Looking For Truths

I've had my CDL for a few months and trying to decide on a company. I decided to go with Roehl but then read from three drivers they were not getting miles and paychecks as low as <$200.00 and as much as five days downtime while waiting on a load (and NOT waiting at home). I don't want to be sitting somewhere away from home for even a day when I have a wife at home I'd want to be with. I'm going into trucking to keep the wheels turning and have home time every other week.

Of course, I'd like the best-paying company available to me as a new driver but I also want one that can keep me rolling. Which company would you guys recommend for staying busy, well-maintained equipment, and just over-all experience?

Hikingcole

I've had my CDL for a few months and trying to decide on a company. I decided to go with Roehl but then read from three drivers they were not getting miles and paychecks as low as <$200.00 and as much as five days downtime while waiting on a load (and NOT waiting at home). I don't want to be sitting somewhere away from home for even a day when I have a wife at home I'd want to be with. I'm going into trucking to keep the wheels turning and have home time every other week.

Of course, I'd like the best-paying company available to me as a new driver but I also want one that can keep me rolling. Which company would you guys recommend for staying busy, well-maintained equipment, and just over-all experience?

Hikingcole

Welcome you the forum. First of all those complaining, don't listen to them. You need to learn now that it's not the company it is the driver. Another thing is them waiting 5 days, that sounds like a lie to me. A lot of people are quick to complain about anything. How do you know if they reject a lot of loads, won't run certain areas, want to be home every week. Things like this can lower checks. Just find a company and get started. You are new so you need to put your time in before you make the big money. I am with Swift and people make the same complaints, yet I am doing real well. If you are willing to work you will do good no matter what the company is. My running theme this week is don't play the company game.

We try to stay away from "I've Read", "I've Heard", "Some guy at a Truck Stop told me" "My friends uncles brothers girlfriends sister said". You get the point. Stick around here if you want the truth. I have done over 8500 miles my first month solo. Yes, there is SOME sitting between loads, but not 5 days. Trucking Companies make money moving freight. It makes no sense to have a Driver sitting idle in a $200,000 piece of equipment for that long. Good Luck!

" You need to learn now that it's not the company it is the driver. A lot of people are quick to complain about anything. How do you know if they reject a lot of loads, won't run certain areas, want to be home every week.

I am with Swift and people make the same complaints, yet I am doing real well. If you are willing to work you will do good no matter what the company is."

Devan,

I had those thoughts too; that people lie. I've been looking at several companies and trying hard to do the proper research. While a few of them look really good to me, the sliding pay scale they use scares me. I've narrowed my choices down to Roehl and Swift. They have both offered me a solo position. And of course, the cpm matters but my wife suggests a 2 cpm difference should not matter as much as the companies ability to keep me rolling and I agree with her.

My other issue is that the recruiter is telling me I will be out four weeks with a trainer with Swift (initially) but when they sent me the e-mail stated six weeks. Roehl recruiter 11-15 days with a trainer before I get my truck assigned and their e-mail confirmed the same as the recruiter.

Swift said they pay X amount cpm but I read on here they pay sliding scale. Roehl wants a signed contract and if I don't drive 75K miles, I pay thousands back to them. If they don't give me the miles to support my family, I would have to move on. I would not be able to live on $300.00/week with bills at home and food on the road. Know what I mean? And I'm sure that $300.00/week would not be every week but that's just not enough to be away from home 24/7 for that little amount.

At this point, I just have to decide between the two companies and I'm absolutely right down the middle as to which way to go.

H.

BTW. You aren't going to make much money with home time every two weeks. You also will not score many points with your DM or company expecting that. You had better plan to run hard 3-5 weeks at a stretch, for at LEAST your first year. Good Luck!

Tractor Man, Good point about not wanting that truck sitting still. Thanks for the input. I did find some of the things being said, very hard to believe. My wife actually found this site so I came here to see what's what.

H

Swift starting pay is 37 cpm. More for shorter runs. There are also Quarterly bonuses. Figure 8-10 thousand miles per month for the first 3-6 months. Don't try to figure weekly miles or pay. Figure monthly and divide by 4 or Quarterly and divide by 12. Much more accurate numbers

ride

" You need to learn now that it's not the company it is the driver. A lot of people are quick to complain about anything. How do you know if they reject a lot of loads, won't run certain areas, want to be home every week.

I am with Swift and people make the same complaints, yet I am doing real well. If you are willing to work you will do good no matter what the company is."

Devan,

I had those thoughts too; that people lie. I've been looking at several companies and trying hard to do the proper research. While a few of them look really good to me, the sliding pay scale they use scares me. I've narrowed my choices down to Roehl and Swift. They have both offered me a solo position. And of course, the cpm matters but my wife suggests a 2 cpm difference should not matter as much as the companies ability to keep me rolling and I agree with her.

My other issue is that the recruiter is telling me I will be out four weeks with a trainer with Swift (initially) but when they sent me the e-mail stated six weeks. Roehl recruiter 11-15 days with a trainer before I get my truck assigned and their e-mail confirmed the same as the recruiter.

Swift said they pay X amount cpm but I read on here they pay sliding scale. Roehl wants a signed contract and if I don't drive 75K miles, I pay thousands back to them. If they don't give me the miles to support my family, I would have to move on. I would not be able to live on $300.00/week with bills at home and food on the road. Know what I mean? And I'm sure that $300.00/week would not be every week but that's just not enough to be away from home 24/7 for that little amount.

At this point, I just have to decide between the two companies and I'm absolutely right down the middle as to which way to go.

H.

With Swift it should only take about 4 weeks to complete the training. I went through the training and it went by quick. Another thing is during training you will barely make anything, average of 350 a week after taxes during this time. Once you go solo you will average around 500 or more a week after taxes. You are in for a rough year, but if your wife is ready for the sacrifice you can make it work. Location is also key. If you live by a terminal you could drive locally for swift and be home every night. It starts off not that good but as you get better the money gets better.

I am in a different boat from you, I am single, 21 years old, no kids, and just responsible for college debt/cellphone so it is not as hard for me to get by. In fact I used to only make 350 every two weeks at my old job. So this money I make now is definitely improving my life. Good luck and be ready to make a lot of sacrifices.

Hiking Colt decides to skip Roehl:

I decided to go with Roehl but then read from three drivers they were not getting miles and paychecks as low as <$200.00 and as much as five days downtime while waiting on a load (and NOT waiting at home)

I had to laugh out loud (sorry) because another newbie, Jeff, just now posted:

I have chosen Roehl for my CDL School. Please chime in on my rationale

Hikingcole, you did the right thing, looking on forums and doing some research. But, as Tractor Man points out, it's too easy to find negative information on companies that is not supported by facts.

Here are some Trucking Company Reviews you may need interested in:

Roehl

Prime

Swift

Take a look at these facts (they're not opinions), and you might find Roehl ain't so bad.

"BTW. You aren't going to make much money with home time every two weeks. You also will not score many points with your DM or company expecting that. You had better plan to run hard 3-5 weeks at a stretch, for at LEAST your first year. Good Luck!"

Really? The companies have said home every other week. That's why we thought it was that way. It was my understanding you have to have "34-hr reset time" and we thought that's what the bi-weekly home time was about.

I'm also hoping my wife will come on the road with me after 6 months or so but not sure how the pay with teams go either. We'll look closer at that before it's an option.

H