How long did you stay with your first trucking company?

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by asphaltreptile311, Jan 16, 2017.

  1. asphaltreptile311

    asphaltreptile311 Road Train Member

    1,474
    2,829
    Jun 16, 2016
    0
    Getting a good start in the industry. Is it a costly mistake to leave before a year or should you hang in?
     
  2. Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.

  3. mpm

    mpm Bobtail Member

    20
    29
    Jun 16, 2016
    0
    I stayed at my first employer for 5 and a half months before moving on to a higher paying otr job with at least double the home time. Only drawback was I then had to pay back my school loan as I started with a CDL mill and didn't remain employed long enough for tuition reimbursement. I started my 3rd trucking job 9 months after beginning my 2nd one and I have been employed here for 11 and a half years. I guess, overall, you just have to do what you feel is right for you. And don't ever let a CDL mill try to bully you, as a valid CDL and good safety record will always keep you employable to many carriers.
     
    heyns57, Crusader66, Puppage and 3 others Thank this.
  4. ASmallFleetDriver

    ASmallFleetDriver Light Load Member

    127
    253
    Oct 16, 2016
    ChicagoLand
    0
    I'm still with my first company but it wasn't a megacarrier. If it was a mega i'd have quit in a few days from the stories I hear. I'd say stay a year but.... some local companies do hire at 6 months just not many :S
     
  5. KillingTime

    KillingTime Road Train Member

    3,865
    61,880
    Mar 26, 2016
    Rockland, Maine
    0
    14 months, still at it. I hung in even tho I wanted out at the 6 month mark.

    About to check out of OTR for a home gig which 1) pays better (much better, hourly instead of cpm) 2) I get to be familiar with my own bed once again and 3) I get to have some kind of life.

    Perks in my book.
     
    Crusader66, Puppage and Ooops Thank this.
  6. tow614

    tow614 Road Train Member

    3,759
    4,631
    Mar 18, 2013
    0
    I stayed six months because that is what the company i wanted to drive for required.
     
    Crusader66 Thanks this.
  7. hybrid499

    hybrid499 Bobtail Member

    30
    37
    May 19, 2014
    0
    10 months, then went to a staffing firm. Prime refer OTR, $500 week avg to local LTL flatbed, $650 week.
     
    asphaltreptile311 Thanks this.
  8. VA CDL Holder

    VA CDL Holder Medium Load Member

    592
    1,006
    Jun 14, 2011
    0
    My very first job was with Swift after attending their academy in Phoenix. After from my upgrade to solo status to me quitting was about 4 months. I then came back and worked for them 3 times after that, each time no longer than 4 months. Now they will not even talk to me when I submit an application or call them up.
    The lesson to be learned is trucking gets on my nerves really quickly, lots of B.S. for the pay, but I do find parts of it enjoyable and cannot just walk away from it cold.

    At Swifts Academy there was one instructor, his name was Jerry and he said, " a year from now, only 10 percent of you will be doing this job".
     
    fargonaz and ASmallFleetDriver Thank this.
  9. Zeviander

    Zeviander Road Train Member

    4,887
    36,995
    Jan 23, 2015
    Winnipeg, MB, CA
    0
    22 months and still with them.
     
  10. DRAGON64

    DRAGON64 Light Load Member

    295
    241
    Aug 1, 2016
    Toney, AL
    0
    4-years with my first trucking job... then Old Dominion bought us out... Now 9-years with a part time driving job.
     
    Crusader66 Thanks this.
  11. BostonTanker

    BostonTanker Road Train Member

    1,011
    680
    May 2, 2015
    Boston, MA
    0
    17 months at Werner.
     
    Crusader66 and KillingTime Thank this.
  • Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.