Comments By Jason K.

Oh, it's no problem to ask G-Town. They (Swift) will allow pets, but not over 50 lbs. If they would work with me then I'd still have them in the running. I kept them on my list because I still like them and thought they might have some wiggle room, but I didn't ask yet.

Werner didn't say anything about their dedicated, however, U.S. Express offered Walmart dedicated out of Auburn Indiana. US Xpress pays the lowest though. They are truly on the bottom of the list at the moment.

Update!!

A quick recap: I have my CDL A, and worked for Schneider for only a month before leaving for my own personal reasons in 2016. Schneider is still a great company and I encourage anyone to go work for them if they fit your needs. I have since been out of trucking for the last 1.5 years, and have just recently renewed my Medical Certification in order to keep my CDL. It was a close call, but I got it done. I started researching online and basically over analyzed everything. So, after a swift talking to by some great people on this site I decided I just need to start making calls instead of over analyzing things. I got a WAKE-UP CALL, real quick like. LOL.

I want to share in as much detail as I can "MY" experience and this particular process so anyone that comes after me knows exactly what happens if you only stay with a company for a month or 2. I will warn you, DO NOT DO THAT!!! Stay as long as you can possibly handle, preferably a year, then move on if you feel you need to. You do not want to be in my situation, it is a hardcore struggle, I promise.

So I started at 8 am CST sharp making calls. Below I will list every company that I called and what they told me.

The "We Cannot Help You's" AT ALL:

Need 3 years verifiable work history

Prime Inc.

KLLM

Knight

Not enough OTR Experience

Roehl

CFI

Crete/Shaffer

H.O. Wolding

Halvor Lines

No Consideration at all

A.D. Transport

XPO Logistics

Arnold Transport

Henderson

Britton

National Carriers

SRT (Southern Refrigerated Trucking)

Veriha

Navajo

Roadrunner

Then this happened, and thank goodness it did.

I decided after that may turn downs I would start with the companies really low on my list, and this is what happened:

Transport America - The recruiter straight up told me that I will only find a few companies that will take me. I won't name the companies but they were the companies on the bottom of my list. This company wouldn't even take me without 3 months OTR experience. It blew me away. I couldn't give up though I still had about 6-10 companies left to call and wasn't giving up.

Companies Willing to Help me

All of these companies had an open hand to me so long as I understood that I would have to go through a lengthy training, which I'm not against. They all, with the exception of U.S. Xpress, pay very well, if not right where I want to be, $0.35 - 0.40 CPM.

PTL (Paschall Trucking Lines)

Titan Transfer

Werner

May Trucking Company

Jim Palmer

U.S. Xpress

Swift

Schneider

That is it, folks. Out of 26-30 companies, only 7 and/or a rehire is all I have to choose from, no one else can help me. WOW!! The learning experience was REAL!!! I will never do that again, and I don't suggest any other rookies do it either.

With the exception of U.S. Xpress, Schneider, and Swift, I'll be applying to all of these 7 -8 companies. Jim Palmer is super competitive, but I'd still be happy if I don't get in with them.

Boy, I've been on the phone for hours, LOL. I started making my calls and soon determined exactly what Brett eluded to with regard to my situation.

It was probably a good 15 companies that just kept saying "nope, we can't help you". Then I noticed most of my lowest rated companies would help, I wasn't excited about that but all I really cared was that I could get back in a truck and get my time in. I then got to some other companies that I had near the top of my list that said they could help me out. I have found quite a few companies that may not be the best of the best but are still great for my situation. I'm down to probably 6-10 that are all willing to help me out, and about 3 that I really like.

I'm going to post my COMPLETE recent experience in my diary for you all to check out you can use the link below.

My Return To Trucking Diary

Just when you think you have it in the bag, and all figured out...BAM...That stuff slaps you in the face with a phone book, LOL.

Brett, G-Town, OldSchool, Rainy, Bit Scott, and everyone that has been watching, and helping me. I can't thank you all enough.

Thanks, G-Town. That is what I need to do. I agree. I'm going to start making calls and doing applications today, no if's, and's, or but's. I've already said that I'm committing to return and that I won't let other things get in my way. My brain got in the way, Thanks so much guys I needed the kick in the A** so to speak.

I always love it when you reply Brett, thanks so much. Sometimes I need that tough straight to the point talking to.

I'm guessing you still haven't applied to any of these companies? If not, you have no idea if they're even going to offer you a position or not. For instance, are you working right now? You don't have to answer that for me, but Prime historically won't hire anyone who hasn't been working in the past few months. It used to be 6 months but I don't know if they've changed that policy or not.

I applied to Prime last night, and I have contacted Jim Palmer who asked me to apply then let them know. No, I'm not working because I'm not allowed to on my VA IU Disability, I was never asked that I remember, so that is why you never got an answer, sorry.

Also, you started with Schneider back in 2016 but only lasted a few months. Regardless of the reason, some companies aren't going to like that. They're going to see you as a higher risk and might pass on you for that reason.

I have called Schneider and Swift, as well as a couple of others I can't remember who they were because they didn't fit my needs. With all of those and Jim Palmer, unless the recruiters are blowing smoke up my butt, they have all told me it isn't a huge deal but could make it happen and get me in.

I agree with you Brett, I just didn't want to apply to 30 different companies, I wanted to narrow it down. I guess I will just start making calls to all of them and then go from there to narrow it down for applications.

Thanks again Brett.

Ok I have to plug CFI here.

Of course, you do, LOL. You are awesome Big Scott. Like I said, I don't know if I should stop researching. CFI is still on my list, I haven't finished researching. I have a place for my dog for a maximum of 3-4 months for training. After that, though I will need to have her with me pretty much all the time.

$1200.00 per month is $300.00 week. If that's all your making, your doing something wrong.

That is what I assumed also Big Scott, but when you do the math taking out insurance costs, and such the amount you are left with can potentially be $300 a week. I'm just wondering what kind of miles will pay that after taxes. If it is a small amount as I learn, then that is fine, probably do more than that if I can. I fear the potential of getting put off for a day or 2 a week just because I advise them that I'm learning.

Guys/Gals, I'm not afraid to run hard and work hard...I promise that, but I typically don't like to disappoint myself or other people just because I need to take some extra time to learn.

I'm probably over thinking this way too much. Instead, I need to worry about driver care, maintenance, company policies, and putting my bottom line at like $0.35 - 0.38 CPM and just accepting what I get.

From my time here on the site it seems a lot of you are with Prime.

I do have to ask Jason, why did you leave Schneider? I haven't been following your posts so forgive my ignorance.

Btw, as far as I know, only me and Jack are the only ones that are still driving for Schneider. Shaquan is now doing tow work in Chicago, Jay went to Gypsum Express doing flatbed, and Russ is with Kold Trans last I heard. Don't know what happened to Aaron though.

I left because the VA offered me IU and I wasn't allowed to work while on IU, Schneider also wouldn't let me take my dog, they don't have any pet policy, and I doubt they will have one anytime soon. Who is this by the way? LOL. I heard about Russ, and Shaquan. Jay and I are best friends. He is no longer at Gypsum either, they told him the nerve damage in his hand was a problem since it is flatbed work. I think he was looking at Crete or going back to Schneider. He wanted to team with me, I said no I need to do my own thing.

I meant to add that the word is driving solo with Prime is going to get you up to the northeast a lot, that the west coast is reserved for teams. Perhaps somebody like Rainy could confirm or deny.

That does not sound fun, LOL. I don't mind the northeast per say, just NYC and those very congested cities with small streets.

Good insight andhe78. I appreciate that.

I have narrowed down a few "deal breakers" as some might call them. 1. I have to be able to take my dog 2. Must NOT have driver facing camera 3. Must be able to go to all states, don’t mind regions, but would like some west coast, south, and upper Midwest. I don't want to say no northeast, because I'll take whatever load I get, but I won't be happy the day it happens. LOL. Will probably be my most stressful load.

I'm not super worried about pay/CPM, but now that I have done some research, some companies pay on a sliding pay scale which I really like, but don't know if that is a bad thing.

I also thought Per Diem would be a great thing to have, but didn't consider all the other things that will come out of my check like insurance, etc... so I don't particularly want more coming out of it for Per Diem, but we can't claim/deduct anything based on the new tax laws so I kind of have to do Per Diem to make up the extra money.

I'm just frustrated and trying to figure out how all this works. I don't even know what is "better for me" with regard to pay and such. I just want to drive, with my pooch, do all my other necessary tasks, and just HOPE that I'm being treated fairly with pay and benefits. I don't know how truckers know what is fair for them on CPM and benefits.

Here is what I do know. After taxes I need to make, at minimum, $1200 a month to maintain the income I'm leaving. I know that how much I make is up to me, but I don't know if $1200 a month is huge hustle as a new driver or if that is average or low. I would want to take the time to learn in my first year, and don't want to be bombarded by back to back loads at first. I'm a slow learner.

Oh for those wondering. The companies that are sticking out strong to me, for me, are: Prime Inc., Jim Palmer, and Knight so far. There are others that look real interesting like Halvor Lines, Navajo Express, Crete/Shaffer, and WEL.