Who Can You Trust On Honest Ratings Of Companies To Train With And Work With?

Hi just curious since I am not even in training yet but as some know I am an adult 58 wanting to train. But who do you and can you trust for ratings on companies? I have done a lot of web searching and trucking forums and find in all honesty the same things over and over again. With so many trucking companies that offer training I read on the left hand that that company is awful do not work for them and on the right hand I love that company. It seems that no matter what the company is big or small, refrigerated or not there are people that hate them and people that love them. And its hard for a person with no experience to actually gain an educated decision on what one to go with. How can a person with no experience know who to trust and who is honest. As with all companies it seems truckers love or hate them and do not find much on hey if your new and need training this company has a great program for a new driver. Any help would be appreciated greatly.

thank you Ron

But who do you and can you trust for ratings on companies?

That's a great question Ron and it's about the most common topic we discuss here at TruckingTruth. You actually made a statement that gives some great insight into the nature of the problem:

It seems that no matter what the company is big or small, refrigerated or not there are people that hate them and people that love them.

Amen. That's totally true.

The answer to who you can trust....and bear with me on this....is yourself.

See, trucking companies are all remarkably similar. It's a commodity business with very intense competition. All of the companies do pretty much the same thing - they haul freight on the same highways using the same trucks paying the same fuel prices under the same laws. There is remarkably little differentiation between companies.

The biggest difference you'll find isn't between companies but between types of freight. Flatbed, dry van , refrigerated, and tanker are all different worlds. But choosing between flatbed companies or dry van companies (etc...) really leaves you with very little differentiation.

The main differences you'll find between companies hauling the same type of freight will be home time, regions of the country they run, and pay & benefits. But what you're really asking is, "How do I know which companies are good companies and which ones are bad companies?"

The answer....they're all good companies.

See, a ton of people get into trucking that either:

1) Don't really want to be there but have little choice, or...

2) Have lousy attitudes and won't be successful no matter what industry or company they choose

So either way you get a lot of people that drop out of trucking in a big hurry. And of course very few people are big enough to "man up" and take accountability for their failures. They'll blame others instead. And who do they blame? Well the companies of course.

Every trucking company in America has plenty of freight for their best drivers and they leave the scraps for the rest. If you're hard working, safe, reliable, and get along well with others you can do well at any trucking company in America. If that doesn't describe you then you're going to be miserable or do poorly at any trucking company in America.

Anyone that's been in this industry for a while will tell you that the negative reviews you're reading about trucking companies are truly a reflection on the person giving the review, not the company itself. Trucking is performance-based...if you perform they'll keep you busy. If you get along with people and prove you're an awesome driver they'll treat you fairly or listen to you if you have a problem with someone.

What you want to do is ignore all of those reviews. They're garbage. There are no "good companies versus bad companies". That's a total fallacy.

Instead, pick a company based on your preferences for type of freight, type of equipment, home time, regions of the country you'd like to run, opportunities to move around to other divisions, and things like that. "The measurables" of the company, not the opinions of others.

This topic is something we have discussed seven days a week here on TruckingTruth for years and we will continue to for years to come. Don't be fooled into thinking there are a bunch of companies out there to be avoided. Baloney. If you go in there and show em you're an awesome driver that they can rely on to get the work done they're going to keep you busy. And if by chance you get a dispatcher you can't get along with or isn't taking care of you then your track record will get you the attention of the bosses and they'll make sure things get taken care of.

If you haven't already, go through our Trucker's Career Guide. It covers a ton of topics for anyone getting ready to get their career started, including the stuff we're talking about here.

Brett, every time I read your answer to this question, I get all fired up and want to jump in a truck and start driving now. But really, you keep giving me confidence in whatever company I choose, I will be okay as long as I...{insert your post here}.

I'm glad I found this web site!

you keep giving me confidence in whatever company I choose, I will be okay as long as I...{insert your post here}.

You've got it!

And another thing to keep in mind is that after getting a little safe driving experience - a year or even less sometimes - it's super easy to change companies. Especially after one full year of safe driving. At that point a lot of companies feel you've "earned your badge" and have shown you can make it in this industry. A driver with a year of safe driving could land as many jobs as they could fill out applications. So that first company you choose is certainly not a life sentence.

But if you stick with a company for some time, develop a decent relationship with a solid dispatcher , and get to know the bosses a little bit you'll be in great shape. You'll get treated fairly, good miles, and special favors once in a while that only the proven drivers can get.