i just got my class A license anybody know a good company or where to get started?

Question

i've found some jobs but most will require to sign a contract and start as a trainee not sure how this stuff works

Answer 1

I was a trainer for 2 years. So let's start with the question then move into how to deal with the next phase once you've decided on the company. Most if not all companies start new drivers out low. It's expected that you will quit within a year's time, so they waste no money on you. Look around your state, I drove for Dupre out of Baton Rouge, La. I was paid .32 cents to start with .5 increase every 6 months. Schniieder/Swift/TMC were looking at 26-28 cents per mile. Options are to drive for a year and switch to one that pays more if a small to medium company doesn't exist. The year seems to be a 'common' time frame for a driver to prove he has established safe driving behaviors (watching mirrors in lane change, using map to navigate on roads etc.). The guy above me has the same mentality I have, your welcome to write to my hotmail if you need help. [e-mail]. It's damn scary to be a new driver and we all know it. Most just want new drivers to know your sort of a part of a dysfunctional family called truckers. Ok, now shift gears into your training phase. Some trainers are actually good people, others are assholes. It's a fact. Your driving a truck that weighs in excesse of 79-80,000 lbs. The chance to kill a family exists. The OBJECT, understand the OBJECT is to get through training and get on your own. Liking the trainer or not liking him, it's not the object. You'll impress your trainer by taking notes, hazards on at speeds below 45, when to change lanes and when to not change a lane. Reading maps and learning to establish your route and figure your fuel points based on the company's fuel approved stops. Doing checks on the trailer etc. It's a time of 'school' and learning. Arguing with or saying "so and so told me" makes for very long days in the truck. If you didn't think he's doing it correctly, do it your way AFTER. It's practicing and communicating and establishing behaviors that will make you a success in this phase. I graduated 70% of my new drivers. One trainee driver in my truck on the Penn-Turnpike with very close quarters for lanes (road construction) was 65 mphs in a 55 zone, after several warnings about his speed and pointing out he seemed to have no fear in a truck he's never driven before in a part of the country he's never been before, poignantly I told him to slow the "f" down before he kills me or him or a family. He had no respect after 1 week for the ability to kill someone. To him "hammering down" was the motto, and so it was his only week. I can't impress upon you the level of safety you've got to learn to practice as you start out. You will have minor incidents that will convince you of safety. Things to bring: Sleeping bag, pillows, 4 changes of clothes, work gloves, flashlight and buy a map, I would for my trainees buy thier maps (paper) and hightlight ALL the roads I'd travelled to help them in determining what roads they could get on with no problems. Please feel free to e-mail me as well, if I can help, I really do care about the profession of OTR.

Answer 2

I hope you have some cash saved up, to sell real estate is expensive, association fees, marketing tools, pay for a seat, MLS sites. I am assuming you are watching the news and see this is one of the worst house markets in a long time. I would try and wait it out, get a lisence but dont get all your ducks in a row and wait for a resurgeance in the market. Most states you can get lisenced and you have a year after that to hang ur lisence, so pass the test then wait for a good time becuase you dont want to waste a lot of disposable income and not see return for a year or so, ya know? Hate to be Debbie downer but it is just reallllly tough right now.

Answer 3

well if you just got your CDL you are gonna be a trainee you will ride with a trainer for a month or how everlong they decide you need to ride with someone . but here are some good & bad companies to work for .
Arrow Trucking is a good 1 i did drive for them and i liked it i got a better local job is why i quit . Arrow is a flat bed company so it is a work out doing flat bed but it pays good ( google Arrow Trucking ) the company is based out of Tulsa Oklahoma and hires out of the lower 48.
Swift is a BAD company . the pay is bad ( like 25 - 29 cents per mile) but were you go also so depends on if you went to a school or got your CDL on your own .
My e-mail address is [e-mail] just e-mail me with more questions and i will help you all i can same screen name on yahoo messanger