Picking The Right Company To Start With

Hello everyone, longtime reader first time poster here. I'm currently in school at CDS here in Middletown Virginia. I've got a couple of weeks left before I graduate and start looking for a job. We've had several recruiters come in and talk to us (Covenant, Stevens, Tmc). I'll start off by saying I don't want to start out in flatbed. I want to be over the road for at least 5 years before I come back and be dedicated or regional. I'm in this to make money and I feel over the road will give me that opportunity. Out of those companies stated above, Stevens caught my eye the best because 1. the trucks they have are almost brand new, they deliver to distribution centers (which for a noob like me could be a good thing til I know what I'm doing), but they start you out at .35 cpm and I feel that may be a little low, but I've never had a trucking job so what do I know. Another company I've been gearing towards is Prime Inc. A friend of mine currently drives for them and recommended them. I've researched them and they seem like a great company. Plus they start you out at .42 cpm as soon as your done training. The 3 months your training you get $600 a week first 20 weeks then $700 a week the final weeks. If any of you fine folks could give me some advice or suggest a company to start my career with I would really be in your debt! Thanks y'all!

Can't really go wrong with any of these companies. There are many more that may suit you as well if you do your research. Don't be so quick to dismiss flatbed. I started flatbed out the gate and so have many others. What you can do is look into companies like Prime, Maverick(where I am), swift, Roehl, that have different types of freight. That way if you decide you want to try one of their options you can make the switch within the company. Good luck to you.

Start here:

• Truck Driver's Career Guide
• Brett's Book: The Raw Truth About Trucking (free online version)
• High Road CDL Training Program
• CDL Practice Tests

Then look here:

• 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"

Now my $0.02. Pick a company that fits your needs best. CPM does not tell the whole story. For example CFI starts you at. 26 CPM while with a trainer. Then 33 CPM until 30,000 miles, 35 CPM 30,000 to 90,000, 37 CPM 90,000 to 120,000. At that point you will be at 40 CPM. They also have a safety bonus, hazmat and Northeast pay. Extra money for multi stop loads, boarder crossings, short haul, detention and layover. So there is much to think about when choosing a company. Try to pick a forever company. Good luck.

Thanks guys. C.T, don't get me wrong I have a lot of respect for Flatbed drivers. What y'all do is pretty tough and needs a lot of attention. I honestly want to start out in reefer or dry van. It's one of those things that's just not for me. Big Scott, I've read through all that already. Trust me I've been on this website and forum for quite a while before registering today. I'd just like a truckers 0.02 cents based on y'alls experiences driving for these different companies and what not.

I love Prime. Yes the pay is great, the miles are there. we have all the safety, on time bonuses, layover and detention Scott mentioned. we have various divisions, regional and dedicated if you get bored OTR. we get lots of perks and great terminals. The major down fall is the home time policy...which is similar to many other OTR companies. 1 day for every week out, so 4 weeks out and 4 days home. But you can take your truck home and take your home time anywhere in the country...so a mini vacation with prime as the travel agent lol.

keep in mind that most larger companies will have newer trucks. I have a 2016 that will be taken from me shortly for a new one. Safety will be a major concern for most large company and repairs not an issue. if i say i need somwething needs to be fixed, it gets fixed.

Prime pay is not 20 weeks at $600... i think it is 6 or 7 weeks for CDL holders coming from the outside. Then you get $700 until the truck does 40,000 team miles. So 4k to 5k miles a week time 8 to 9 weeks. then you go solo.

tuition reimbursment is also available.

just ask if you have any prime questions ;)

Since you are in Virginia, Look at Lawrence companies in Roanoke. They take new students. Pay while in training increases every week. 2 weeks vacation in first year. I talked to a recruiter from their. Company is employee owned.They are dry van.

You mentioned one of the things you like about Stevens is they deliver mostly to distribution centers. Same was true when I drove for Schneider dry van , but isn’t Stevens primarily refrigerated? If so, does that mean you might be sitting for long periods being loaded/unloaded? I have no experience in refrigerated OTR. I just know my experience at grocery distribution centers (as dry van) has never been a quick in and out.

I believe most companies that advertise 90+% “no touch” freight are going to have you going to either distribution centers or warehouses of some sort.

All the ones you mentioned are probably great. Old School will tell ya.

Good luck!

I love Prime. Yes the pay is great, the miles are there. we have all the safety, on time bonuses, layover and detention Scott mentioned. we have various divisions, regional and dedicated if you get bored OTR. we get lots of perks and great terminals. The major down fall is the home time policy...which is similar to many other OTR companies. 1 day for every week out, so 4 weeks out and 4 days home. But you can take your truck home and take your home time anywhere in the country...so a mini vacation with prime as the travel agent lol.

keep in mind that most larger companies will have newer trucks. I have a 2016 that will be taken from me shortly for a new one. Safety will be a major concern for most large company and repairs not an issue. if i say i need somwething needs to be fixed, it gets fixed.

Prime pay is not 20 weeks at $600... i think it is 6 or 7 weeks for CDL holders coming from the outside. Then you get $700 until the truck does 40,000 team miles. So 4k to 5k miles a week time 8 to 9 weeks. then you go solo.

tuition reimbursment is also available.

just ask if you have any prime questions ;)

Thank you, Rainy. That's some great info right there, I appreciate it. I actually have a couple of questions. Are y'alls trucks still 10 speed or Autos? And do y'all deliver to distribution centers or stores? Also as a new recruit will I be "forced" to drive a light load truck or can I get a condo truck right away?

Hman, thanks I'll look them up.

Steve L. Thank you for the info.

Start here:

• Truck Driver's Career Guide
• Brett's Book: The Raw Truth About Trucking (free online version)
• High Road CDL Training Program
• CDL Practice Tests

Then look here:

• 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"

Now my $0.02. Pick a company that fits your needs best. CPM does not tell the whole story. For example CFI starts you at. 26 CPM while with a trainer. Then 33 CPM until 30,000 miles, 35 CPM 30,000 to 90,000, 37 CPM 90,000 to 120,000. At that point you will be at 40 CPM. They also have a safety bonus, hazmat and Northeast pay. Extra money for multi stop loads, boarder crossings, short haul, detention and layover. So there is much to think about when choosing a company. Try to pick a forever company. Good luck.

Hey Big Scott, are you a trainer yet for CFI?

Thank you, Rainy. That's some great info right there, I appreciate it. I actually have a couple of questions. Are y'alls trucks still 10 speed or Autos? And do y'all deliver to distribution centers or stores? Also as a new recruit will I be "forced" to drive a light load truck or can I get a condo truck right away?

Rainy will be back but for now I can answer those questions.

Most of Prime's fleet, if not all of it at this point, is automatics. They're moving their entire fleet to automatics.

As far as distribution centers versus stores, any major carrier is going to deliver to a wide variety of customers. Refrigerated carriers do a lot of warehouse deliveries, but they also tend to pick up at a variety of customers, from small family farms to gigantic beef processing plants and everything in between. No matter what company you work for you can expect a large variety of customers for sure. You'll see a lot more warehouses than you will stores though.

You will not be forced to drive a lightweight truck. Prime will give you the option and they will pay you more for driving a lightweight, but it will be an option.