Profile For Rooster

Done with orientation at McElroy. Seem like a stand up company so far. Spoken to several drivers and they all have good things to say. Sunday I'll head back to Ennis to begin my four week ojt. Looking forward to it.

I'll be headed to Ennis monday. Excited about working with McElroy.

I've already got my CDL, and I'm taking a refresher course next week. I'm actually finding quite a few companies on Craigslist.

I know you already have your CDL. What I'm saying is that not every company is going to accept that particular refresher course from that particular school. So don't assume you can take that course and then you'll qualify to go back to work anywhere that would hire you. I would suggest that you keep applying until someone says they're willing to hire you and then see if they'll require any sort of refresher course. They may not require any at all, they may have a particular list of approved schools they accept training from, or they may have their own school. You really won't know what training you'll need, if any, until a company says they'll hire you. Every company handles it differently.

Your right Brett, the course is a requirement for Knight, who is currently my #1 choice. Some of the other companies also require the same course prior to hiring. Either way, I figure I will probably need something since its been so long since I've been in the seat. I am attempting to gather as much info on these other companies as possible before I make any decisions. If I don't need the course for a better company, I'm not going to take it. I still have a little time before I have to have an answer.

I've already got my CDL, and I'm taking a refresher course next week. I'm actually finding quite a few companies on Craigslist.

This search has been incredibly frustrating. Trying to find something that hires here, has me home when I need, and will take my experience level has been seemingly impossible. But, I'm hard headed and refuse to give up so easily.

I sent you a suggestion Brett about the search engine. I did a search, but as I said in the message I sent you, most of them I wasn't qualified for. I will, and have been doing quick applications and some full applications. So far I've checked out Knight Transportation, Crete, US Express, Heartland, Earl Henderson, Maverick, Werner and McElroy. I also looked at Milton, but their hometime wasn't what I need. I even sent TMC a message saying I would gladly join them if they considered hiring slightly outside of their area.

I sent them an info request, maybe they'll work with me since I'm close. Thanks again for the suggestion. I will definitely let you know how it goes.

Try McElroy. They are flatbed and get you home every weekend. Christian company, makes sure your home for church every Sunday morning. Might have to pull out Sunday night for a Monday delivery but you get your weekend resets. And they hire newbies.

I am 30 miles outside of their Oklahoma division. Does seem like an exceptional company. Thanks for the suggestion.

I'm somewhat of an interesting case in trucking. I started back in 2010 with an "un-named" OTR company and after several weeks of $60 paychecks, decided they weren't right for me. Afterwards, I turned local hauling wood chips from processors to paper mills in south Arkansas and Louisiana. I did that job for roughly 3 months, until I could no longer drive the HORRIBLY unsafe equipment. Combined, this gives me a mere six months experience. Now, the town I live in with my military wife has absolutely no jobs. I have searched high and low for something to keep me at home, but the call of the open road has once again caught my attention. I have attempted to contact several companies like TMC and Maverick, only to be told I am outside of their hiring area. Such a shame too as I was looking forward to working with either of them. My experience is primarily dry van, but at this point, I'll take what I can get. I live in the very southwest corner of Oklahoma in the crossroads town of Altus. Not exactly a main freight route. My question to you guys and gals is this. Does anyone know of a company that will hire in the area with my short experience that will have me home most weekends? Oh, and I should note that I start a refresher course next week (suggested by Knight Trans.). My priorities are hometime first, pay second. Thanks in advance.

I agree, double clutching is no different than slip-shifting as long as it is DONE CORRECTLY. When I started driving, foolishly perhaps, I never double clutched. Just couldn't seem to get it down. However, when I did my road test, the instructor told me, "Whoever taught you how to slip shift did a great job." It would seem I was lucky for that. I drove, and still drive, by slip shifting and have never had any issues. The key either way, is not to jamb it into gear. match road speed, rpm and gear speed and youll be fine either way. Oh, and as a final note, I used to rebuild heavy duty transmissions for a small company. never failed to amaze me how many "pro drivers" came in with burned up clutch brakes and sheared teeth.