What Companies Should I Seek Out Or Avoid?
Topic 10810 | Page 1
Melton Trucking, seems to be a good company, they are strictly flatbed, but they pay good. I've seen a few of their trucks and asked their drivers how they like it. No bad comments. They don't get called by their ID number, but instead by their name. They hire out of a lot of areas, have a rider/pet program. Oh and they are solo drivers only... Excluding the training you'll need as a new driver.
I know all of this they have offered me a job. By the way, smart choice taking a loan out, these contracts are complete bs... You'll get better pay the route your taking.
Need anything at all and you can feel free to PM me.
LMAO sorry gotta say it... Apparently trans am is bad if you can't follow company policies lol just search for trans am drop out dude lol.... The best company is the right fit for you... Make a pros and cons list for each company and pick one that best suits your needs. Like home time,pay and freight... Check out How To Choose A Company...
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.
And as far as companies to avoid, your pickings are slim to start with. Because you lack experience most companies won't hire you.. This forum has alot to offer, including the opinions of other drivers, however, it is always a good idea to call companies and see if they can have a driver contact you for more info. Just my two cents!
Good luck!
LMAO sorry gotta say it... Apparently trans am is bad if you can't follow company policies lol just search for trans am drop out dude lol.... The best company is the right fit for you... Make a pros and cons list for each company and pick one that best suits your needs. Like home time,pay and freight... Check out How To Choose A Company...
I was tempted to say something about that... But wanted to stay out of it... Again... One sided... And he should try contacting drivers.
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.
LMAO sorry gotta say it... Apparently trans am is bad if you can't follow company policies lol just search for trans am drop out dude lol.... The best company is the right fit for you... Make a pros and cons list for each company and pick one that best suits your needs. Like home time,pay and freight... Check out How To Choose A Company...
I was tempted to say something about that... But wanted to stay out of it... Again... One sided... And he should try contacting drivers.
Its OK wise Jedi... You see will they go and come.... Lol i was joking about trans am being a bad company... Every company has miles and trucks to drive them.... Just prove to them you are a go getter and you will be fine... Here's some links to read:
- Truck Driver's Career Guide
- Company-Sponsored Training
- High Road Training Program
- Truck Driving Schools
- How To Choose A School
- Understanding Pre-Hires
- Items To Pack
- Brett's Book
seems like a lot but they will help you figure this industry out a little bit
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.
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.
Company-sponsored Training:
A Company-Sponsored Training Program is a school that is owned and operated by a trucking company.
The schooling often requires little or no money up front. Instead of paying up-front tuition you will sign an agreement to work for the company for a specified amount of time after graduation, usually around a year, at a slightly lower rate of pay in order to pay for the training.
If you choose to quit working for the company before your year is up, they will normally require you to pay back a prorated amount of money for the schooling. The amount you pay back will be comparable to what you would have paid if you went to an independently owned school.
Company-sponsored training can be an excellent way to get your career underway if you can't afford the tuition up front for private schooling.
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.
Thanks for the comments!
The links are nice. Before I even signed up for the forums, I poked through a lot of the documents here, and wasn't very surprised. That's not to say I knew it all, but there was very little that was surprising. I've been around the block a few times. I just haven't done it in a big truck yet.
What I was hoping for was guidance about companies that do a lot of long hauls for solo drivers. Not just OTR , but long OTR, multiple states, cross country, that sort of thing. I imagine that some companies do more of this than others.
I can read about companies and how to do this and that all day long, and have already done so, but I joined the forum to get advice from people who have been in the seat.
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.
Thanks for the comments!
The links are nice. Before I even signed up for the forums, I poked through a lot of the documents here, and wasn't very surprised. That's not to say I knew it all, but there was very little that was surprising. I've been around the block a few times. I just haven't done it in a big truck yet.
What I was hoping for was guidance about companies that do a lot of long hauls for solo drivers. Not just OTR , but long OTR, multiple states, cross country, that sort of thing. I imagine that some companies do more of this than others.
I can read about companies and how to do this and that all day long, and have already done so, but I joined the forum to get advice from people who have been in the seat.
Its hard to say what company has what... I've ran from new jersey to Santa fe springs Cali and had a load for 30 miles.. Your not always going to run coast to coast...
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.
Company-Sponsored Training if you check out those companies at that link it tells you the average length the company offers... Like I said though you won't run coast to coast every load and to just start out you can expect about 600 to 1100 mile runs till you can prove yourself....
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.
Company-sponsored Training:
A Company-Sponsored Training Program is a school that is owned and operated by a trucking company.
The schooling often requires little or no money up front. Instead of paying up-front tuition you will sign an agreement to work for the company for a specified amount of time after graduation, usually around a year, at a slightly lower rate of pay in order to pay for the training.
If you choose to quit working for the company before your year is up, they will normally require you to pay back a prorated amount of money for the schooling. The amount you pay back will be comparable to what you would have paid if you went to an independently owned school.
Company-sponsored training can be an excellent way to get your career underway if you can't afford the tuition up front for private schooling.
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.
Its hard to say what company has what... I've ran from new jersey to Santa fe springs Cali and had a load for 30 miles.. Your not always going to run coast to coast...
Understood. Someone's got to carry that load. I'd just rather work with a company that's a good fit for me.
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I've always had an interest in truck driving, but up until recently, I had a decent-paying job. With no pressing need to change things up in my life, I cruised down the path of life. Then the company I worked for decided to move my job to Serbia.
So, I've poked around a little bit and found a school fairly close to me that seems to not have too much hate directed at them. Truck Driver Institute, in Forsyth, GA. Getting the permit and CDL should not be a difficulty. The school seems to be fairly good, though it does appear as if they might play games with employment contracts. I'm going to be trying to get an educational student loan (like a college loan) so I'm not trapped into anything.
I figure that there are probably companies that specialize in long OTR deliveries.
What companies should I look for?
What companies should I avoid?
Is there a dark underbelly to really long OTR driving? (lots of unpaid miles, sitting empty for days, etc)
**
About me:
I want the long drives on the open road. If I can make Alaska to Florida runs, that'd be fine by me (I suspect those are rare). I'd prefer to be solo. I'm single, and don't care how long I'm on the road, as long as I can get back once a month to make sure the house hasn't burned down. I have been driving a stick shift for 25 years, and have 255k miles on the original clutch of my personal truck. I'm in my early 40's. I quit smoking after 22 years smoking, 5 years ago. I'm going to be highly annoyed if I get stuck in a truck with a smoker, and so are they. I promise. I do not currently have a passport, but have the official documents to get one if needed.
**
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
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.
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.