graduating july 3 from kishwaukee college cdl training

jhavens good luck on the new career as far as your salary expectations I think you are going to be disappointed. Most first yr drivers are lucky to make 35,000 even flatbedding. I was a carpenter for many yrs before moving up to a superintendent position and i'm afraid those days are gone. I still have many freinds in the trades both union and non and those working consider themselves to be lucky just to have a job. But back to driving if you can stick it out you should be able to make mid to high 40's by your 2nd or 3rd yr and still enjoy good hometime. I take it your from the Dekalb area by the fact your going to kish so there are a few other options other tham TMC. You could try Schnieder after a few months you can get on the goodyear account that pulls out of the s. side of Dekalb or after going out with a starter company for 18 months or so both raun and hogan will hire you to pull out of Target Nestle will also get you home quite often being out of Dekalb but they will require you to have 2 yrs plus it's a lot of food whse. and they kind of suck. Ruan also has a nice account out of Geneva pulling interstate batterys that I've heard nothing but good reports from drivers on but they want 1 yr exp. for that account. Werner has a 3m dedicated fleet that runs Dekalb frequently but it can be hard to get on. Good luck on your new career and if there is anything else you want to know I will try to answer your question as best I know.

 

Been out of the trades a couple of yrs now probably will never go back. Don;t know much about DOT foods I've seeen there trucks on the road thou and seem to have good equipment. I don't know where they haul out of I know there is a big whse over by indy. Maverick seems to have a good rep. Ive heard many drivers complain about TMC that they're kind of a holes there way or the hyway attitude but I guess after you've been there a couple of months it is not so bad. As far as flatbedding you really have to think about throwing tarps in the 100 degree days also when its 35 and raining but after being a carpenter you should understand what its all about. Don't let them tell you any different but flattbedders don't get as many miles as van drivers so the tarp pay is a wash really. Also most times you will have to tarp and go(no time to stop for a shower so bring baby wipes). I've pulled almost every kind of freight it all has its good and bad This is my 2nd go round out here about 7 yrs the first time and now almost 2 the 2nd even tried the o/o thing a while. My advice is that no one company is a good fit for everyone you have to find one that will best fit your situation(hometime, beny's and pay) and go with it. It may take a couple of try's

 

If your going for the big bucks jhavens you might want to try team driving after you get a little experience and you get your Hazmat endorsement , it appears to me from reviewing numerous add thats where the highest cpm is...and the most miles. But again those are usually long hauls with very little hometime. Goodluck Im just starting driving school myself.

 

There are no big bucks in trucking. The best you can hope for is ok money. Just be careful, watch what you spend on the road. As far a being an O/O I don't think I would recomend it to anyone until you have been on the road for a couple of yrs. You not only have to be a driver but a accountant, mechanic, and any other job that comes up. I have great respect for anyone that is sucsessful these days. When I had my truck fuel averaged probably around 1.30 or so and it was tough to make a living now at 4.00 I dont know how they do it. Freight rates aren't that much more than when I had a truck in 94 thou they do get fuel surcharges now.