Comments By MightyQuinn

Thanks. I did look into Roehl and a few others and I read reviews about them but every company has it's pros and cons and I do know I have to stay with them for at least a year. I do like the fact that Roehl pays u from day one.

Maverick does also and it’s only a 6 month contract.

So i start training the 17th and that was all okay until i went to the store this morning and droped the crankshaft out of the bottom of my car and i hate to beg but if anyone else is going there and passing threw southwest iowa or if anyone lives up there and couls come get me from a bus statio about 30 miles away i have gas money(brett i know this isnt the type of posts you approve but i am outnof ideas ) thanks in advance let me know if anyone has any ideas

Don’t they provide transportation?

Not at all. They are always glad to have good drivers come on board. They don't care where you started. Remember everything about this career is measured by your performance. If you're doing a great job, any trucking company will be glad to sign you up. There's not a company out here who cares how or where you started. I started my career at Western Express. Knight Transportation was thrilled to have me come on board when I was ready. I still get calls from the people at Western Express trying to lure me back. Your record will speak for itself out here, and each of these companies are quite accustomed to drivers moving around from company to company.

Ok thank you very much and your more help then ya know!

Thanks for the reply oldshool. So if I went with maverick, but applied to both would prime hold it against me in the future if I wanted to switch to them for any reason after my contract?

Apply to Maverick now, get on that list and start squirreling away your money. In the end if you decide on Prime it's no big deal. Trust me, Maverick will have a waiting list going with some lucky person willing to take your spot if you cancel. You're not under any obligation once you're on that list. We've had other members who got bumped up on Mavericks list because somebody canceled. It happens all the time. It's better to be waiting on the list now, than having to wait once you are sure you're ready.

I plan on going to cdl sponsorship in two months with probably maverick or maybe prime still kinda on the fence guess I’ll have to flip a quarter lol. maverick there is a 1 1/2 month waiting list which is good because I’d like to save money for a couple months for bills while I’m gone. Question is how soon should I apply because I’m definitely doing this.

Thanks for the info man, and good luck on your test.

Maverick sponsors us through Arkansas State University Newport campus. They have a house here that you stay in for free, breakfast and lunch provided during the week. It is a 4 week program. I start week 4 tomorrow, I am testing for my CDL tomorrow. The school has been good, thet teach the permit stuff, have a range to practice the backing maneuvers, and have road instructors to take you out on the road after you get your permit on Thursday that first week.

After school I will go back to the Maverick campus for a week of securement training since I am going flatbed. Then a paid week at home to transfer my CDL to my home state. Then 21 days out with a trainer, minimum 21 days, but that training can be longer if you or the trainer feel you need additional training. Then I get my truck.

They gave us a 50 dollar prepaid card in orientation (week before CDL school) then a 520 dollar prepaid card for CDL school. Pay after school is 600 a week until you get your truck as long as you are available to work.

All has been good so far for me.

I live about 2 hours from Louisville

I had my cdl before I joined maverick so I'm not too sure on the details. I believe that you will go to a local college and get your cdl there, which maverick sponsors. You'll be asked to stay for a certain period of time no matter which company you go with. Both companies pay quite well and have good equipment. I went with maverick because of the home time. You say you live in KY, depending on where you live you could have really good home time. The closer to Cincinnati or Louisville the better. You will see more of the country with prime and get more miles for otr. If you do regional with maverick you'll likely stay east of I 35.

I am currtntly in CDL school with Maverick. I did attend a week of orientation before school. That is all that I have experienced so far. If you have any questions just ask, I will answer with the limited knowledge I have so far.

I have a training diary going in the diary area of these forums. Might give some perspective of the process so far.

Both companies were on my short list as well. Both are awesome companies. For me it was the hometime that had me choose Maverick. I live about 30 miles south of Kansas City, Mavericks midwest regional was available to me which is a home most weekends account.

Tough choice for sure, both treat Veterans well (I am a Vet as well). Just find what works for you.

Thanks Jeremy I will definitely follow your training diary. I’m in Kentucky and within there Midwest hiring area. From what I’ve seen on here you are correct when it comes to hometime. I like the way they have training set-up for prime, like going out a couple weeks with a trainer before to test for your cdl. My question is, is how does maverick do it?

I've been teaching new rookies for years now that these companies have nothing to prove to you. The burden of proof is always on the driver, or on the rookie who is wanting to become a professional driver. These really large trucking companies that you see slandered online all the time are the best of the best at this business and they have been silently enduring the never ending nonsense that spews out of the mouths of the wannabes who couldn't cut it when they tried to pursue this career. All the trash talk you hear about trucking and trucking companies is total garbage. The folks who produce all this drivel about trucking are the very folks who didn't make the cut, and brother there are hordes of them!

I 150% agree with oldshool! I’m not a driver but I have been in the industry for 11 years and have seen hundreds and hundreds of drivers come and go. Heard a lot of trash talk that did not add up to what I heard from veteran drivers. I would be very careful from where you get your opinions from, because people that failed at this industry will be the first to cloud your judgement. I would be worried about vetting where you get your info than vetting theses companies. Your definitely on the right website to get great info as long as you talk to the right people particularly people like old school that have been in trucking for a long time.

So how are you liking trucking life now? What kinda mileage you averaging?

I still love it as much as ever, as does the wife. It's still everything we expected it to be. However, I'm thinking of a change to local or regional, come spring or early summer. If not next year, then certainly in 2020. That's right... you heard it here first haha.

I love the OTR lifestyle without a doubt. But I find it harder and harder to leave my granddaughter after hometime. Add to that a new grandson due in Nov., and this Papa is wanting to be a little closer to home. Like Old School said above, children have to play a major factor in your decision.

Obviously I'll work with Prime to see if they can offer something to fill my needs. But that's a subject for another thread. I digress.

Mileage wise I think I'm crushing it for a flatbedder. I haven't crunched the numbers, but I gotta be averaging at least 3k a week lately. Running that many miles in addition to securement and tarping makes for a busy week.

I definitely understand you not wanting to miss out on your grandchildren. I have a 9 year old which is the reason I left the army. Think I can manage a few weeks away, but in the military it’s 12 sometimes 16 months, now that was hard. Anyways I plan on changing after I get a year in to something with more home time just feel like I need to put my time in and feel that I earned my way into trucking. You are definitely getting the miles and doing great! Are you getting anytime to stop and see any sites? If I decide to go with prime maybe we could meet up someday.