Old dominion questions

Depends on the area how bad they need drivers. There are other LTL companies that new drivers can use as stepping stones to get to the prize if Old is what it is. YRC/Holland/New Penn/Reddaway will hire out of school or get you your CDL. You’ll make a good wage as a new driver vs other noob companies. Old D will hire you coming from these companies cause it’s LTL experience. My buddies went from YRC/Reddaway to Old D. They took them in a heartbeat.

 

well, looks like I will have to go in and talk to them. I was hoping to not waste their time but it's such a promising company, I'll have to go ask. Thanks for your input guys.

 

You want an "irregular route" carrier; they run everywhere and you never know where you'll be headed from one load to the next. Most OTR reefer outfits are "irregular route" and with Elogs, drivers don't touch freight.
Look at Butler Transport
Freymiller
Navajo Express

 

OD has team positions, and they love husband/wife teams. Solo linehaul is mostly a home daily position, but teams run long distances and are more like OTR. There are some teams that have a route they run, others just go wherever dispatch sends them. Could be easier to get on with little driving experience as a team, but that might not apply if you are both new drivers.

Linehaul and teams rarely touch the freight. In three years, the closest I've come is when I put padlocks on the doors. I can count the times I've been on the dock on one hand. Terminal to terminal, drop and hook. Once in a while a team truck will run solo if a driver is ill or off the truck for some reason.

Check with your state's DMV, but you should be able to test for the hazmat endorsement before the background check is in. I know when I took it, the test was valid for 50 days. Once they received the security check, the endorsement was applied to my license.

 

In FL you have to pass the test before they will fingerprint you for the background check.

 

A lot of the teams are wild , go anywhere and everywhere. Husband and wife team , you are talking pay off the house money .

 

Pay off the house in a year or two money. An Old Dominion team will pay more money in taxes than most truck drivers earn all year.

 

wow, thanks for all the input guys! I am so enthused about getting on the road! I'm just looking for a company that hubby and I can settle in with for a while, and just drive. It doesn't even have to be the best paying company if they're comfortable to work with. My biggest thing is that we can train together as a couple. One recruiter told me their training program is 10 MONTHS!!?? I've been hearing 2 to 8 weeks depending on the company for that whole "ride with a trainer" part of this journey. I'm not fond of the Covenant thought, even though they say they are happy to train couples together.
Thanks @Chinatown I will look into your suggestions. It was your suggestion to look into OD that got this thread started, lol.

 

My wife and I drive teams for Trimac out of southern California. We drive tankers and there's work involved but it's the only exercise we get on the road. My wife is a new driver (6 months now) and still has major problems with the backing up. It's different backing a tanker than a box truck.
Are plan is to go to OD after she has a year experience. I think that's what OD told us...As of now, combined we are in route to make around $144,000 our first year together...Not bad for her since she's a new driver. I started off with CRST back in 09 making 22 cents per mile....lol
We drive everywhere, but usually western regional and western canada.