Recent cdl grad looking at swift or stevens

Maverick is a great starter flatbed company. I do recommend it. Iluvcats worked for Melton. It is good too from what I understand.

 

The thing I have always heard about Stevens is "nice trucks, no miles". Every company advertises "our trucks average 2500 miles per week", EVERY COMPANY. Put Stevens Transport into YouTube and see if you find videos saying they are happy with the miles they get. I would avoid reefer companies because that means a lot of unpaid waiting time since customers are notorious for long waits to load or unload. You frequently have to wait for trailers to get washed out. Companies say "drivers get 100% of the detention pay, we collect." Many big customer contracts stipulate they will not pay detention time for their loads.

What trucking companies are in the area where you live. Better to work for a company nearby for various reasons, including you can talk to current drivers there before you make a decision. DON"T JUST DEPEND ON WEB SITES AND YOUTUBE.

 

Tarps maybe 50 or so. Some places will place em on load, some have tarp bays with a machine, some load ya and kick you out the door.... it varies. Lots of variety. I did strictly 48' flats for about 19 months, than was asked to move over to Glass Div.

If you decide FB might be of interest.... Goggle EPIC WIPES..... great for washing/cleaning up. Cuz you are gonna sweat and get dirty.
It's a good workout too... keeps the blood flowing

 

Good Info.... For sure a company nearby, with a yard...not just hiring in your area. That was how I started my search.... distance from my home. And went from that point .....

 

Flatbed involves securement and knowing the correct way. You are pulling an open deck down the road. The material on top of the open deck must be secured down using chains and straps. This requires extra training. You make more pay. The tarping is also extra pay. As for where to park the truck and trailer during home time, everyone has to deal with that no matter what you pull.

 

Pre-hired is like being drafted in sports. It means this company MIGHT hire you, if you meet their qualifications, pass all of their checks, they need you, and they hire you. You are pre-hired at every company, in every industry, right now, including NASA astronaut and to be the next James Bond on film. Pre-hire is a worthless term for most people.

The WOIA/WIA grnats that pay for CDL school for certain people will require some applicants with certain "problems" in their background first get one or more pre-hire letters so the Feds don't waste money paying for someone's CDL school only to find out they are not hireable by trucking companies.

The companies generally do little if any research before giving most people a Pre-Hire letter. It's like a girl saying she will let you buy her drinks. She can still say she is busy every time you try to make real plans.

 

OK, if you want to see the country and see some southern routes, try these and forget PI&I Motor Express because they don't run west coast.:
Freymiller - refrigerated
Magnum Ltd.- refrigerated
Navajo Express - refrigerated
Melton Truck Lines - flatbed
Senn Freight Lines - flatbed
Jones Bros. Trucking - flatbed
Don Hummer Trucking - dry van & refrigerated
Schuster - refrigerated
Lily Transportation - has produce runs to California, but they're team runs.
All the above hire new cdl graduates, even if the website has different.

 

Good list above^