Obtaining A Job - My Personal Situation

Some good companies to look at:

Van:

Schneider - good training, military friendly. It's who I drove for before.
Star Transportation (Nashville, not Illinois); Heard mostly good stuff about them. 32 CPM to start.

Flatbed:

Maverick
TMC
Fraley & Schilling


Of course there are others, that is just off the top of my head.

 

Quit saying military friendly, It's embarrassing and practically every company is military friendly in 2014, It's the PC thing to do lol.
Seriously, no one gives a crap if you served. It's like a cop asking for free doughnuts in a crowded dunkin dounts. Openly stating want a job / something in exchange like you are owed something













ETA: listed bottom feeders, not smoking you, but holy heck bottom feeders.

 

Dude, what is your problem? I guess that is why I served (actually, wearing a uniform as I type this) so you can act like that. You have your freedom and this is what you choose to do with it?

 

OP, sounds like your stressin on nothin.. keep it simple,
get your class / cdl in, apply where you'd like, pick one, train and off you go

 

Slowly re-read that post, don't give me the crap about uniform or defending freedom.

 

I wish you well Sir, good day to you.

 

First off not all companies are military friendly. I placed an application with a local steel mill based on a recommendation from my school. Once he seen I was a military vet he told me it might be best if I go someplace else as I wouldnt fit in with them. Maybe the guy doesnt want to drive LTL, or regional, maybe he wants to go with a OTR company first. Seeing how all of the ones you recommend state on their website's previous experience required, and that he doesnt have experience that is counted here, his options are limited.

In the end, your attitude blows

 

Most, not all, of the companies want me to apply once I am in school or shortly before. Many of them say the app is only good for 30 days. However, that doesn't stop you from calling and talking to them; establishing relationships is part of the key to success in trucking. Make a list of questions and ask them. Don't start off with "How fast will your trucks go?"

Starting pay/Training pay
Orientation
Training (could be tarp training, driving with a trainer, length of the training program etc...)
Will they accept your driving school
Hazmat required?
TWIC required?
Type of equipment - tractors and trailers
Home time (don't start off with that either)
Typical area you'll run in based on your location

You gotta start somewhere and it may be with a mega carrier. If so you can do your time there, stay or move on. When about a year has passed you will pretty well know what you want to do and go make real plans to get to where you want to be.

There are a bunch of us ol' crusty guys out here, but you can usually learn something from all of them. If you don't agree that is fine, but just try to leave any company on good terms.

One last thing, how long is your tech school? Some say you want a 160hr school; there are a couple companies I looked at that want 160hrs. Most just want a regular school 3 weeks or so. If you let the GI Bill pay for it, you will not have to guarantee a company a year with them for their paying your school bill.

There is a host of other considerations, but that will get you started.

 

Oh, and don't overlook tanker jobs. They tend to pay better. There is a fellow (Chinatown?) on here that is pretty knowledgeable on the tanker side. He has me looking into it since I read some of his posts.