New Driver And WOW Overwhelming Decisions To Start Career!!

I know the main mega carriers and just not sure if that’s the route I want to go. Been talking to a few companies such as Paper Transport, Roehl and just not sure. Don’t hear much about Paper but found a few talks on them about being horrible. Would love to get some feedback in your thoughts. I currently run a yard truck and I make $23/hour, but just over the BS that goes with it. I know starting pay is going to be hit or miss but would love a place where I can average like $17-20/hour at the least ( whatever that equates to cents per mile )

I’m located near Detroit Mi. Please feel free to offer other companies ect.

Why just look at two companies?

Hello Kevin, welcome to our forum!

Let's be honest. What's overwhelming you is the things you have heard or read. You are afraid you are going to make a bad choice or decision based on what you have heard. Basically you are scared.

We all felt the same way when getting started at this. Here's the truth. None of what you have heard is true. It has all been propagated by guys and gals who failed at trucking. I started my trucking career at Western Express. You can't find another trucking company with worse reviews than them. Well, maybe Swift, but I only bring them up to make my point. I had a great start to my career at Western Express. The losers who couldn't make truckers out of themselves if they had to are the ones writing all those frightening reviews. Winners don't take advice from losers.

I have a great friend who works for Swift. He serves on a dedicated Wal-Mart account and earns the kind of money most drivers only dream about. I made great money at Western Express. Trucking is all about you. We earn what we deserve. This whole career is performance based. The losers get starved out and then blame their failures on the company. That only goes to show they never had a clue about how to succeed at this.

If you want to have a great trucking job, you make it happen. That is as simple as I know how to put it. If you are running a yard truck I assume nobody counts that as experience. That means you will probably have to start at a mega OTR outfit. Even at that some of them are going to reject you.

I work for Knight these days. They keep me busy and I make some killer money for trucking. I make sure that happens. There are plenty of drivers in my same fleet who don't come close to my income. That is on them. It has nothing to do with the company. Trucking is just that way. Good drivers learn how to be efficient and they get more done. It is all about you and how you produce. That formula is across the board. It really isn't critical what name is on your truck. You will determine if you are doing a good job or not. The company can't hold your hand or make you into something you are not. You bear that burden.

I want you to listen to one of our podcasts. I'm hoping it will help clear up some of your confusion.

Are Major Carriers Nothing More Than Starter Companies?