Students, New CDL A Drivers... ASK These questions! Do your research!

However I do hope your research pays off.

 

I understand but ...

Disagree. If the driver is fresh meat, that will all come out after he has a taste of what a truck is like to drive. Many trainers are worst than people without CDLs, they pass on bad habits and so on and to allow someone to think that they are going be a trainer when they barely pass a road test sets them up for a hard fall.

I haven't, and I talk to a lot of them, not even in confidential conversations. I have had managers and directors share info but not recruiters. When a recruiter is trying to paint a picture of their company to attract someone and retain them, they are not going to come out with a comment that their company sucks and people leave because of it, no way.

You said force dispatch not just force dispatch to NYC. It doesn't matter because if someone who is not confident to go to a high density area as a driver doesn't need to be in the truck. NYC is just like Chicago which is just like LA, I know, I've been to all of them.

However to even ask doesn't really make sense because they are there to service the customer and everything is forced dispatch.

Too bad, I have to maintain cameras in a few of my trucks because the insurance company requires it. I asked the drivers first and they said "... not a big deal, they can watch me pick my nose".

Again we are talking about people who never been in trucks so what ever they have to deal with, it is a new experience.

Being an owner/operator is a career move outside of the company, not within - that's why is isn't important to ask. Their long term commitment to the company is one thing, their long term goals don't include that company if they depart from being a company driver.

Yeah, and they are screwing them in most cases. BUT I wouldn't work for a company that would allow me to move to a O/O because my competition is the drivers who I just left.

Again it is irrelevant 100%. You are assuming too much to think that it matters, first lets get the person into a truck and see if they last, not have him setup all these plans and become a failed CLP holder.

If someone has a reason to enter into a lease-purchase, then they should start with getting a lawyer to review everything and if someone went through bankruptcy, then any sub-prime lender will have to make up the risk of losing that loan so they can and should charge an interest rate accordingly.

 

Offers from, Roehl, Schneider, Eastern Freight ways, Heartland, McLane, XPO Logistics, as well as a couple of local dump truck offers. And a couple of companies still calling me- ATS & Wil

I have my searched narrowed to Eastern and McLane.

 

Only one I have first hand knowledge of is Roehl. Decent benefits and equipment, good safety record. Didn't like the slow trucks and starting pay.

Is McLane the foodservice company?

 

Valid points. I've always been one to look long term. P.D.C.A Plan Do Check Adjust. Has served me well over the years. Without an end goal you tend to wander aimlessly. I've always had mine broke down to 1-3-5 year plans. May have to reevaluate as I go but as I stated it has served me well. This is why i ask long term questions. I wouldn't even think about training if I wasn't comfortable driving myself. I wouldn't O/O if I had 0 business sense.

I appreciate the time in your responses. Its always good to have an open discussion as I am always looking to learn from others.

 

Yes Roehl was at the top of my list for a while. Starting pay really wasn't a fit for my situation.
McLane is a food service company

 

Well McLane will help keep you in shape. lol

 

LOL Yea that's what I hear. Their schedule starting out is rough as well. Once you put in your time and get bid onto a regular route I hear the schedule gets more consistent and the pay is good. Have also talked with drivers that have said after years of dolleying up and down the ramp that their knees are shot!

 

I forgot that Eastern is NEMF. Don't know where you live but I see them all over Fl. They pull quite a bit from Lowe DC's. Tractors are Cascadia's, kinda slow, but decent looking.

Use McLane as a stepping stone to other Ltl's

 

Yes they're part of the same group the sevelle group I believe. But don't quote me on that one I'd have to recheck. I'm in New Hampshire and there is a terminal right down the road from me. They do mainly east coast.