If you could do it all over again....

7 grand??? Sounds like your the one that needs slapped....

 

typical drivers can never get a straight answer :smt120

 

I hate to break the bad news to you but, there is no co. that has it all. If I were you I would not jump into a industy right now that doesn,t have the work to keep you moving.Wait until the economy comes around.One fact is one co. has a terminal in the Chicago area and that driver is always moving,in the midwest you drive aprox. 180 miles and your in another town,Indy. has alot of freight,then run to the east coast, the other driver is in the S.C. terminal and you have little freight,you have Atlanta and that town has no where near the freight as Chicago or Indy.It makes a huge difference on where you live in the country.Better equipment means less pay,work 7 days get 1 day off is the industry standard in otr.After 2 years exp. you should get .40 cpm at least.Expect to drive freightliners and no there not good trucks.If you have the right attitude,be professional at your customers and when it,s time to drive view it as someone is paying you to go for a ride,back off the throttle if trouble is around,be curtious,ignore the pressures of your dispatch,if your not stopping and keep it rolling that,s all you can do. Just relax no one whants a impatient truck driver around them.Most important apply yourself.

 

I drove for a guy who had about 12 trucks, and probably 40 flatbed trailers in the Chicago area. Great equipment, job was pretty easy, home daily, pay was 30% of gross, which averaged about $750-$800 weekly takehome. I got burned out on long days, and being in Chicago traffic 4 out of 5 days a week. Also, benefits were expensive, but my wife had me on her plan from work, so that wasn't a problem. Knowing what I know now, I'd go back.

 

If I could do it all over, It would be either driving for BI-RITE auto transport out of Porterville CA. or Potter / B&C transfer out of Royal Oak Mi and Whittier Ca. Either One would do, made good money with both, but decided to get off the road and now I don't seem to be able to get back, At least in a full time position

 

I think chrisrules is wanting actual names of companies.

 

In that case:

any of these, not nessesarily in order:

Jevic defunct unfortunately.
Overnite/now UPS freight
Nemf only drawback was all night work.
Auto-truck transp
Precision motor transport

Any one of these are winners.

i guess if i could do it all over again, i would just concentrate on miles and freight; i was too concerned about extra stuff like sleeping on the road in a truck----i had never done that before. And hometime----like i really do anything productive when i'm home or i had any family obligations.

i'm like 100% better as a driver and employee compared to when i first started.

 

I'd have to second the opinion of "I'll take the $4000 toy and a 9-5, but then I'm too new to the game, I haven't choked on enough fumes to kill the brain cells that are still firing. I think the trick for someone in my position is to hang in there a while and experience it for a bit before you decide for sure you've made a big mistake. So on I roll.

 

I would go back in time and go to Veterinarian school instead on truck driving school.

 

Cool thread! Man if I could do it again.... I would have to say the ultimate best company would be your own. But it would have to be with your own authority and your own customers. Probably pulling reefer or anything specialized, Heavy Haul, DOD,and Government freight.
But that really was not the question.....as far as Companies goes..It would be hard to say none of them have the total package and it certainly has allot to do with your personal goals and expectations.
Lets face it Trucking does not pay what it should, you are on the road for weeks away from your family, you get screwed by everyone you come into contact with ...Dispatchers, Shippers and Receivers more then a sane man would tolerate.

But after all this once it gets in your blood you are Cursed....you will NEVER be able to leave. So my advice to someone with little experience and/or returning to the industry....look for a small to med company, one that will actually know you buy your voice on the phone.
If you want to get paid ..do specialized heavy haul etc. E.W.Wiley ,Combined Transport etc. comes to mind.
You want Miles, definitely a Reefer, and don't B#### when you go to New England, you will always have miles ...trust me!
If it is home time you are looking for ....drive a day cab.

The rest will work itself out.... just for the record the best company I have ever worked for was Draggin Z Wagon Trucking .....which I owned... Good luck in your search for the PERFECT trucking company.