Newbie looking for some advice

It sounds like you're going in the right direction with your planning. Now is the time to modify the plan. Get out and find your company. Go to truck stops, check want ads in the papers, word of mouth, driving to terminals. Anything besides just looking on the internet. You can use the internet to get the company but go out to them and talk face to face. You'd be surprised on how many drivers do not do this. Most depend on their application to do their work. When you do this all the company knows about you is what is on the paper. You want to stand out and show them you're ready for work. Besides that some very good companies do not even advertise for drivers. They depend on walk in applications or word of mouth. You never know until you try. You'll also get a look at them for a change.

 

Check on local companies. I was hired right out of driving school with a local and hauled grain. Was paid % of load and all food and expenses while on the road where covered. No money out of pocket for anything. Was with the company almost 10 months, but was let go when I complained about always having to "adjust my logs!!!!" I was not willing to continue falsifying logs, so I was let go. However, while I was driving for this company, I averaged 800-900 per week. Some weeks it was more. During harvest, I actually had a few checks over 2500 for the week. Too bad that only lasts about 5-7 weeks!!!!
Good luck, the jobs are out there, you just need to be cautious of what they tell you during your interviews, and what actually happens on the road.

 

Now go find a driver for that account and see what they say. You are in a high freight area for them just make sure you can get into the account.

New baby...congrats and it sounds like you putting the most important first.

 

That's true, you have to be selective. But I've taken extra time to talk with new drivers while working and you just might find there's more drivers that want to help than not.