Trucking: considering a trucking career..., trucking schools, trucking company

Question
Hi, I'm completely new to this, but I'm interested in a trucking career. I do not have a CDL and I'm aware some companies sponsor a training academy in return for a given length of employment with the company. I'm only 22, but I'm definitely interested. Are some companies better than others? What are the pros and cons? What should a beginner look for in a trucking company?

Answer
Hi Justin.

What I use to do was apply to all the companies I'm interested in and then evaluate each one that hired me.  Write down in columns on a piece of paper each company name.  Then fill in all the areas that are important to you in the next columns.  Things you should look for are...

1) Rate of pay
2) Miles per week
3) Age and type of truck
4) % of no-touch freight
5) % of drop and hook freight
6) Medical benefits
7) Layover/Stop/Detention pay
8) 401K
9) Time off policy
10) Vacation length/pay   

These are a going to be some of the top areas that you will look at.  I drove for numerous companies and there is always small differences between them that made me decide one way or another.  I could write a book on it, but I will give you a couple of things to look for and help you out.

First, I would recommend going with a big company.  You might have to anyway if you need to attend one of their trucking schools.  Regardless, everyone in trucking knows Werner, not everyone knows ABC trucking.  It'll be easier getting that local position, if and when, you want it.

Next, I wanted a company that had a terminal close to me.  It makes it easier to get home a little more often.  I use to live in NW Indiana and drove for JB Hunt in the cabover days.  I hated the trucks and the miles were not always great, but come Wednesday after I unloaded, I asked for a load to Chicago.  I would rush back to Chicago yard and try to drop that load on dispatch.  Then I would see if they had a load going to Michigan or Northern Ohio for Monday.  They always did and I could now hook up to my new load and spend the weekend at home.  Best of all, it didn't count towards my "time off" which was one day for every week driving.  Basically, a four day weekend a month.  This was a great perk that I wouldn't of had if the nearest terminal was in Topeka.

Of course, you may not be worrying about getting home all that often.  I know with many dry van companies, you'll stay on your side of the country.  East coast or West coast.  If you pull a refridgerated trailer, or reefer, your more likely to go coast-to-coast.  The downside of a reefer is that you will live at grocery warehouses and there is not a lot of drop and hook freight (That's where you drop your loaded trailer and pick up an empty and leave).  I've spent hours and hours at grocery warehouses just waiting for a dock, much less to get unloaded.  Dry freight has the same problem, just not near as much.

Now I've gotten a bit sidetracked, but it's all for your consideration.  Of course pay and equipment is right up there in the decision process.  One of the reasons I drove for US Xpress many moons ago is that they had a 70" sleeper berth in every truck.  Now you'll get a condo.  Many companies ran Freightliners with 48" berths.  I'll  take a couple less cents a mile for more living quarters!  I was one of the first solo drivers to get a condo.  That was awesome!  Some guys wouldn't drive for them because the trucks were governed at 65 mph.  That's as fast as you can go.  I have news for you, you probably won't find a big company with trucks faster than 70 mph anyway.  Give me a bigger sleeper.

What it comes down to for a lot of guys is pay and miles.  How much per mile and how many miles do your solos average?  With this, you should find out where you'll be running.  Is it just the Southeast US?  East (or West) of the Mississippi? Or will you be regularly sent cross country?

You should also find out how long your service will be following the companies driving school.  Then ask "what happens if I leave early, before my commitment is up?"  This way if your really unhappy, you won't be locked in with no out.

Finally, go to a web site like www.layover.com and start researching companies.  Take a close look at the following companies...

1) US Xpress
2) Heartland Express
3) CFI
4) Averitt Express
5) C.R. England
6) JB Hunt
7) Werner
8) Schnider
9) Melton Truck Lines
10) Jevic Transportation
11) Werner

These are very good companies, it would be a good starting point.  Don't limit yourself to just these ten, but take a real close look at them.

Good luck!

Bob Stephens