Best Company For Living Out Of The Truck?

Hey Everyone!

I'm currently in CDL school and have been reaching out to numerous employers. When I graduate I'm looking to go solo OTR and live out of the truck. I want to get rid of my rent and as many bills as I can. But with living in the truck I have a unique list of preferences for the carrier I work for. So, with all the experience on here I thought I'd ask which carriers you all think would be good to work for if I'm living out of the truck. Below are the main things I'm looking for from a carrier:

1) Pay/miles (Looking to be a road warrior, just wanna work and take very little hometime)

2) Take hometime anywhere in the country (to see friends and family)

3) No Slip-seating (Assigned truck that I can take with me on hometime)

4) Works across the lower 48, and Canada (I want to see the country but prefer to not be mostly in the NE)

5) Truck Comforts (Prefer to have an APU/EPU, Inverter, and Fridge)

These are the main things I feel like are important to get from a carrier if living in the truck. If you know of any other things that are also important to consider from a carrier when living out of the truck, please let me know.

I'll have my hazmat , tanker, doubles/triples, and TWIC card. So far, I'm most likely going with Melton, or maybe Werner as a back up. Also talking with Swift, Knight, and Stevens Transport. I'd prefer flatbed or van, but am open to reefer or tanker. I'd like long trips and semi-regular hours if I can, lol. I've reached out to a lot of possible carriers and most either aren't hiring out of Denver (where I'm located), require experience, or don't meet requirements 2 thru 4 above.

However, I still wanted to reach out and see what everyone's input and experience is as far as what to look for from carriers if your planning on living in the truck and also which carriers you all think would be good to work for if living on the road!

Thanks a ton for everyone's help and hope to see you all out there!!

CDL:

Commercial Driver's License (CDL)

A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:

• Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
• Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
• Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
• Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.

HAZMAT:

Hazardous Materials

Explosive, flammable, poisonous or otherwise potentially dangerous cargo. Large amounts of especially hazardous cargo are required to be placarded under HAZMAT regulations

OTR:

Over The Road

OTR driving normally means you'll be hauling freight to various customers throughout your company's hauling region. It often entails being gone from home for two to three weeks at a time.

Doubles:

Refers to pulling two trailers at the same time, otherwise known as "pups" or "pup trailers" because they're only about 28 feet long. However there are some states that allow doubles that are each 48 feet in length.

Reefer:

A refrigerated trailer.

TWIC:

Transportation Worker Identification Credential

Truck drivers who regularly pick up from or deliver to the shipping ports will often be required to carry a TWIC card.

Your TWIC is a tamper-resistant biometric card which acts as both your identification in secure areas, as well as an indicator of you having passed the necessary security clearance. TWIC cards are valid for five years. The issuance of TWIC cards is overseen by the Transportation Security Administration and the Department of Homeland Security.

APU:

Auxiliary Power Unit

On tractor trailers, and APU is a small diesel engine that powers a heat and air conditioning unit while charging the truck's main batteries at the same time. This allows the driver to remain comfortable in the cab and have access to electric power without running the main truck engine.

Having an APU helps save money in fuel costs and saves wear and tear on the main engine, though they tend to be expensive to install and maintain. Therefore only a very small percentage of the trucks on the road today come equipped with an APU.

EPU:

Electric Auxiliary Power Units

Electric APUs have started gaining acceptance. These electric APUs use battery packs instead of the diesel engine on traditional APUs as a source of power. The APU's battery pack is charged when the truck is in motion. When the truck is idle, the stored energy in the battery pack is then used to power an air conditioner, heater, and other devices

Brogan, you’ll have to accept what is offered to you. Being a new driver is not like ordering from a menu at a restaurant. Many companies will be happy with your desire to stay out and not be routed home frequently. Almost any truck you are issued will have the basic comfort features for the driver. Inverters, refrigerators and full time heat and a/c are standard. What’s more important is for you to have the flexibility and willingness to go with the flow. Can you do that?

Hey Brogan D, you've been asking some great questions. I like seeing a newbie in here with some ambition. Allow me to give a little word of caution: Be careful about your expectations.

You're coming into this as the "new guy." Don't expect a red carpet welcome from anyone. I enjoy a lot of perks and preferential treatment from my employer. It wasn't always that way. In the beginning I was glad for anyone to hire me, and I didn't really care about how the truck was set up.

My one focus was proving to myself, and to my employer, that I had what it takes to be a professional operator in a very competitive market. That took some time - more than most people think it should.

The reason I'm stressing this to you is because it sounds like you are really gung-ho, and are looking forward to your new career. That's great! I applaud you! You've been taking all the right steps, and are trying to check all the boxes.

It's really good coming in with all your endorsements and you even went to the trouble of getting your TWIC card. Nice!

It's one thing to have endorsements, but it's an entirely different reality to know how to handle a hazmat load or a liquid tanker. All I'm saying is you don't have to make sure your employer has everything you think you need to get started.

I honestly think you could put two dozen trucking company names on the wall and throw a dart at them. Then go with the one you hit with the dart. My reasoning is that all the things that seem important to you now will probably change as you develop into a competent driver. The learning curve is going to discourage you more often than not.

When i started out, none of the companies I wanted to work for would hire me. I was sorely disappointed. I settled in with a company that the internet trucker wannabes labeled as a terrible bottom dweller that treated it's drivers like slaves.

Almost everything I had read or learned on the internet about getting started in trucking was worthless. None of it prepared me for the total shock of becoming a truck driver. Getting my CDL and all my endorsements was child's play. The career was some harsh reality.

That harsh reality had nothing to do with my employer. Trucking is just trucking. It's similar no matter who puts their name on the door. When you're new, you're going to be challenged daily with just accomplishing the basic job functions. It was exhausting at times.

I'm not really trying to frighten you or correct you in any way. I just want to prepare you for the things that cause a huge percentage of people who eagerly jump into trucking and then run home beat down and frustrated by their failures.

They don't fail because they didn't have an APU , or couldn't check off all the things they thought were important. They get blindsided by the incredible weight of responsibility. They thought this was supposed to be different. They were unprepared for the reality.

Hang in there brother - I like what you're doing. Just don't get sidetracked. Would it surprise you to know I've never had an APU or EPU? Only recently have I enjoyed an inverter and a built in refrigerator. I used a ice cooler for years.

Now, to answer your questions...

Most OTR jobs should fit what you want. Most allow you to take the truck home, and most allow you to tell them where and when you want your home time. You just have to learn their system of how to make such requests. Very few OTR jobs involve slip-seating. Almost everyone will let you stay out and run all the miles you want, and most companies are providing some nice creature comforts.

I work for Knight, and I take home time in several different states. It's no problem. I don't go to Canada, and I wouldn't make that a priority as a rookie. You can always add that later. You'll have your hands full in the lower 48. Be prepared to run the North East at times. That's where most of the freight comes and goes.

CDL:

Commercial Driver's License (CDL)

A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:

• Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
• Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
• Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
• Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.

HAZMAT:

Hazardous Materials

Explosive, flammable, poisonous or otherwise potentially dangerous cargo. Large amounts of especially hazardous cargo are required to be placarded under HAZMAT regulations

OTR:

Over The Road

OTR driving normally means you'll be hauling freight to various customers throughout your company's hauling region. It often entails being gone from home for two to three weeks at a time.

SAP:

Substance Abuse Professional

The Substance Abuse Professional (SAP) is a person who evaluates employees who have violated a DOT drug and alcohol program regulation and makes recommendations concerning education, treatment, follow-up testing, and aftercare.

TWIC:

Transportation Worker Identification Credential

Truck drivers who regularly pick up from or deliver to the shipping ports will often be required to carry a TWIC card.

Your TWIC is a tamper-resistant biometric card which acts as both your identification in secure areas, as well as an indicator of you having passed the necessary security clearance. TWIC cards are valid for five years. The issuance of TWIC cards is overseen by the Transportation Security Administration and the Department of Homeland Security.

APU:

Auxiliary Power Unit

On tractor trailers, and APU is a small diesel engine that powers a heat and air conditioning unit while charging the truck's main batteries at the same time. This allows the driver to remain comfortable in the cab and have access to electric power without running the main truck engine.

Having an APU helps save money in fuel costs and saves wear and tear on the main engine, though they tend to be expensive to install and maintain. Therefore only a very small percentage of the trucks on the road today come equipped with an APU.

EPU:

Electric Auxiliary Power Units

Electric APUs have started gaining acceptance. These electric APUs use battery packs instead of the diesel engine on traditional APUs as a source of power. The APU's battery pack is charged when the truck is in motion. When the truck is idle, the stored energy in the battery pack is then used to power an air conditioner, heater, and other devices

Brogan, you’ll have to accept what is offered to you. Being a new driver is not like ordering from a menu at a restaurant. Many companies will be happy with your desire to stay out and not be routed home frequently. Almost any truck you are issued will have the basic comfort features for the driver. Inverters, refrigerators and full time heat and a/c are standard. What’s more important is for you to have the flexibility and willingness to go with the flow. Can you do that?

O yeah, I'll do whatever is needed to get the job done, right, safely, and on time. I do have several pre-hire letters and will have to choose a company to work for. I'm just trying to do my due diligence in order to find the company(s) where the company and I are a good fit for each other. That way we both succeed :)

Thanks for letting me know about the driver comforts.

Hmmmm. Broken is an unusual name, I know a Brogan in Denver. I started with Knight out of Denver, they'll check off all the things you're asking about. No apu , but they have inverters, smart idle, etc. A lot of us live in the trucks full time. That will be the least of your worries.

I don't know if Knight is hiring grads or not currently, they may be. I enjoyed a lot of success there. But as was said, your success in trucking depends on your decisions and actions.

APU:

Auxiliary Power Unit

On tractor trailers, and APU is a small diesel engine that powers a heat and air conditioning unit while charging the truck's main batteries at the same time. This allows the driver to remain comfortable in the cab and have access to electric power without running the main truck engine.

Having an APU helps save money in fuel costs and saves wear and tear on the main engine, though they tend to be expensive to install and maintain. Therefore only a very small percentage of the trucks on the road today come equipped with an APU.

"Semi regular schedule" is not going to happen with reefer. Flatbed and dry van , sure. But reefer appointments are 24/7.