Looking For Some Help With Finding a Good Company

Looking for some serious advice. I retired from the military in 2014 and went directly to a locally owned (200 miles from home) OTR team outfit. It’s a good company, no real complaints. We ran team and made pretty good each week. Before taxes around $1000 each week.

I was getting a little tired of always being gone (especially since my dad almost died and I wasn’t there) so I took a local driving position a few weeks ago. Boy, was that a mistake. Drive hard, paid little, then don’t work three days because there is nothing available…supposedly.

Anyway, I could go back to my old company, they have even offered me a different position if I wanted, but I kind of want to run solo and stay closer to home in the event I need to get back here. My dad and father-in-law have been having some real health issues the last couple of years. I ran reefer East to West coast and back no touch freight, each week. That’s what I am familiar with. I wanted to do flatbed, but because of my back everyone I talked to suggested I skip it. I have dabbled in tanker work doing local work and it isn't too bad either.

I am looking for a good, solid company which does solo drivers, has good equipment, and pays at least what I was making before as OTR. I don’t need fancy insurance or retirement benefits, I already have those. I just need a good company I can be satisfied with who gets good runs and pays well…and stays out of the NE. Maybe one day getting into my own truck, but that isn’t something I am needing this very minute. I may never do that if everything works out well. I hate jumping from one job to the next, so I am hoping I can find a company I will stay with for many years.

Looking for any serious suggestions.

Edit: I live in central North Carolina.