Setting up residency

Companies don't care what address is on your driver's license. The ones who do are the states who issue them. No state will issue a driver's license with an address in another state, because the driver's license is legal proof of residency.

What you need is to hire on with a company that can base you out of Florida. There are plenty who will. But that depends on where in Florid you live. Some will not hire south of Jacksonville, and others will not hire south of Orlando.

 

Actually, some will not schedule your home time but for out of your home base. I've been lucky the last three months, because my DBL has been routing me to Jacksonville for my home time. I park my tractor at the tank wash and either rent a car a drive Home, or get a cheap flight down to Ft. Laud.

 

I've had a few parking lot recruiters ask if I have any family in their hiring area. tho never a sni recruiter. One of them mentioned that I would need to leave the rig in a terminal and drive my personal vehicle wherever when taking time off.

what you're asking is common

 

Good to know that Schneider hires out of South Florida as I have a Broward address. I do know that many companies won't hire anyone south or Orlando etc.

I don't have any OTR (or other) experience so Schnieder may be a no go anyway. If they will hire me I don't have a preference regarding van, reefer or tanker, the main thing for me would be just getting on with a company first.

Not so keen on slip seating, but beggars can't be choosers at this point. Besides, if I don't get out of the truck for hometime then they can't really slip someone else in that seat can they?.

 

I've seen Roehl ads recruiting as far south as Maimi. Same with Covenant, but I think Covenant runs teams out of Miami.

Armellini Express
Abilene Motor Express
Windy Hill Transportation
Knight Transportation

 

I think Armellini is teams also, or they were years ago when I was going through school. I already have Knight on my list as they have a training/refresher program, but I will check out the others too.

Thanks

 

From my research back then, I recall the main companies hiring out of Broward with no experience were Werner, Schneider, Stevens Transport, Melton, Prime, Covenant, CRST, Knight, and Roehl Transport. Of those, Schneider, Prime, CRST and I believe Covenant, hire strictly teams, again if you have no experience. Forget CRST and Stevens. CRST's training is not popular with other carriers. Stevens pays low (.28 cpm) and despite their trucks are decked out and they let you take home time anywhere you want, I understand they're not very professional, and Prime usually pushes a lease almost right away. Don't do that. First determine if trucking is for you by doing it as a company driver. Then learn the business and decide who has the best lease options.

Schneider's training is notoriously the best of all mentioned, followed a distant second by Werner. Roehl operates mostly in the northern mid-west, and they usually do 3 weeks on and 7 days off, and they fly you home for home time; you're allowed 2 days travel that do not count towards your home time, but it's 2 days you're not running, thus, not making $$.

Don't believe everything your recruiter tells you. IOH, don't expect to get rich the first year, or the best loads, or the 3,000 avg miles they tell you. Put in your time, pay your dues, and do your best to not refuse any load. Be safe, and by all means, G.O.A.L.!!!

 

Armellini's training is very comprehensive (on paper) and it's 12 weeks long. You'll get paid $10.00 per hour when you're not OTR, and I belive it's .18 cpm when OTR. And, from week 3 - 8, you're a THIRD SEATER!!

Hell no!!!

 

Thanks for the info and list of companies. I actually got my CDL over 20 years ago, but haven't driven for the past 12 so that will be the fly in the ointment. I will most likely need to find a "training" company that offers refreshers or even the full program again and there are a few on the list you mentioned.

On the plus side, I won't need hometime anywhere in particular and for the first year at least I won't need to worry about pay provided I make enough to feed myself each week.

The priority really is finding a decent enough company that I can last the first year with. After that I can start getting picky about mileage and pay etc. If it means that I have to switch my license to another state then I will go through that hassle. I have already decided not to add hazmat just yet in case I do need to take that option.

Thanks again for your help.

 

My pleasure! Check out Sheridan Technical College in Pembroke Pines. Not sure if they have a "refresher" course, per se, but it's worth a try. (754) 321-3900.

Hazmat is always good to have anyway, although I think your plan on waiting to see where you end up is reasonable. As a nugget fresh out of TDS, I had to make myself as "attractive" as possible, so I got my X and T endorsements and TWIC. I'm seriously considering getting my P endorsement as well, especially in light of my immediate future plans.