Update from a Wannabe!

Finally got WIA funding for (ATDT) in Moulton Alabama! Finishing up the first week and was able to get in one of the Freightliners Wednesday afternoon.

No I start turning my attention to how to decide who to work for. The school has job placement with many companies, including Swift, Central Ref, Trans Am, US Xpress, USA, H O Wolding, and others....

Leaning towards Central / H O Wolding / Trans Am....

Can you guys give me some practical things to look for when talking to their recruiters?

I know to ask about practical miles vs short miles....

I am thinking about teaming with a friend if I go Central with him.

Any help would be GREAT! Thanks guys!

 

Also thinking about Roehl. But trying to figure out the pros and cons to Vans, FlatBeds, Refers, or curtainsides....

thanks guys!

 

My wife and I teamed for Central and did pretty well. They really treat their teams good and we always had miles. They expect teams to average 1000 a day. The pros to running reefers is there is more options for freight. You can haul reefer or dry, hazmat too. They nice thing about the reefer trailers is that they are not set up to build tiers. So no lumping plywood for decks and furniture moves. Refrigerated is no touch. Some drivers complain about noise but it no worse than parking next to a idling truck. As a team you won't have to worry about this anyway. I see you are out of Florida. Sometimes Central has hiring freezes in Florida so make sure you ask a recruiter about this. Welcome to the forum and good luck to you.

 

OK, heres what i found out: TransAm will try to get you to lease a truck, or you may be sitting around awhile. HO Wolding is based in Amerest, WI. they run solo & teams. They also have there own school, their hiring area is all of New England,mostly all of the south, except part of Fl, Al, & Ark., eastern central US, Dallas, Denver, & Flagstaff areas only. Orientation classes are in Amherest WI, Liverpool, NY. Dallas, TX. Oxford, AL & Kansas City, MO.
starting pay as of '07 is 27 cpm to 39 cpm after 14 yrs.

 

I appreciate the help...but I knew all that based on visiting their websites.

I was actually hoping to learn some first hand knowledge from some who knew about those companies or used to work for them.

Knowing where the terminals are doesnt do me any good if I dont know how many miles they are able to give their drivers on a consistent basis.

I am really interested in teams because it would seem to me that they would get miles more than others (expedited routes)

How would those who know about these companies rank them?

I am leaning like this

Central (for teams with friend)
H O Wolding
Roehl
Trans AM

 

Second Week done.

I have alley docking nailed down. (last two days nailed it 9/9 times)

learned upshifting on Monday / downshifting on Tuesday

drove in the city Wed-Thursday (need more practice at gear recovery) I am pushing the clutch in to far when downshifting so the clutch brake messes me up.

Still need heads up on a few companies.

Central (tell me some stuff the recruiters DONT say)
TMC (again.... non recruiter talk)

Are there other companies you guys would recommend?

 

Define practical miles for me.

Would this be the same practical "miles" used by the former CFI. Which was actually Rand McNally household movers "practical routing".

PCMiler pratical? -- The highest paying of all...BTW.

Google practical?

MS Streets and Trips?

 

You might want to look into MAY trucking and Watkins Shepard.



American Trucker

 

Watkins sheppard ,central ,swift in that order is what will be best for you STAY away from transam

 

wiley sanders

amx...alabama motor express

mcgriff ???

shoreline/evergreen

mcElroy

boyd brothers

GoodLuck !!!