Getting out of the military, should I go OTR?

Do you want to use the military apprenticeship program also?

These use the apprenticeship program and have pet policy:
Melton Truck Lines
Wil-Trans
Jim Palmer Trucking
Schneider has apprenticeship program but not sure about pet policy.

There's probably several more.

Yep, you're aiming too high with money as far as the companies I listed and what you want concerning a pet.
You can make pretty close to those numbers with hazmat/tankers, but I think CTL Transportatin is the only one with pet policy. Make some phone calls to find out.
CTL Transporatation
Schneider Bulk
Superior-Carriers
Tidewater Transit
SVTN
Trimac Transportation
Girton Propane Service
All these tanker outfits hire new cdl grads. You will also need TWIC ID Card.

 

What's going on Killer?!! First off how many years you got in the Corps? I ask because I think if you were like me, and did more than your first term your going to have a hard time as I did. You will be talked to like a second class piece of trash. Know that to be true. It's extremely hard trying to maintain your bearing and act like a professional Marine and Driver when it comes to dealing with some of these shippers and receivers. As 'Mad Dog Mattis' would say "Be polite, be professional, but have a plan to kill everybody you meet.”

The money you want to earn is becoming harder and harder to come by. The industry is flooded with crooks and cheap skates who don't care about reputation, but how dirt cheap they can get a load moved from orgin to destination and what they can rob you the driver for. When I first started I made that money sure. To be exact it was 1,000 to 1,600 net, not gross every week but I worked hard. Depends if I decided to stay around Texas delivering carpet pad/tires, or wanted to run up to the Northwest with a chicken load and back haul apples. Anyways, none of that was legal. Nothing we ever did was legal. Drove until we couldn't drive no more, sleep a couple hours, back up my logs and run some more. You get it?

Wish I could recommend you a good company but personally, I see little good in any of them anymore. However they do exist, you just need to look and or go knocking on doors. Really not trying to be negative or burst your bubble Marine. Just my honest assessment.

I do however suggest you look for a smaller carrier not one of the megas. As far as Palmer, Prime, Swift, Schneider, Crete, Gordon, CRST goes, aint none of them worth a shayt.

If elogs don't frighten (which shouldn't because you know no different) and you don't care about being a slowwww rolling road block look into Abilene. There's threads here on TTR about them. Seems they are good to drivers and all. http://www.abilenemotor.com

If I were to do it all over again I would have gotten into pulling a tank.

Anyways, I'm starting to sound crazy and don't want that so I'm gone. Any questions for me just ask away brother. Later.

 

True what CallMeArty said about some shippers and receivers. The worst shippers and receivers are grocery warehouses and unionized steel mills. Those places hire the dregs of society and the misfits of the local area. They have a job and see themselves as Navy Seals and love to scream and yell at the truckers and don't have the slightest clue they look as if they belong in a mental hospital. If you can, go with tankers and you won't deal with the scum of society; shippers and receivers for tankers are generally much smarter than the average person and it shows. I never had a bad experience dealing with tanker shippers or receivers.

 

go LTL or foodservice make real mney.

 

All those companies I listed hire new cdl grads. A few websites may have "experience required", but that's incorrect.
The company CallMeArty mentioned, Abilene Motor Express, is one of the better van/reefer companies out there. I also recommend it on here often.

 

True, but beverage work is the worst out there. I don't care how tough a person is, beverage work will destroy your back. Beer, Pepsi, Coca-Cola and others. I know several former drivers that did that and they all live in constant back pain. Usually the physical pain starts when you're in your 30's. They take pain pills and guzzle Nyquil just to sleep.

 

The hazmat/tanker company I worked for had several drivers that were former car haulers. They all had severe back problems; so tank work was a piece of cake.