Rookie friendly companies that will allow 2 cats?

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by kippsgonnatruck, Sep 25, 2024.

  1. kippsgonnatruck

    kippsgonnatruck Bobtail Member

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    Hey everybody! I've been in midlife crisis mode since before covid, and have decided OTR trucking is the perfect solution. I'll describe my situation in detail below, for those who are interested in my backstory. For those who aren't, feel free to skip down to the *, where I'll cut to the chase.

    In 2019, quit my management job in a collection agency and moved from Austin to Oregon. I was there about a year when a sort of home sickness set in, and I decided to move back to TX, in with my parents in DFW. I'd been in Austin 8 years, barely saw my family during that time, and when I moved back in with my parents, it hit me hard how much they'd aged. I've developed a sort of phobia of losing my loved ones and missing out on their lives while they're here, and this was dramatically heightened when I lost my grandfather and my best friend on the same day, in separate sudden accidents.

    My parents were preparing to move to Oklahoma at the time, and I followed them here. I had an apartment in OKC for a year, but didn't like living there, and recently moved back in with my parents again, until I can figure out what my next move is. I'm beginning to look like (and feel like) a deadbeat. I have relatively liberal views (I know this will be atypical for the trucking industry, I'll be fine) and have felt conflicted about having to choose between living near my family, or in a place where I'd generally be much happier, have more friends again, and have to bite my tongue less.

    *
    I want to move; I'm considering Minnesota, but who knows where I'll decide to plant my roots after I get out on the road for a while. Any company that sends me on trips towards my parents in SW Oklahoma would be especially ideal. I know this will be frowned upon, but I usually like weed; I have no issue stopping for as long as I'm a trucker, but it will be a long time before I can pass a hair follicle test. UA is no problem; I've already stopped smoking for a month. My most limiting piece of criteria is that I will need to bring my two cats with me on the road. I had found a company that allows this, which is what made me consider this path in the first place, but I can't recall the name of the company and can't seem to find it again.

    I plan on completing a CDL program in December, but I'm open to beginner companies that pay for CDL training as well; I'm not worried about being underpaid for a year, if it checks all the boxes and improves my situation overall.

    I'd greatly appreciate company recommendations that meet the following criteria:
    * Will allow two cats in the truck with me
    * Hires rookies with or without already having CDL training
    * Drug tests by UA and not by hair follicle test

    * Would be extra great if my routes sent me from a more liberal city, toward my parents in SW OK. I've done a lot of traveling within the lower 48, but haven't seen much of the upper Midwest, or the Northeast. Those destinations would also be fun to see.

    Any other general advice is also appreciated. Thanks in advance!
     
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  3. Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

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    Only company I know of that hires rookies and allows 2 cats is Big M Transportation, but this company also does hair follicle drug test.
     
    tscottme and kippsgonnatruck Thank this.
  4. kippsgonnatruck

    kippsgonnatruck Bobtail Member

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    Sep 25, 2024
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    Heyyy, I've read a ton of your comments on this forum, and was hoping you'd chime in. Thank you.
     
    Chinatown Thanks this.
  5. Moosetek13

    Moosetek13 Road Train Member

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    Swift doesn't do the hair test when you are an employee, but they now do it for new hires. I think many of the companies you might get on with will be the same.

    And why are you pointing out the liberal aspect so much?
     
    Numb, Kyle G., tscottme and 1 other person Thank this.
  6. Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

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    You have 3 less than desirable issues; 2 cats, hair follicle, liberal.
    The ball is in your court for some lifestyle changes if you want to be a trucker.
     
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  7. Moosetek13

    Moosetek13 Road Train Member

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    Only one of those issues never has to come up when looking for a job.
     
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  8. kippsgonnatruck

    kippsgonnatruck Bobtail Member

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    Sep 25, 2024
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    I want to live in a liberal city, so companies based in such places would be ideal. Other than that, it doesn't matter. I'm not going to wear it on my sleeve or preach to people lol, just being transparent here in case it helps with recommendations.
     
    Moosetek13 and tscottme Thank this.
  9. tscottme

    tscottme Road Train Member

    About the only jobs that will separate you from family..ore than trucking would be working in ballistic .missile submarines, scientist at the South Pole, or astronaut.

    You've only been off weed for a month. The desire to not use is not the same as not using weed. Trucking is very stressful. Maybe one of the most stressful & lonely jobs imaginable. You almost aren't allowed to drink alcohol because you are either at work or sleeping and the BAC limit with a CDL is much lower than for non-CDL. There is also the matter of random tests for drugs or alcohol. All it takes to trigger a post accident test is one clueless 4-wheeler looking at his phone & causing an accident. Now you blow in a tube or give a urine/blood sample. Fault for the accident has nothing to do with whether you are tested.

    Trucking means you go where the freight goes. If you decide where you will & will not go you are throwing away employers. You will go where the employer says you go, not where you like/want to go.

    You will possibly spend 2-3 months without your pets while going to CDL school & then sharing a truck with your trainer.

    IMO. you are not a good bet to fit into the industry. 80% of newbies fail long before the complete 1 year in trucking. That is mostly due to not understanding the job & doing no research about where to work. A job is like your shoes. If your shoes fit you & your needs they are good shoes. If your shoes fit me and don't fit you they are not good shoes. The industry is incredibly slow now. THERE IS NO DRIVER SHORTAGE.

    Look into other trade schools besides Trucking. The WIOA grants may pay for them. Good luck.
     
  10. kippsgonnatruck

    kippsgonnatruck Bobtail Member

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    Sep 25, 2024
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    I appreciate your reply. I don't drink, and I plan on not smoking again until I retire from trucking. Weed wasn't my life or anything, I simply had no reason to abstain from it until now. It's not something I'll be tempted to ruin my livelihood over. Since the CDL school I'm considering doesn't have it's next class until December, I may actually be fine with a hair follicle test. The internet today tells me that only goes back 3 months, but I've always thought it was more like a year.

    Destinations are just nice-to-haves. I won't say no to any destination, but if anybody happened to be familiar with a company that has frequent routes to Oklahoma, I'd probably apply there first.
     
    tscottme Thanks this.
  11. Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

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    Which state is your domicile?
     
    kippsgonnatruck Thanks this.
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