Trying to decide who to drive for!!!

Thanks again Haz, Otherhalf and Pup!!! It's great to hear a positive response and to know there's people out there willing to take the time to get back!!! Im looking forward to getting out there and making good things happen!!!

 

Thanks Kstrong!!! To be honest I've been in San Diego my entire life im single no children and just lost my last living family member (dad) after all the final expenses nothing is left and 17 yrs towing for AAA has amounted to darn near zero!!! I Can't Get Out Of This State Fast Enough To Be Honest!!! I can't honestly say due to lack of experience being on the road but all I know is 15 to 52 hour shifts straight six days a week for darn near half my life!!! Should of stepped up to the big boys years ago but couldn't leave my family in someone elses hands!!! Time to hit the road and maybe buy a lil house back in Tenn. Or NC or any small town far from here!!! That's where I'm at!!! I'd just really like to know what it feels like to use the front door again cause my back door is just about to fall off the hinges!!! Just want to make an honest living for a solid days work!!! (After the dues are paid of course)!!! Thanks again for all the responses everyone!!!

 

If the state of CA will pay for cdl school, go for it. This way you'll have dozens of choices of companies to choose from.
Danny Herman Trucking hires new cdl grads and has a terminal in Calexico,CA and headquartered in Mountain City,TN.
Navajo Express has a facility in Chino,CA and a terminal in Jackson,TN.
Freymiller hires new cdl grads. Look at "Restore Program" on the website which is for new grads and also for drivers with less than 6 mos. experience.
Plenty more to choose from. I just listed a few that will get you through Tennessee and North Carolina on a regular basis.

 

If you can get in a school that is agreeable with Crete they are certainly not a bad option to start out with in my opinion. I would give them a call, good luck.

 

Crete has a big terminal in the pretty little Tennessee town of Lenoir City. Beautiful area near the Great Smoky Mtns.

 

I'd say, first of all ask yourself what kind of a job YOU want. What's important to you? Pay? Hometime? Benefits? Stability of the company? Running mostly (or avoiding) a particular area? Big companies (with lots of options, but where you might be too anonymous) v smaller ones (where you might not have as many options, but you'll more likely be able to develop a relationship with your fleet manager/dispatcher....something I don't think a lot of drivers realize is one of the most important things in this job)? Once you have this list, prioritized and you're ready to start contacting companies, don't be shy about asking the recruiters a lot of questions that addresses the above concerns. Get as much specifics as you can, remembering that recruiters are basically salespeople who are trying to fill trucks. They're gonna put the best face forward, and give you the most optimistic scenarios. Check out any truck stops in your area, and if you see a truck from a company you're interested in, don't be afraid to approach the driver and ask if he (or she) likes them... get the good AND the bad. Basically, it boils down to doing some homework.

 

Every starter company is going to be filled with overwhelmingly negative reviews. That doesn't mean they're horrible companies, it's just natural for people that had a bad experience to be the most vocal. Your first company will be a stepping stone and nothing more, so you should be considering things like orientation/training pay and duration, solo pay, bonuses, home time, regional and other position availability and terminal locations.

Also make sure to go with a company that offers tuition reimbursement if you end up going to school. Take a look at Schneider, I'm in talks with them and they seem like a great company with a huge focus on safety. They also hair test which is a plus in my book.

 

Many drivers in your situation live in the truck and put most of their pay in the bank. with no rent or utility bills you can save quickly and buy that home in cash. One new driver posted recently he banked $40K in a little over a year. It can be done if you're careful with your spending and live in the truck. A single driver living in the truck should easily be able to bank $20K or $30K per year.