So What Now?
Topic 20116 | Page 1
Repo sez:
every damn company has bad reviews, pays too low, or doesn't offer decent equipment for someone that plans on living in the truck for 8-10 weeks at a time. Any suggestions for a experienced driver looking to make the switch to OTR? Is there a perfect OTR company out there?
Sorry, Repo, we don't know of any "damn" companies here. We only list great companies. Most Trucking Truth members are proud of the company they work for. There's a current topic now where many drivers are talking up their company. Good equipment, good miles, good dispatching.
There is a huge change from oilfield to OTR. But you know that. Since you have your CDL , and a bit of driving experience, you should do OK. Check out these things:
- Trucker's Career Guide: Choosing Your First Truck Driving Job
- Article Category: Finding The Right Truck Driving Job
- Forum Topics Tagged "Choosing A Trucking Company"
Then send you application to all the great companies here:
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.
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.
Yes there are thousands of bad reviews available on most every trucking company out there. In an industry that out performs all the others in annual turnover, don't expect to hear anything good from the infinite droves of former and terminated drivers. Most of them blame everyone and everybody but themselves for their failures. We constantly reinforce to anyone considering this career; a good driver can be successful for most any trucking company they choose to driver for. You are no exception. The key is to understand what defines success and how-to rise to the top of the driver food chain. My suggestion, unless you are looking for nothing but negative, stay off all the other internet sites and forums, and invest some quality time here. You'll get straight (and not always popular) answers from hard-working, honest drivers.
With that said; most of the mega carriers are represented by successful drivers on this forum...including; Werner, Schneider, Swift, Prime, Knight, CR England, Roehl, HO Wolding, TMC, Melton, Millis, JB Hunt, Jim Palmer, WilTrans, CFI, Fed Ex Freight, US Express, CalArk, TransAm, Old Dominion,...I could go on, but I think you see my point.
For starters, take a look at this: Trucking Company Reviews
Once you have a few you are interested in; use the search bar for specifics on a particular company.
This too can help:
- Trucker's Career Guide: Choosing Your First Truck Driving Job
- Article Category: Finding The Right Truck Driving Job
- Forum Topics Tagged "Choosing A Trucking Company"
Good luck.
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.
I have been driving in the oil fields here in West Texas. I'm making great money but I really dislike living here.
I am having a hard time finding a decent company to work for.
I have taken everyone's suggestion and have taken my time trying to find a good company that treats drivers well. However, every damn company has bad reviews
every damn company pays too low
every damn company doesn't offer decent equipment for someone that plans on living in the truck for 8-10 weeks at a time.
Is there a perfect OTR company out there?
No, there is not a "perfect" company out there. It might interest you to know that all those sorry companies you have been researching are asking themselves, "Is there a perfect driver out there?"
Any suggestions for a experienced driver looking to make the switch to OTR?
I've got one! Stop looking for the "perfect" company! You have focused on all the wrong things, and you have come up empty handed.
Here's what you need to do. Get a job!
I honestly don't think whoever's name is on the doors of my truck has anything to do with my success at this career. I also find very few people who have found the kind of success I have at this. The one thing I focus on as an OTR driver is being the best driver my company has ever seen. That formula has worked well for me.
You should try that approach. That is my suggestion.
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.
If I may add my two cents about my company, I just started and they gave me a damn near brand new truck 9k miles on it when I picked her up, they seem to care about their drivers and I may be new and saucer eyed, star struck if you will but I really like my company, Werner seems to be a nice place
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I have been driving in the oil fields here in West Texas. I'm making great money but I really dislike living here. I have been looking at driving OTR , as I have $400 dollars a month in expenses per month (which is paid by another source of income) and everything I make will just go into savings. But I am having a hard time finding a decent company to work for. I have taken everyone's suggestion and have taken my time trying to find a good company that treats drivers well. However, every damn company has bad reviews, pays too low, or doesn't offer decent equipment for someone that plans on living in the truck for 8-10 weeks at a time. Any suggestions for a experienced driver looking to make the switch to OTR? Is there a perfect OTR company out there?
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.