New Driver… Any Advice!

Hi everyone hope everything is going well. I recently got my CDL and am looking for potential companies to go for. I do have my tankers and am waiting for my fingerprints to clear for my hazmat which should still take a couple more months.

Im located out of Phoenix, AZ. Sadly I had a few companies I was trying to go for and they couldnt get me because the trucking school I went to isnt partnered with them and they cannot take me as a driver trainee.

Unfortunately from what ive been told the only main company that will take me is Swift which I’ve heard the stories about and honestly wouldnt mind going with them to get the experience of OTR and get out.

Another company that could possibly get me is Pride Transport. I’ve tried to do research on Pride but havent really been able to find much. If anyone on here has experience with Pride it would be greatly appreciated. Do they have a place in Arizona I would be able to go for home time? Also do they have a good home time policy?

I would like to take my fiancee with me does anyone know how long after going solo I would be able to take a rider? And all in all is it a good company? The info they sent me about the trainee program sounds pretty good (alot better than swift) only thing is I have to sign a 6 month contract with them after training.

I know since im starting out the pay and all wont be as great since im trying to gain experience. I just want to make sure im going into a good company and hopefully stay with them until I can gain enough experience to get back to Phoenix, AZ and do local. Thanks for any info anyone has! :)

Did your school provide you with a list of companies where they place their graduates? Do you have your doubles/triples endorsement? I would think a city as big as Phoenix has a lot of LTL activity, and some of them do hire inexperienced drivers.

Regarding your question, I would apply everywhere. Get answers, in writing, about the things that are most important to you: salary, home time, training period, whatever you value. I would worry less about a company's overall reputation. Because first, the internet is full of bitter people eager to trash anything and everything. People like to poke fun at Swift and some of it can be amusing, but this is a very competitive industry, and Swift wouldn't be as big as they are if they weren't doing something right. And secondly, you could end up with a bad trainer at a company with an overall great program, or vice versa. And a great trainer for you might be one I'd struggle with, just because of teaching/learning styles, personality fit, etc.

Bottom line, get after it and focus on the things you control - your commitment, teachability, and effort, and you should do just fine.

Welcome, Danitza!

Im located out of Phoenix, AZ. Sadly I had a few companies I was trying to go for and they couldnt get me because the trucking school I went to isnt partnered with them and they cannot take me as a driver trainee.

This is a topic we discuss regularly here: Paid CDL Training Programs vs private schooling.

I want to be clear about what you're saying here, so we can continue to warn people about the unexpected consequences of going to a private school. You're saying that several major carriers you applied to would not hire you because you didn't go to their school, or one of their approved schools?

I would really appreciate it if we could get more details about this. It would be a huge help to others.

I just want to make sure im going into a good company and hopefully stay with them until I can gain enough experience to get back to Phoenix, AZ and do local.

Any major carrier will be a great place to get experience so you can eventually land a local job. Just be aware that a slow economy could extend how long it takes to qualify for local jobs, because companies will have more candidates to choose from.

I can't provide specific answers to many of your questions. I can offer some general advice though. The advice might sound a little harsh and it may not be exactly what you want to hear. However, it is something you should try to understand.

Do not base your decision on reviews you have read on the internet. Two of our most successful Moderators here began their careers with trucking companies that you can find all sorts of negative reviews about (Western Express and Swift). It is not the companies that fail the driver. It is the driver that fails to adapt and learn to be successful. Negative reviews often come from bad drivers who would rather blame their company for their incompetence rather than looking in the mirror and seeing who is actually to blame. The bigger the company; the more drivers; the more potential for negative reviews.

Signing a contract is not a bad thing. It is recommended you stay with your first company for at least a year anyway. Other companies aren't going to be leaping to hire you if you can't even last a year with your prior one. The first year is all about gaining experience and learning to be a safe, productive driver. Obviously you want to earn as much money as you can. Who doesn't? But the focus should be on learning. I personally did not make much money my first year. I went from a little over $40,000 in year one to over $70,000 in year three, and in the second half of my current year (year 5) I made $53,000. Next year I will earn over $100,000. My numbers are poor compared to some of our other drivers here on the forum who made a whole lot more in their first year than I did.

So don't worry too much about a company's reputation online based on reviews. Focus more on doing the best you can do.

Just want clarify that when I referred to my "current year" I was referring to 2022. And "next year" is actually this year, 2023. My brain is a little bit stuck in the past🤣

Thank you to everyone who responded! Much needed advice. I did contact Swift today and started the process with them especially because they can get me home more often unlike some other companies I was gonna go for that couldn't really get me close to Phoenix and i would have to find my way each home time.

Swift definitely seems like the best option right now. As for the comment about the school I went to and their partnership companies. Yes, I tried getting with Western express, cfi, dot foods, prime, etc they would not get me as a new driver(student/trainee driver) because the school i went to isnt in partnership with them. Basically after I get the experience with a company and would like to change afterwards it wouldnt be a problem for anyone since I would have the otr experience.

From all the researching I did before schooling and now after I never heard of anyone having that issue but it may be that the school is a private institution. Something for people who are looking into schools to make sure of before starting and hopefully they do not have to worry about it. But all in all, I'm excited to start getting on the road and learning and experiencing new things. Thanks all! :)

Biggest advice I give to new people at Pepsi is that no one ever regrets checking the oil, the kingpin lock, and putting up a load bar. And the same boss telling you to hurry up, hurry up, hurry up, will ask you why you didn't take your time when you hit something.

Congratulations, new driver. A few thoughts:

1. Knight/Swift is the largest carrier in the US. There's a lot of opportunities there besides just OTR. Do a good job with the, "wax on, wax off" phase of your career and that may open doors to your next step. Linehaul? They've got that. Dedicated? Sure. Regional? Yep. Local? No problem. After you've established yourself with your FM it's o.k. to ask about what comes next. That could lead to your next job - no application, no wait and see - pass go, collect $200 and start your next job with the same company.

As others have already pointed out - the economy isn't running at full throttle at the moment so employers are getting picky. A friend recently applied for a private fleet job in Portland. The job required 2 years of driving experience, hazmat and tanker endorsements. According to Indeed there were thirty applicants for that job!

2. Trucking is a, "Big Tent" - there's a lot of jobs that require a CDL. Use your OTR time to figure out what you like and what you don't about your first job. Keep a list. Ask other drivers at the terminal and truck stops about what they're doing and how they like it. When the time comes look for a job that accentuates the positive and delineate the negative.

3. Your first year will be tough. Trucking isn't a job - it's a lifestyle. Once you get used to life on the road and get your truck set up the way you like it (onboard wi-fi changed my life) it gets a lot easier.

4. You mentioned going, "local". That's generally P/D (Pickup and Delivery). It involves a lift gate and a hand truck. Lots of opportunities to hurt you knees, your back, your hips or other parts. For the joy of going home every night without an injury and better pay options check out linehaul , dedicated and private fleet.

Biggest advice I give to new people at Pepsi is that no one ever regrets checking the oil, the kingpin lock, and putting up a load bar. And the same boss telling you to hurry up, hurry up, hurry up, will ask you why you didn't take your time when you hit something.

For the few months I was at Pepsi, that's definitely something I noticed. Nobody ever did a pretrip and they looked at me like I was crazy for doing one.

That’s scary Banks! 😳

Biggest advice I give to new people at Pepsi is that no one ever regrets checking the oil, the kingpin lock, and putting up a load bar. And the same boss telling you to hurry up, hurry up, hurry up, will ask you why you didn't take your time when you hit something.

For the few months I was at Pepsi, that's definitely something I noticed. Nobody ever did a pretrip and they looked at me like I was crazy for doing one.