Start School Today Looking At Future Employers Could Use Help Thinking Roehl Any Opinions

research research research omg im brain dead any help would be appreciated

Breath!! The name on the side of the door is not nearly important as the experience you are getting. At school you will see all kinds of recruiters come thru. My suggestion is put out as many applications as possible. See who is biting.

Apply For Truck Driving Jobs

Make a list of what you are looking for.

Solo vs team Freight type (reefer, Dry Van , flatbed, tanker) Type of driving (OTR vs Regional). I did not mention local for several reasons.

The first 3 should point you to which companies to focus on.

Next make a list of what is important to you.

Pet Policy Rider Policy Home time options Perks (APUs, inverters, etc..) Pay (don't just look at cpm. Look at what kind and frequency of bonuses)

The second list should help you narrow down which company to start for. Also remember, we highly recommend you give your first company a year. Also don't look at your first company as "just a start." Consider making them the only company that you work for. Remember every time you change a company you go back to the bottom of the ladder. You have to prove yourself and climb back up that ladder to show them what you got.

I have already put out a laundry list of the larger carriers in TN. But also remember as long as you are in a companies hiring area, where they are based is not that important.

The company I work for is based out of WI and only has a single terminal. I live in TN as well. Not a big issue. Since Nashville is at the crossroads of 24,40,&65 a lot of freight goes thru Nashville. You should be in a lot of different companies hiring area.

Drive Safe and God Speed

Terminal:

A facility where trucking companies operate out of, or their "home base" if you will. A lot of major companies have multiple terminals around the country which usually consist of the main office building, a drop lot for trailers, and sometimes a repair shop and wash facilities.

Regional:

Regional Route

Usually refers to a driver hauling freight within one particular region of the country. You might be in the "Southeast Regional Division" or "Midwest Regional". Regional route drivers often get home on the weekends which is one of the main appeals for this type of route.

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.

Dry Van:

A trailer or truck that that requires no special attention, such as refrigeration, that hauls regular palletted, boxed, or floor-loaded freight. The most common type of trailer in trucking.

CPM:

Cents Per Mile

Drivers are often paid by the mile and it's given in cents per mile, or cpm.

Reefer:

A refrigerated trailer.

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.

Patrick nailed it. The company you choose really isn't a big deal at all.

First narrow it down, like to the type of freight you'd like to haul and how often you'd like to get home. Start putting in applications and you're going to find a few offers if your background checks out great. But not every company is going to make you an offer. So I wouldn't waste too much time researching companies that may or may not be an opportunity anyhow.

Figure out what type of freight you'd like to haul and when you'd like to get home. Get applications into each company and see who gives you an offer. Then finish your research by comparing those companies.

Make sure you go through our truck driver's career guide if you haven't already. I consider it essential reading for anyone getting ready to embark on this career:

Truck Driver's Career Guide