Please Help Me Decide Between 2 Companies

Why choose between only two companies?

I applied for ABF, Old Dominion, Estes Express, YRC, UPS Freight which is now TFI, Fed ex freight and Gemini/Loves as a fuel hauler. I was turned down by ABF, Estes and Fed-ex because I have no experience, I haven't heard from the others yet. I just have these two offers at the moment and have to let them know by Tuesday or lose them.

Why choose between only two companies?

I notice you listed mainly LTL/Home daily type jobs. Is there a reason you feel you need to be home daily?

The problem is most Local positions require experience for a good reason. You are ill equipped as a rookie for daily city driving. The Fuel thing completely baffles me. Tankers are a bad idea in general when it comes to rookies in the first place. Let alone hauling fuel. No company in their right mind is going to give a rookie a rolling pipe bomb do drive around. The fact that you even thought it was a good enough of an idea to apply frankly scares me!!

Please stay away from the small company. I guarantee you that he would be lying to his insurance company to insure you. No 2 truck operation can afford to insure someone straight out of school.

So basically your 2 options are: ACE hardware or apply to larger OTR companies.

This too me with my background is interesting. First of all Jerad from one retired flat foot to another. Thank you for your service and you left with your health in tact.

This industry is very diverse. Something for everyone so to speak. We all have different wants, needs, and desires. We all drive a truck, the difference is in the details.

The ACE job is interesting and different because it is a private fleet. They haul their own stuff, not a general freight hauler. I have worked for a private fleet before and may do so again in the future. I enjoyed it. They have very predictable scheduling and routing. Some folks like that aspect, some don’t. They are certainly big enough to provide support.

The new small flatbed job, personally I see issues their. Working for a small company will either be great or a total disaster. There is just nothing in between. I’m not sure how they can insure you though. Only way I can see is if they run under a bigger company, having their trucks leased onto the larger carrier. It may be something good, or maybe not. Way to many variables for my taste.

I love my tanker job. I haul chemicals, not fuel but I really do enjoy it. It is not for new drivers. You need experirnce and to develop your driving skills before you tackle that.

You need to decide first and foremost what it is you want out of this career. Then you see what company can best fit your needs.

Just based on what I’ve read here, which really is very minimial, I would take the ACE job in a heartbeat, but that is me.

I wish you well in your journey and decision making. My email is in my profile if you want to contact me directly.

Errol replied to Jared:

I was told by a friend of mine who used to work for Swift to stay far away from them.

Smile when you say that, Jerad. There are a few Swifties here who will take issue with that. I'm one. I went through Swift's training program, then drove Swift, then taught at the same Swift Academy I started at.

I'm glad you understand you're still not ready for Prime time (oh, Hi, Kearsey!). Understand you need to ride OTR with a trainer for roughly six weeks before they'll let you out on your own. Ask Ace Hardware about that. With a CDL , you can Apply For Truck Driving Jobs and be rolling with your trainer in a week or so.

Jared I’ve been with Swift for over 7 years now running NE Regional Walmart Dedicated.

I take exception to what your friend said... he has no clue.

Old Dominion, Fed Ex, UPS, Gemini/Loves....

Your cart is WAAAAAY before the horse. Can't pick companies that have high pay, when you need experience to qualify for said high pay

Many options as Starter companies, absolutely nothing wrong with Swift, but if it's these two, and only these two...ACE.

I love my tanker job. I haul chemicals, not fuel but I really do enjoy it. It is not for new drivers. You need experirnce and to develop your driving skills before you tackle that.

I'll second this. Just finished my fourth winter driving, and had a shift a few months back with a 70% full smoothbore grossing 116k, where the weather and secondary road I was on was so bad, that I have no doubt I'd have been in a ditch or worse if I'd tried it in my first couple years. Don't do it.

Thanks for everyone's replies, I appreciate the honesty. I am going to accept the Ace job, get trained up and running to gain some experience.

Thanks for everyone's replies, I appreciate the honesty. I am going to accept the Ace job, get trained up and running to gain some experience.

Kudos, man! Wish you the best; please keep us updated!!!

I've been (quietly) following along; but I agree w/the vets here, GREAT DECISION~!!

~ Anne ~

ps: My sister just retired from ACE hardware, in Florida...as a CSR manager. She LOVED that company.

Bumping this. Jerad, did you go with Ace? What is your impression 5 months in. I am looking at trying to get back in the saddle on a short week basis if they'll consider it, and you're the only driver here that I have been abke to come up with in a search.

Thanks!!