Which one to choose

You have flatbeds and non-flatbeds mixed. Roehl does both.

Very few people "don't care" if they do flatbed or not. Generally you are pretty sure it's for you or you don't want anything to do with it. Beyond hard work, can you see yourself walking on top of your load on uneven surface like lumber with 100 lb tarp and windy snow blowing you around? You like heights?

Roehl would be good in case you change your mind, they do everything.

 

It comes down to this: Which one suits YOUR needs better, AND will their needs be met with YOU in their truck? In the end, if it's not mutually beneficial, regardless the equipment, it won't work. E.G. You can say TMC is "militaristic"(maybe they are), if so, I'll bet you never have to wonder what the rules are. The point is, who you choose to work for has to work for BOTH you and the company. You hold your end, they hold theirs, else it won't work out. Pick the one that's most mutually beneficial. After all, you were hunting a job when you found them, but they also were hunting a driver when they found you. It works both ways.

 

No, I'm a recent CDL graduate basically in your shoes. I've been camped out at this site for the last several weeks though and can save you some digging and research.

I didn't know what flatbed was until I was at school and the recruiters came. I'm interested because it is about the only "niche" there is for OTR trucking and 'tends' to pay a bit more. It's a niche because so few people want to do it, and that tells me something.

I too think I'm up for it and would like to do O/O after a year or two of experience and not have to compete so much with the dryvan guys.

It is QUITE possible that after a single winter I'll say this is complete BS and find something else to pull, but I'm committed to making it work.

Unfortunately both TMC and Roehl told me to take a walk and I think it's because I've been a full time University student for the last several years and it doesn't fall inline with their conventional work history requirements.. but I can't say for sure because they don't give reasons no matter how you ask.

I had a pre-hire with Maverick until they froze hiring. I'm waiting for the final word back from McElroy right now. If for some reason that falls through I'm just left with Werner which I'd much rather avoid if at all possible, though they do have a flatbed division I can hold my breath for.

 

I hear you on that. It was/is a concern of mine as well, but at least after orientation I really don't see how it could come into play when you're out on your own.

I had similar reservations going to a private baptist university for a hard core science curriculum. Didn't make any sense to me. We did have one very zealous woman professor that insisted on starting class with a prayer. It made a lot of people uncomfortable, myself included, but there was no real harm done of course. Heck, football teams do it.

The school environment in trucking is a lot more optimistic than the actual job market, so don't get to a point that you feel there are a lot of really good options right now. Take what you can get of the better companies. As I said if you can get on with Roehl or TMC you'll be doing alright. Roehl seems to be about as close to a union job as non-union is gonna get. Job satisfaction is high and there are a lot of choices in their structure. I still would have preferred Maverick for the high cpm, but as you know they are frozen.

I went to Charlotte Truck Driver Training School. It was really good and I was sad it was over by the time it was done. There's a lot of good people there.

 

PharmPhail, simple interest here (we spoke earlier). Did you attend GWU? Was trying to figure out private Baptist school and that is where I went. Good luck with McElroy. I see they have a terminal in eastern NC.

 

What ever you decide,make sure you have it all in writing and read the small fine print.

Make sure they can back up all they say in writing...If they dont wanna give it to you in writing....RUN LIKE HELL...........

 

Hey there, no it was Wingate.