Searching For The Mystery Company

I am in CDL school and researching companies. Talk about a heck of time looking for the right company to drive for. I have started a spreadsheet just to start wrapping my head around what companies can over me. Looking for OTR/Hazmat/Tanker/Wide Load/DOD.

New Driver Benefits Sign on bonus CDL graduates Paid Orientation Paid Training

PAY Per Mile Pay Lay Over Pay Stop Pay Detention Pay Multiple Stop Pay Empty Load Pay Full Load Pay

Bonuses Safety Performance Fuel

Terminal Benefits 24hr. Access Showers Wi-Fi Laundry Facilities Cafeteria Services Fitness machines

No forced Dispatch

Benefits, Finance 401 K Stock Options Paid Vacation College Tuition Reimbursement (For taking college courses that benefit company) Referral Program

Benefits, Medical Family Plan Vision Dental Flexible Spending Death, Dismemberment

Equipment Cams Avoidance Technology

Union or Not?

Who hires Hazmat Tanker no experience right out of CDL school?

So I have been able to narrow my search to 1.) Company with outstanding Safety rating, Low turnover rates, 2.) Hires out of CDL 3.) Paid orientation and training for Hazmat Tanker (Currently have endorsements) 4.) Keep me out on the road 5.) Maximum Pay, Bonus, Medical packages 6.) Modern Equipment with safety technology 7.) Company advancement, hires within, pays for post secondary education 8.) Gives out Bacon as a Christmas Thank You gift?

Which companies would be the best fit?

That's a long list, Carl. What are your priorities in that list? You're looking for a perfect company and there's no such thing.

The first thing on that list that can go is terminal benefits. What's going on at the terminal will be of no concern to you, especially if you want to be kept out on the road.

I don't know of many trucking companies that still have unions other than a few LTL companies. I could be wrong though because I'm not educated on the matter. I don't think this should influence your decision because it narrows your options greatly.

Vehicle safety technology and modem equipment are used at all of the big companies. Any company that has half of the stuff on your list is sure to have great equipment.

A lot of companies willing to hire new grads offer most of this stuff. The part that sticks out to me is that you want to run before you crawl. If you're interested in doing wide loads, start out in flatbed.

As for hazmat tanker, that's also a huge undertaking. The loads are more unstable, you may have trouble finding a gig like that with no experience.

The best way to narrow your search is apply to all the companies that interest you and see who says yes. You're forgetting that they select the candidates. It would suck to do all this narrowing down just to hear no. Apply and then narrow down.

That’s why your title says mystery because that’s exactly what it is. If there was a such company we would all know about it. Focus on getting that’s cdl first and get a year of clean, accident free, experience and then you can make a wish list. Good luck

Banks and Daddy have sage advice. Even though your dream company doesn't exist, it will be hard to go wrong with the Bigs on our list here:

Trucking Company Reviews

As to your dream sheet, here's my take: #1, 2, 4, 5, 6 are givens. Within "pennies" all the companies do this.

#3: You will be paid for some orientation. Some companies don't really hire you until after 1-2 days of orientation. As for hazmat that depends on the company's needs. And starting out, hazmat isn't something to deal with.

#7: Usually a trucker's career path is getting another truck. "Inside" jobs are often available to drivers. Tuition assistance is rare. How can you have time to study when you're OTR driving all the time?

#8: Really, Christmas is just another day. Most companies do slack off between Christmas and New Years. If you can do it, those holidays can get you some good miles.

Here's our job search kit:

• 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"

Yup that is a mystery wish list for sure. Even though you have hazmat and tanker endorsements I highly encourage you to stay away from it until you get some experience under your belt. I love it, and can’t see doing anything else but it is far more dangerous than you think. I have seen alot of new drivers come in with bare minimum experience at just driving and wind up with big problems and unemployed. Get some experience first at driving, then you can look for and find your niche.

Like the others said that company doesn't exist. All the major companies have new and well maintained equipment. Turnover rates will be very similar from company to company. It is best just to get in anywhere you can. You will have to work for a minimum of one year before you can be more picky. It takes time to learn how to handle an 80,000 pound death machine safely. The only company I know of that would train you for hazmat tanker is Schneider. Good luck.

The list made me believe this was our infamous "Todd" lol.... no forced dispatch....college reimbursement that "benefit" the company. What would that be, and that is an honest question?

I am in CDL school and researching companies. Talk about a heck of time looking for the right company to drive for. I have started a spreadsheet just to start wrapping my head around what companies can over me. Looking for OTR/Hazmat/Tanker/Wide Load/DOD.

New Driver Benefits Sign on bonus CDL graduates Paid Orientation Paid Training

Prime, paid training but not orientation.

PAY Per Mile Pay Lay Over Pay Stop Pay Detention Pay Multiple Stop Pay Empty Load Pay Full Load Pay

yes

Bonuses Safety Performance Fuel

yes

Terminal Benefits 24hr. Access Showers Wi-Fi Laundry Facilities Cafeteria Services Fitness machines

yes

No forced Dispatch

no

Benefits, Finance 401 K Stock Options Paid Vacation College Tuition Reimbursement (For taking college courses that benefit company) Referral Program

No stock options, privately owned with owner on premises

College discount through online college partner, not reimbursement

Benefits, Medical Family Plan Vision Dental Flexible Spending Death, Dismemberment

yes

Equipment Cams Avoidance Technology

yes

Union or Not?

not

Who hires Hazmat Tanker no experience right out of CDL school?

3% of freight is hazmat; does have flatbed, reefer , tanker (i recommend doing another division first and switching to tanker later)

you can get an in house job, and they give christmas bonus plus pay for holiday meals.

Carl, there are really only a few things you need to focus on because the major carriers are all fantastic places to work.

1) What type of freight do you want to haul?

2) How often do you want to get home?

3) What regions of the country do you want to drive in?

Once you answer those three questions, you'll narrow your choices by 75%. Take the remaining companies, apply to as many as possible, and see who offers you an opportunity. If you get more than one, choose the company you feel is the best match.

It really is that simple. Don't waste your time scouring the landscape. You won't get as many offers as you expect. Narrow your scope, apply to those companies, then work with those that offer you an opportunity.

...college reimbursement that "benefit" the company. What would that be, and that is an honest question?

For example, if an employee was interested in taking some management or leadership courses a company might offer tuition reimbursement to offset the cost. The gain for the company is that the employee could be a potential candidate for promotion.