 

Where do you want to call home? Western 11 usually wants some place in the region.

 

I’d give system transport a look. They have turned into a starter company, but I worked there twice and never had a bad thing to say about them. Plenty of miles back in 2016 and 2012. Won’t make a ton of money, but you’ll learn how to flatbed, and won’t sit much.

 

I took my pet with me in the truck for 2 or 3 years. It's is great. In case it's not obvious, after you get out of CDL school with all of your endorsements, you typically share a truck with a trainer for 1-2 months, each employer may vary. There is barely enough room for 2 adults in the truck. I don't know of any company that allows the pet of the student to ride along during the period with the trainer. So, you almost certainly will need to make arrangements for that training period. SOME companies, I think Prime is one, do not allow a passenger or pet in a newbie's truck for the first x days. I'm half-remembering 90 days. I don't know. Most companies don't have that policy. Once you have your solo truck, if the company has a pet policy, and your pet qualifies (breed, weight, vax, etc) then you are good to go. IMO, having a pet with you is ideal. Enough social interaction to stay human and happy-ish, but no arguments with a co-driver about ANYTHING. Under no circumstance consider sneaking a pet into a company truck without a pet policy. Seeing a pet in a truck of ABC Company DOES NOT mean they allow pets, just there is a pet in the truck of ABC Trucking. Many trucking companies and their insurance carriers consider sneaking a pet exactly the same as a hitch-hiker or unauthorized human passenger. Grounds for immediate termination on the spot. Start walking. "It doesn't have to make sense, it's trucking"

I think you are in good shape to get a good start in trucking. I wish you the best. Having a pet can make unexpected breakdowns, customer snafus, and layovers more complicated because not everyplace everywhere welcomes pets and your pet's breed is a problem for some places that do welcome other pets. I strongly advise something like a pump-up garden sprayer be carried. It allows you to wash off dirty feet or wash off the pet if he gets into something foul. I always clipped my pets leash on before opening the truck doors because I didn't ever want to find my pet half run over by a truck or car. I'm not really inviting an discussion about anyone else's pet and how using a leash signals terrible things about me or the pet or the Continental Congress. That's just what I did.

 

You'll have to leave the dog behind while in training with a trucking company. Once you finish training, you can take the dog.

 

You're not a job hopper if you were working your way through school.
Explain to the trucking companies that was your situation.