Helpful Advice?

Alright, here goes. I've been doing my research, checking into possible companies before i finish CDL schooling. I have a current pre-hire by TMC, although for some reason I was unable to attent their company school in Iowa (the whole reason I applied to them-"free" CDL training. Instead I'm stuck at a 6 month long school in Baltimore that I'm paying for out of my GI Bill with no chance of payback by TMC). I've singled out Werner, Swift and Stevens Transport as places I definitely don't want to work for. I'm still keeping TMC in play, just because there's more good then bad for reviews on the company so far.

So, what do I want? OTR. Don't give a ****e what I'm pulling, as long as the company I choose has well maintained, newer equipment (hopefully an APU), and good trailers, whatever type it may be. I don't plan on seeing the fam much, and would prefer to be out as much as possible (and being paid for it somewhat adequately-I want to make at least 40k after taxes my first year (possible to make more with apprenticeship program utilizing GI Bill)), I definitely want to be able to drive as much as possible and as far as possible (hence OTR) with as little stopping in between (i.e. not multiple stops on way to final destination as one would encounter with local) with as little sitting around and waiting on loads as possible (i.e. a company who's not going to waste my time, as I don't plan on wasting theirs). I hope I can recieve some valuable feedback, and that I'm not expecting too much for starting out.

Companies I currently have pre-hires from include TMC, with US Express in the works (applied for Team Max). I am also looking at Roehl, as they were recommended as one of the top companies for Veterans and recently separated members.

To sum this up, I WANT to be gone at least 3 to 4 weeks at atime, could give two ****es less about guaranteed home time, and even less about benefits-I have TriCare Prime from an active duty spouse that will be transferred to the Veteran program once she finishes her final enlistment at some point next year. I want recommendations on companies that pay decent and give the miles (or loads for percentage pay) that you need and/or want to survive, without leasing or being an owner/operator (not doing that until at least 5 to 7 years in when I figure out the industry enough and have the needed expertise). Any insight on my listed choices or other companies would be much appreciated. Thanks much, drive safe.

CDL:

Commercial Driver's License (CDL)

A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:

• Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
• Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
• Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
• Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.

OTR:

Over The Road

OTR driving normally means you'll be hauling freight to various customers throughout your company's hauling region. It often entails being gone from home for two to three weeks at a time.

Pre-hire:

What Exactly Is A Pre-Hire Letter?

Pre-hire letters are acceptance letters from trucking companies to students, or even potential students, to verify placement. The trucking companies are saying in writing that the student, or potential student, appears to meet the company's minimum hiring requirements and is welcome to attend their orientation at the company’s expense once he or she graduates from truck driving school and has their CDL in hand.

We have an excellent article that will help you Understand The Pre-Hire Process.

A Pre-Hire Letter Is Not A Guarantee Of Employment

The people that receive a pre-hire letter are people who meet the company's minimum hiring requirements, but it is not an employment contract. It is an invitation to orientation, and the orientation itself is a prerequisite to employment.

During the orientation you will get a physical, drug screen, and background check done. These and other qualifications must be met before someone in orientation is officially hired.

Pre-hires:

What Exactly Is A Pre-Hire Letter?

Pre-hire letters are acceptance letters from trucking companies to students, or even potential students, to verify placement. The trucking companies are saying in writing that the student, or potential student, appears to meet the company's minimum hiring requirements and is welcome to attend their orientation at the company’s expense once he or she graduates from truck driving school and has their CDL in hand.

We have an excellent article that will help you Understand The Pre-Hire Process.

A Pre-Hire Letter Is Not A Guarantee Of Employment

The people that receive a pre-hire letter are people who meet the company's minimum hiring requirements, but it is not an employment contract. It is an invitation to orientation, and the orientation itself is a prerequisite to employment.

During the orientation you will get a physical, drug screen, and background check done. These and other qualifications must be met before someone in orientation is officially hired.

OOS:

When a violation by either a driver or company is confirmed, an out-of-service order removes either the driver or the vehicle from the roadway until the violation is corrected.

APU:

Auxiliary Power Unit

On tractor trailers, and APU is a small diesel engine that powers a heat and air conditioning unit while charging the truck's main batteries at the same time. This allows the driver to remain comfortable in the cab and have access to electric power without running the main truck engine.

Having an APU helps save money in fuel costs and saves wear and tear on the main engine, though they tend to be expensive to install and maintain. Therefore only a very small percentage of the trucks on the road today come equipped with an APU.

Welcome aboard Greenhorn88!

I was not aware that TMC had a school - I have never heard of that before. That must be a new development. Are you sure you understood what it is that you didn't get to go to?

I see you have scratched several companies off your list, but you didn't really say why. Listen, when you say you've done your research I get a little anxious about what it is that you are relying on as research. We've got a driver in here who made a little more than sixty grand at Werner this year. We've also got quite a few successful Swift Drivers in here. My point is that if you are just scanning the forums on-line and finding a lot of critical stuff about certain companies how is it that you can tell truth from fiction? Or do you just rely on that strange little math formula that some use that says if there is way more negative than positive about a company then it must be true?

Greenhorn, I drove for sixteen months for Western Express - I'm quite sure you have come across them in your research. If you have, then I'm sure that you would agree with me that it sounds as if the devil himself were running the company! I'm here to tell you that I had a great experience over there. More miles than I could possibly do, never had a mistake on my payroll, and almost always had a pre-planned load waiting on me before I ever finished the load I was on.

I shared that with you just to try and get you to think about your approach to this career a little differently. My philosophy is that you will make this job what you want it to be by your work ethic and willingness to push through what ever difficulties arise to hinder you. As far as which companies are "good" I consider them all to be trucking companies - they've all got the same issues, because they are all trying to do the same thing, move freight from point A to point B.

So many people jump into this career with false assumptions based on foolish reports and notions that they have picked up from internet "review sites". Have you ever noticed how 99% of the people who post reviews are people who are dissatisfied in an extreme way? That in itself should be a big red flag to any thinking person. This business of being able to be anonymous, and being hidden behind a keyboard, has emboldened a bunch of people, who are generally failures at most things they attempt, to lay the blame for their ineptitude at the feet of "big greedy trucking magnates who are still practicing slavery in their business models". What I'm trying to say is choose a company that you seem to like, and then get out there and prove yourself to them. Don't be looking for them to prove themselves to you - that is the current trend of thinking and it is so backwards that it is a huge reason for the current 100% turn over rate in trucking. They don't have anything to prove - if you take a look at the walls of the offices of almost any trucking company that is being unfairly slammed on the internet you will find photos of drivers who have been there for ten and twenty years and put in millions of miles safely and very productively. Those guys didn't do that because it was a "good company" - they accomplished that because they were "good" drivers.

Your willingness to succeed and your drive to excel are the main ingredients for your success at this career. So don't worry so much about whose name is on the doors of the truck. I spent the first sixteen months of my career at Western Express, you couldn't ask for a company with more disparaging remarks against it. I excelled there, was always in the top group of drivers for productivity, and made some very good money despite the fact that their pay rate was very low. I'm not trying to toot my own horn, but rather the truth that you are the driving factor of your success at this. Any company out there who has a really hard working dependable driver who knows how to "get er done" will do all they can to keep that driver moving and satisfied. I have since moved on to a different company, but it wasn't because I thought the other guys were scumbags. I received a much better offer and I took advantage of that offer. That's the way it works - you prove yourself first, then you will find the doors of opportunity opening up to you.

One of the biggest problems with getting started in this career is the sheer difficulty of getting oneself accustomed to all the many consequences of your own decisions and choices while out there on the road. It is not easy breaking into this career. New drivers will inevitably make some bad choices while on the road. It is important to recognize when you make a mistake and learn from it. Your driver manager will come to depend on you and treat you really well if you are a dependable driver. People tend to give up and blame their company for not getting enough miles, or not making enough money to live on, as if they were being mistreated by the greedy company. But I can guarantee you that at which ever company that is getting slammed on the internet for mistreating their employees, there are a group of competent drivers who are getting more miles dispatched to them than they know how to handle because those drivers have proven themselves again and again. The reason you don't hear from them on those internet reviews is because they are in their sleeper catching some much needed rest so they can give 110% during their next on duty time period.

Wasn't trying to come off as a know it all. Trust me on that, I know very little, that's why I asked. All I have is my training in the military (and the discipline, and experience from driving large vehivles-any I could get licensed on, including a bus license for up to 72 passengers). I'm just trying to get insight on the companies that most competent people found fair and were paid decently at, and which companies to avoid for reasons such as messed up paychecks, and charging you for random stuff like door ties,etc. Also, I just want to find the companies that are known for giving good mileage (3000ish a week) so I can get my experience and drive. Plus, it's always nice to know which companies are notorious for bad routing, no APU , bad downtime, etc.

APU:

Auxiliary Power Unit

On tractor trailers, and APU is a small diesel engine that powers a heat and air conditioning unit while charging the truck's main batteries at the same time. This allows the driver to remain comfortable in the cab and have access to electric power without running the main truck engine.

Having an APU helps save money in fuel costs and saves wear and tear on the main engine, though they tend to be expensive to install and maintain. Therefore only a very small percentage of the trucks on the road today come equipped with an APU.

I am not a driver yet but I'll just add a little of what I've learned. First, Prime has some of the higher pay in the big companies for new drivers. They also have a $1,500 school reimbursement though I'm not sure of the qualifications. They also have APUs.

One of the big reasons I'm choosing them personally (beyond the obvious) is they have a longer training time and they start paying during training. I'm not exactly rich so I'm going on with very little to spare and I am wanting to train longer. Since you're coming from a school, it'll be different for you.

As far as divisions, I've read that flatbed waits the least at shippers and receivers and that reefer probably waits the most. I don't know if that's really always the case but it's what I've come across.

Good luck on your decisions!

CDL:

Commercial Driver's License (CDL)

A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:

• Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
• Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
• Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
• Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.

Shipper:

The customer who is shipping the freight. This is where the driver will pick up a load and then deliver it to the receiver or consignee.

Reefer:

A refrigerated trailer.

OOS:

When a violation by either a driver or company is confirmed, an out-of-service order removes either the driver or the vehicle from the roadway until the violation is corrected.

APU:

Auxiliary Power Unit

On tractor trailers, and APU is a small diesel engine that powers a heat and air conditioning unit while charging the truck's main batteries at the same time. This allows the driver to remain comfortable in the cab and have access to electric power without running the main truck engine.

Having an APU helps save money in fuel costs and saves wear and tear on the main engine, though they tend to be expensive to install and maintain. Therefore only a very small percentage of the trucks on the road today come equipped with an APU.

APUs:

Auxiliary Power Unit

On tractor trailers, and APU is a small diesel engine that powers a heat and air conditioning unit while charging the truck's main batteries at the same time. This allows the driver to remain comfortable in the cab and have access to electric power without running the main truck engine.

Having an APU helps save money in fuel costs and saves wear and tear on the main engine, though they tend to be expensive to install and maintain. Therefore only a very small percentage of the trucks on the road today come equipped with an APU.

Greenhorn welcome. Edgewood huh? Spent my 4 month AIT on APG-Edgewood to be a wheeled mechanic with the Stryker ASI. Only did 4 years freezing my butt off on ft wainwright, Alaska. Still trying to defrost and I've been back since April.

I've done same thing you are doing. Searched nation wide for a private school that seemed like a good fit for what I was looking for. Looked into most companies from websites, forums, discussion boards, going to truck stops to ask drivers questions about that company. Plus looking up their FMCSA scores (safersys.org go to the bottom where it says FMCSA searches and click on the company snapshot, you'll be able to search DOT#, company name. After you search that on the right hand side you'll have another hyper link saying SMS results. Hope this can help you out). Took me 6 months to follow through with everything. Like you, I put swift and Werner on the back burner, but that was after I looked into them, just something about them didn't feel appealing. C.R. England I counted out only because they were not in the system which I was basing all of the scores off of, to include their DOT number which I had to call and get transferred through 6 people to get, still nowhere to be found. One of my biggest tickets to the company I'm currently with, Watkins and Shepard, is they don't have x amount of weeks or months with a trainer over the road , they have a two week orientation and that's all. Unless (not saying you or anybody in the future reading this) you don't feel competent to operate a truck safely where they will provide more training.

But you name it I probably looked into them even if it was for 30 minutes online, something through me off of them for some reason or another, like not allowing an inverter, no fridges, just basic comfort type stuff.

APU seem to be few and far between for medium to large OTR companies, maybe more experienced drivers here can give you more on that. "Not cost effective" as most companies will say. But I know Knight, Watkins and Shepard, Gordon, May, Marten, CR England, not sure about Northern, Western, or Western Express haven't talked with many of them yet, don't run them. But I did see one company in Oregon running one but cannot recall who

OTR:

Over The Road

OTR driving normally means you'll be hauling freight to various customers throughout your company's hauling region. It often entails being gone from home for two to three weeks at a time.

Over The Road:

Over The Road

OTR driving normally means you'll be hauling freight to various customers throughout your company's hauling region. It often entails being gone from home for two to three weeks at a time.

CSA:

Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA)

The CSA is a Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) initiative to improve large truck and bus safety and ultimately reduce crashes, injuries, and fatalities that are related to commercial motor vehicle

FMCSA:

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

The FMCSA was established within the Department of Transportation on January 1, 2000. Their primary mission is to prevent commercial motor vehicle-related fatalities and injuries.

What Does The FMCSA Do?

• Commercial Drivers' Licenses
• Data and Analysis
• Regulatory Compliance and Enforcement
• Research and Technology
• Safety Assistance
• Support and Information Sharing

DOT:

Department Of Transportation

A department of the federal executive branch responsible for the national highways and for railroad and airline safety. It also manages Amtrak, the national railroad system, and the Coast Guard.

State and Federal DOT Officers are responsible for commercial vehicle enforcement. "The truck police" you could call them.

Fm:

Dispatcher, Fleet Manager, Driver Manager

The primary person a driver communicates with at his/her company. A dispatcher can play many roles, depending on the company's structure. Dispatchers may assign freight, file requests for home time, relay messages between the driver and management, inform customer service of any delays, change appointment times, and report information to the load planners.

OWI:

Operating While Intoxicated

APU:

Auxiliary Power Unit

On tractor trailers, and APU is a small diesel engine that powers a heat and air conditioning unit while charging the truck's main batteries at the same time. This allows the driver to remain comfortable in the cab and have access to electric power without running the main truck engine.

Having an APU helps save money in fuel costs and saves wear and tear on the main engine, though they tend to be expensive to install and maintain. Therefore only a very small percentage of the trucks on the road today come equipped with an APU.

One of my biggest tickets to the company I'm currently with, Watkins and Shepard, is they don't have x amount of weeks or months with a trainer over the road , they have a two week orientation and that's all. Unless (not saying you or anybody in the future reading this) you don't feel competent to operate a truck safely where they will provide more training.

Just to add to this portion, I don't enjoy people. Simple conversation once in a while is nice but to sit in a truck with someone I don't know, for weeks on end not knowing if they have home time or an extended vacation coming up, or them being the type of person who is such an arrogant jerk that you're ready to fight after just a couple of days. Just not my cup of tea

Greenhorn's desires:

So, what do I want? OTR. ... well maintained, newer equipment ... APU ... good trailers ... to be out as much as possible ... to make at least 40k after taxes my first year (... to make more with apprenticeship program utilizing GI Bill)), ... to be able to drive as much as possible and as far as possible ... not multiple stops ... as little sitting around and waiting on loads as possible (i.e. a company who's not going to waste my time

I hope I can recieve some valuable feedback, and that I'm not expecting too much for starting out.

To sum this up, I WANT to be gone at least 3 to 4 weeks at a time ... recommendations on companies that pay decent and give the miles that you need and/or want to survive ...

Wonderful wish list, Greenhorn. Reality is in a different world though. Mot major companies, Swift, Werner and Stevens included, have some of the latest equipment. Swift is rolling out the 2016's (automatic transmission) now. What's the deal about the trailers? Your company should keep trailers in good shape, as long as the drivers take time to turn in/report trailers with problems.

Being "out" as much as possible is entirely up to you. Most companies will let you drive to your heart's content, and it's up to you when you want to go home to visit with your beloved. Making "at least 40k after taxes" is a tall order, because that means you have to make at least $60k gross. Doubtful in your first, or second year, Mr Greenhorn. Being "out" and making the miles are two different things. You will probably start out slow, and spend lots of time sitting at truck stops for the first month or two. And calling the DM to ask for dispatches will not help you one bit.

Multiple stop dispatches exist, but for trailer load OTR , are few, so you won't have to sweat that one. Besides, your company will pay you extra for the stop. Do not consider any time sitting as "wasting my/your time". If there's business for you, the dispatcher will get it to your Qualcomm. You will be waiting. Lots. Especially as you get your career started.

I've singled out Werner, Swift and Stevens Transport as places I definitely don't want to work for.

You're real specific about the "don't want to work for". Why? Why are you cutting yourself of from three of the major players in the industry? Here's a bit of logic, Mr Greehorn: These companies did not become successful in the business by chewing up and spitting out their drivers. If you read the complaint forums, you will hear from many drives who had ideas and "wants" that differed from the company. So they quit in disgust or were fired. Then they want to blame that on the company - "I was right, they were wrong!". I drive for Swift right now. There were many times I could have given up, but from my own 6 months of experience and what I learned here on TT, I understand what was happening.

My advice for you, Mr Greehhorn is to make the choice for the best fit company for you. Do not walk into that job with a bunch of "wants" because I doubt you'll get more than a few of those. But get in the driver seat, drive your heart out, so that your company will see an asset they want to keep around.

OTR:

Over The Road

OTR driving normally means you'll be hauling freight to various customers throughout your company's hauling region. It often entails being gone from home for two to three weeks at a time.

Qualcomm:

Omnitracs (a.k.a. Qualcomm) is a satellite-based messaging system with built-in GPS capabilities built by Qualcomm. It has a small computer screen and keyboard and is tied into the truck’s computer. It allows trucking companies to track where the driver is at, monitor the truck, and send and receive messages with the driver – similar to email.

Dispatcher:

Dispatcher, Fleet Manager, Driver Manager

The primary person a driver communicates with at his/her company. A dispatcher can play many roles, depending on the company's structure. Dispatchers may assign freight, file requests for home time, relay messages between the driver and management, inform customer service of any delays, change appointment times, and report information to the load planners.

Dm:

Dispatcher, Fleet Manager, Driver Manager

The primary person a driver communicates with at his/her company. A dispatcher can play many roles, depending on the company's structure. Dispatchers may assign freight, file requests for home time, relay messages between the driver and management, inform customer service of any delays, change appointment times, and report information to the load planners.

HOS:

Hours Of Service

HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.

APU:

Auxiliary Power Unit

On tractor trailers, and APU is a small diesel engine that powers a heat and air conditioning unit while charging the truck's main batteries at the same time. This allows the driver to remain comfortable in the cab and have access to electric power without running the main truck engine.

Having an APU helps save money in fuel costs and saves wear and tear on the main engine, though they tend to be expensive to install and maintain. Therefore only a very small percentage of the trucks on the road today come equipped with an APU.

Errol V. I don't think my desires are too far fetched. Wanting to drive a good vehicle isn't asking for anything unreasonable. The part about the trailers came up because there were numerous reviews from prior employees for some of the companies I listed as not wanting to work for that reported having to hunt for trailers that were driveable. Even the instructor in the school I'm at who did this for 30 years says beware the big companies. Logistically speaking, a company with 10000 trucks and 20000 trailers is going to have a harder time maintaining their stuff then a company who has a fleet of 2500 trucks and 5000 trailers. Also, it's less expensive to "deck out" a smaller fleet than a large one, and being as idling laws are stringent, and the sun isn't getting any cooler, an APU is more cost effective and driver friendly. Being as my truck in essence becomes my home and office, I want to make sure I'm as comfortable as possible. As far as me "hanging out at truck stops," I don't know what would give you that idea. I love driving. I regularly take 12+ hour road trips and drive cross country non-stop for giggles and ****s. Why, you ask? Because I'm restless since I got out the military, and my only respite comes from sitting behind the wheel and rowing my own gears. As far as sitting being a waste of my time, it is. I'm not making money if the truck isn't moving and deliveries aren't being delivered. Detention pay for most companies doesn't kick in until an obscene amount of time has passed, and 20 bucks here and there doesn't pay bills. 40k isnt too unrealistic with the GI Bill coming into play with the apprenticeship program offered by some companies, like TMC and Roehl. That's tax free dollars weekly, for two years. That adds yp on top of my regular paycheck.

Joe. Thanks for the insight, and I couldn't agree more. I hate people. Hence the reason I want to work alone behind the wheel, as soon as possible. Military comradery does not exist in a civilian perspective, and that type of bond is missed by me. Wish they covered that in ACAP. Hey, you might be better off working alone would have been a great heads up. In the few side jobs I've had since I got out, the utter lack of discipline and laziness in coworkers made my DV kick into overdrive. S it too much to ask for people to pull their own weight and follow directions? Or to do their own job without me having to come behind them and fix everything?

OWI:

Operating While Intoxicated

APU:

Auxiliary Power Unit

On tractor trailers, and APU is a small diesel engine that powers a heat and air conditioning unit while charging the truck's main batteries at the same time. This allows the driver to remain comfortable in the cab and have access to electric power without running the main truck engine.

Having an APU helps save money in fuel costs and saves wear and tear on the main engine, though they tend to be expensive to install and maintain. Therefore only a very small percentage of the trucks on the road today come equipped with an APU.

Duude! I was simply offering an opinion. and that's what this forum is for! Most of the time when you get hired, the company does not deal much with your "wants", it gives you what it "has". That may not match up. Maybe they will allow you to install your own APU if they don't have them, or add a power converter.

I didn't think you'd be "hanging out" at truck stops - to me that means you're in the lounge trading war stories with other drivers. But, if you don't get a dispatch for a couple of days, you ain't rolling, and you ain't gettin' the mileage bucks. and there's not much you can do about it besides bug the DM. Don't accuse your DM of wasting your time! And any compensation such as cancellation or detention cannot come close to the money made in the same amount of time driving - I agree!

It's great the GI bill can toke in a few bucks. But, just like those cable subscriptions that sign you up for $19.95 for the first two years - eventually that stops and reality sets in. Go for it, Mr Greehorn! And keep us posted.

Dm:

Dispatcher, Fleet Manager, Driver Manager

The primary person a driver communicates with at his/her company. A dispatcher can play many roles, depending on the company's structure. Dispatchers may assign freight, file requests for home time, relay messages between the driver and management, inform customer service of any delays, change appointment times, and report information to the load planners.

HOS:

Hours Of Service

HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.

APU:

Auxiliary Power Unit

On tractor trailers, and APU is a small diesel engine that powers a heat and air conditioning unit while charging the truck's main batteries at the same time. This allows the driver to remain comfortable in the cab and have access to electric power without running the main truck engine.

Having an APU helps save money in fuel costs and saves wear and tear on the main engine, though they tend to be expensive to install and maintain. Therefore only a very small percentage of the trucks on the road today come equipped with an APU.

As far as me "hanging out at truck stops," I don't know what would give you that idea. I love driving. I regularly take 12+ hour road trips and drive cross country non-stop for giggles and ****s. Why, you ask? Because I'm restless since I got out the military, and my only respite comes from sitting behind the wheel and rowing my own gears. As far as sitting being a waste of my time, it is. I'm not making money if the truck isn't moving and deliveries aren't being delivered. Detention pay for most companies doesn't kick in until an obscene amount of time has passed, and 20 bucks here and there doesn't pay bills.

They're not talking about you doing it intentionally. They're talking about the fact that until you have highly impressed upon your DM the fact that you can and will do what needs to be done, you're not going to be as high on his/her list of people to keep rolling every second they can. They're not accusing you of being lazy and not wanting to drive.