Four Companies Are Interested In Me

There are four companies that are interested in me.

1. Prime Inc 2. Averitt Express 3. FFE 4. Knight

I need to drop Prime Inc because they rarely deliver to my home area. Therefore, I only have three left.

Averitt Express, FFE, and Knight have terminals in my home town.

Can you give me information about the three companies and some objective reviews?

In terms of freight the seem to be all good. I just need some help with my decision. Right now, I am towards Knight because they don't have forced dispatch.

Choosing your company by believing they don't have forced dispatch isn't a wise decision.Basically, your first year consists of YOU showing THEM what a good trucker you are. If you turn down loads because they aren't where you want to go, you will find yourself sitting alot, cuz you've peeved your dispatcher off, by turning down loads. We, even as O/O's, seldom turned down loads. When the wheels aren't turning you aren't making any money....and neither is the company. You first decision regarding Prime was a wise one, since they don't get to your area. But to base your choice of a starter company on something as vague as "no forced dispatch" will not be in your best interests. Its better to work your behind off for a company that you can get regional freight runs after you have proved yourself, than to refuse loads cuz you don't want to go to some area. The dispatchers will make you or break you, so keep that in mind as you pick and choose possible companies.

Choosing your company by believing they don't have forced dispatch isn't a wise decision.Basically, your first year consists of YOU showing THEM what a good trucker you are. If you turn down loads because they aren't where you want to go, you will find yourself sitting alot, cuz you've peeved your dispatcher off, by turning down loads. We, even as O/O's, seldom turned down loads. When the wheels aren't turning you aren't making any money....and neither is the company. You first decision regarding Prime was a wise one, since they don't get to your area. But to base your choice of a starter company on something as vague as "no forced dispatch" will not be in your best interests. Its better to work your behind off for a company that you can get regional freight runs after you have proved yourself, than to refuse loads cuz you don't want to go to some area. The dispatchers will make you or break you, so keep that in mind as you pick and choose possible companies.

Also, READ THE FINE PRINT, on "No Forced Dispatch." Is it REALLY "No Forced Dispatch," or if you don't take Load A, then you have to take Load B.

Dave

Now the first thing that comes to mind for me is those are four radically different companies.

Prime Inc is mostly long-haul refrigerated and no-touch freight.

FFE Transportation is mostly short-haul refrigerated and LTL (less than truck load - meaning lots of small pickups and deliveries) and a lot of driver unloading.

Knight Transportation has both refrigerated and dry van divisions.

Averitt is mostly short-haul dry van where you do some driver unloading and have mostly local and regional opportunities.

So you have about the four most diverse companies you could have. So the first thing you have to do is figure out what you're looking for in a company. Don't think "which is the best company?" because they're all great companies if you're a great driver. Think along the lines of:

1) How often do I want to be home?

2) What areas of the country would I like to run in?

3) Would I be willing to make more stops and do some unloading to make more money, or would I rather spend my time driving on longer runs and possibly make a bit less?

4) Would I prefer longer runs that keep me out longer, or stay closer to home and get home more often?

And of course compare their mileage pay, average length of haul, benefits, and equipment.

So you start from the perspective of "What kind of job am I looking for?" and then find companies that suit your needs.

We have an excellent series of articles that cover finding the right truck driving job and it talks about the differences between various types of freight and different size companies. It teaches you what information to look for and where to find it.

But tell us some of the answers to those questions above and we can help you find the company that suits you best. But I can tell you right now - there is no "best company". There are only companies that are right for you, and companies that are not. They all have plenty of freight for their top drivers. So it's a matter of finding the one that has the job description you're looking for.

I have already studied the major issues and these companies. Therefore, I am right now studying the minor issues. In general, I don't care where they send me. I have found out that all three companies are all the right companies for me when it comes to the major issues.

All of those companies fulfill the necessities for me. Now it is about minor convenience issues.

Does it make a difference in what state companies have their headquarters? I think that companies follow the rules of the state their have their headquarters.

Issues like No Forced Dispatch or No Forced NYC or Good Benefits are just convenience issues which don't have anything to do with necessity.

If the company needs me to be on the road for one year without home time, I would not reject it. If they need me, I am available, but if I have the choice between No Forced Dispatch and Force Dispatch, I would out of convenience of course choose the company with No Forced Dispatch.

I also think that it is easier to take every load if it is Forced Dispatch, but if there is not Forced Dispatch, but the driver still take every load this show that the driver is more dedicated.

I never said that I will turn down loads, but it can still be more convenient for me to have the choice if I want to choose a particular load or not.

Due to religious and personal reasons, I would not take some types of loads such as Alcoholic Beverages and intoxicants.

The thing that sets FFE apart from the other three is that they have a tanker division and they serve oilfields which is one of the things I would probably do after gaining enough experience. FFE has their headquarters in Texas. Maybe, this could be a advantage for me, because I am a Texas resident. However, I don't really care where the companies have their headquarters, but in some cases this might be more convenient for me. Both FFE and Knight claim that they are debt free companies.

I just discovered that in my area Averitt only have LTL positions open. I think that it is more convenient for me to be an over-the-road driver hauling FTL.

I have decided that the company that invites me first to their orientation will be the one I decide to work with.

It is Knight versus FFE.

I think it is better to have too many choices/options than none.

Kai, we want you to not only succeed in the trucking business, but excel in it and enjoy it while you're at it. I'm concerned that you are getting obsessed over this no forced dispatch issue when it really is a non issue. As a rookie you need to take the load that is given you, do your best with it and show your dispatcher that you mean to be a professional that takes care of his business. It's that simple. When a new person in this business starts picking and choosing which loads they're going to take, even if it is for a noble reason in their own thinking, they are setting themselves up for disaster.

You have so little to offer these companies as compared to all the other newbies entering the field, that they will quickly discard you for someone who can move what they need moved. They really don't care what your reasons are for not wanting a certain load. This is a very demanding field with critical time lines and these dispatchers have a ton of headaches to put up with already. Please believe us when we tell you it's unwise to reject certain types of loads at least until you are a seasoned veteran who has something special(like experience, time management and road skills) to offer them that makes you worth keeping around even though you're a little particular about which type of loads you drag around.

It's imprudent to start off with a plan to "rock the boat" in this field. And even if they claim to have "no forced dispatch" we're trying to tell you that as a rookie you'll be "rocking the boat" when you refuse loads. I'm sure your reasons are noble, but your results will be very disappointing.

The main thing is that you land a job, do an awesome accident free job for a full year, and then maybe you can be a little more particular about what you pull behind you, but I have a feeling by then you'll understand what we're trying to persuade you of now, and you'll be happy to be moving whatever comes your way.

I have decided that the company that invites me first to their orientation will be the one I decide to work with.

That's a great idea! But then again, you might consider picking the company whose recruiter has the shiniest shoes, or whose lawn is mowed the nicest, or whose owner likes putting together model airplanes.

I can't think of a more random reason for selecting a company.

So if Knight's recruiter decides to call you before lunch, and FFE's recruiter decides to call you after lunch, you're going to start your career with Knight?

Starcar wisely told you:

Choosing your company by believing they don't have forced dispatch isn't a wise decision.

And you respond with:

if I have the choice between No Forced Dispatch and Force Dispatch, I would out of convenience of course choose the company with No Forced Dispatch

She should have just banged her head against the wall.

I'm sorry, but you're clearly not listening to the advice we're giving you and you clearly haven't read (or at least understood) the articles I told you to read. You're all over the board with almost comical reasons for choosing a company and your perceptions about how the industry works seem to be coming out of left field.

Due to religious and personal reasons, I would not take some types of loads such as Alcoholic Beverages and intoxicants.

Ya know what dispatch is going to say to that? They're going to tell you that due to business reasons you're now "in the doghouse" and you're going to be sitting at a truck stop watching John Wayne movies for the next three days while everyone else is dispatched on loads and making money.

FFE has their headquarters in Texas. Maybe, this could be a advantage for me, because I am a Texas resident.

That will make no difference whatsoever. In 15 years of driving I never once worked for a company with a terminal or even a drop lot in my home state.

Both FFE and Knight claim that they are debt free companies.

Unless you're under the impression that you're responsible for paying a company's debts, that has nothing to do with anything.

I don't know Kai. We're trying like crazy to help you understand how to choose a company, but it seems to be falling on deaf ears. Nothing you're bringing up as criteria for making a decision was ever mentioned here at TruckingTruth. In fact, a lot of what you consider to be important when making a decision are either completely random things or completely meaningless. I'm kind of at a loss here. I guess you should just pick the company you feel suits you best for whatever reasons you feel are important and go with it.

It's imprudent to start off with a plan to "rock the boat" in this field. And even if they claim to have "no forced dispatch" we're trying to tell you that as a rookie you'll be "rocking the boat" when you refuse loads. I'm sure your reasons are noble, but your results will be very disappointing.

Interesting you say that Old School. I once wrote an article about that called Rookie Drivers: Beware Of Rocking The Boat.

I have seen more than a few drivers refuse loads due to religious reasons and they all are no longer driving from the companies they refused to haul loads from. What if its alcohol or whatever else that is in the trailer. Does not matter. They are not telling you to use the product. Just take it to where it needs to go. And you do not even touch most of the freight. Just the trailer. Almost all companies haul alcohol cause it pays the bills. And since you agree to do your job AND all assigned duties when going to work for a company no court in the land will stand behind you since you are not being forced to consume alcohol. Sorry but I see you having a very short career driving a truck.