Not much time and only one shot at this. Please help.

Yeah the more I've looked into US Xpress, the more I think I can't afford to take the chance with them. 99% of what I'm finding is bad. I could manage the pay cut during training for 4 to 6 weeks, but everything I'm reading about after that is a nightmare of not making any money that would cause me to lose our house.

 

I was just looking for decent jobs with CR England, but now they all require 3 mos. experience.
Super nice equipment there though.

 

Your big expense on the road will be meals. I used to buy a bunch of crap at Walmart that can be microwaved, then use the microwaves at the truck stops which were free to use.

 

Absolutely. Knew some folks that did that too.

 

Here's a good one when you have 6 mos experience and hires Georgia drivers.

• Guaranteed minimum pay

~
Marten Transport | Dedicated Perdue
~
You can also just run OTR if you want. Just run the roads. That's what I prefer, but that's just me.
~
Anyway, when you have 6 months experience, contact Marten Transport. Put that on your calendar To-Do list.

 

Yep... I already have a browser tab open on them. Hear good things.

 

I think you may well be making this harder for yourself...than it really should be.

I've seen trucks delivering to dollar stores that were Werner, Schneider, US Express....but I don't remember ever seeing a Swift rig doing such.

Here's a great example (but it's JUST an example) of a great gig for you -- right out of the starting gate:

Swift -- dedicated CDL - A driver -- Opelika, AL

The large retail customer described in there is very likely to be Walmart.

Pulling loads for such an account is/would be outstanding experience for you -- as it "grooms" you....to later be a driver for a carrier like Walmart (think: $$$$$$$$$$).

When you accept a job or account with a carrier -- a carrier should be straightforward enough with you...to tell you who/what customer(s) you will be dealing with -- UP FRONT.

This is NOOOOTTT like opening a present on Xmas morning -- where you find out what you will be getting...but only at the last minute. There should be no surprises like that in a professional transportation environment.

If your recruiter can't/won't tell you these specifics -- find yet another recruiter...&/or carrier.

-- L

 

When I did dry van & intermodal for Schneider -- it was all drop-n-hook -- & NO DRIVER UNLOAD, EVER.

Only a handful of loads were live unloads.

Thus -- a carrier should also specify to you who/how a trailer is unloaded.

Trailers delivered to Walmart (like that described above) were/are all unloaded by employees in the stores.

You should be given this sort of info up front -- so you can make an informed decision as to whether the job is right for you.

-- L

 

That looks really good, except the part where it says "6 months experience required" ?

 

Correct -- remember...I said, "it's just an example"...to use as an illustration to make a point.

Your recruiter should indeed offer "total disclosure" to you...about customer specifics...& how the loads are handled.

-- L