Picking The Right Company To Start With

Aram; every company offers detention pay. It's very, very rare you'll ever use it because it requires on-duty status to collect. Best not to use it and safe your on-duty hours for driving.

Apply to both companies.

Not true. I get paid detention all the time while in the sleeper. And i have listened to enough whiners out here to know not all companies pay it either. Maybe the mega carriers, but i often hear "at least you get detention". Detention is not enough to make me change companies though. $50 to $100 a week when i get it.

Aram no offense, but you need to get off the "distribution center" concept. You might have a totally different idea of what a distribution center is. You are thinking Walmart with 150 docks?yeah thats one.

Here is another....i go to Tyson DC and pick up a load. I take it to a local lunch meat "distribution center". that DC as it is called, distributes to a bunch of smaller grocery stores and convenience stores. It has two docks and uses box trucks to deliver to the stores. The terminology is the same, but the reality is very different.

and here is something to think about.. you are at a big DC with 30 trucks lined up. trailers are dropped across from your door. It takes you 15 min to back in with trucks flying around you blowing horns, and idiots walking behind you, knowing you cant see them.

then you go to the 2 door meat place. you are the only truck, and although small. you have plenty of relaxing time without morons walking around.

I honestly just don't wanna make a decision I'll regret.

Aram every newbie feels this way, but the problem isn't in which company you choose. The only decision that you need to get right is whether trucking is right for you or not. Guess what? You will not know the answer to that one until you stick it out with your chosen company for that first year. Most people throw in the towel within ninety days. Then they go screaming on the internet about what a bad trucking company they started with. Now they've planted fears and doubts in people like you, but they don't even have a clue why they failed.

The truth is that very few people are really cut out for this career. It takes an adventurous spirit, with quick decision making abilities who is willing to live with the consequences of the choices they make. Each day you will be making a lot of decisions that affect how well you do at this job. The best performers get the best rewards. The name of the company on the truck has zero effect on how you manage to make things happen out here.

Quit concerning yourself with finding just the right company. Seriously, there's not a dime's worth of difference in any of them. They are all doing the same thing with the same equipment, while playing by the same rules. It is a commodities business, and there is little or no room for any of them to distinguish themselves. The only variable is the driver's performance.

Hopefully that makes it clear where your focus needs to be. Focus on anything else, and your likely to fall into the "blame game" trap that has caused many before you to give up and abort their trucking career prematurely.

OS you are spot on (as usual)..... You can count the differences in large companies on less than one hand. Now the difference MAY come in certain select markets in some areas. That’s all in the local/regional stuff not OTR.

I understand, you all make very good points. I've put all my chips in this so failure is not an option for me. This is what I've wanted to do since I left college, and I'm gonna make sure no matter what that I tough it out. Rainy, what you said definitely makes me look at things a bit different. As always I really appreciate y'alls input.

I understand, you all make very good points. I've put all my chips in this so failure is not an option for me. This is what I've wanted to do since I left college, and I'm gonna make sure no matter what that I tough it out. Rainy, what you said definitely makes me look at things a bit different. As always I really appreciate y'alls input.

if it makes you feel better...delivering to stores like walmarts and dollar general are usually dedicated accounts. In 2 years, i have delivered to one grocery store and 4 walmarts. so it doesnt happen often unless i requested a dedicated account.

Also, Im guessing your fear is backing in smaller places...you are definitely not alone!!!! Worst case scenario, you drop the trailer and ask a yard dog to put it in. No yard dog? Great drivers will help guide you in, often because they dont want you to hit their truck.

Lol precisely! One of my fears is backing into a tight place while blocking both lanes of traffic 😂. But I know I can't escape that reality, and it will happen eventually one of these days, I'm prepared...I hope lol.

I understand, you all make very good points. I've put all my chips in this so failure is not an option for me. This is what I've wanted to do since I left college, and I'm gonna make sure no matter what that I tough it out. Rainy, what you said definitely makes me look at things a bit different. As always I really appreciate y'alls input.

if it makes you feel better...delivering to stores like walmarts and dollar general are usually dedicated accounts. In 2 years, i have delivered to one grocery store and 4 walmarts. so it doesnt happen often unless i requested a dedicated account.

Also, Im guessing your fear is backing in smaller places...you are definitely not alone!!!! Worst case scenario, you drop the trailer and ask a yard dog to put it in. No yard dog? Great drivers will help guide you in, often because they dont want you to hit their truck.

It gets a bit unnerving at times. I have a customer I go too often. This one you have too call them and have them open the gate. No problem, I call and the gate is almost never open. 4 lane city street without a turn lane. I pull up throw the 4 ways on and wait. When the gate gets open I wait for traffic to clear then pull into the oncoming lanes setup to back and get started. My front will swing into the lanes to the right. Once I get command of the clear roadway I just take my time. They can wait.

If you're driving a truck you will always be in someone's way. Thats their problem not yours. It took me a while to get over the guilty feeling of holding up traffic. Seriously don't stress it. Eventually you'll be able to get in fairly quick and look back at this and laugh at yourself. Would you rather drive for a company that only delivers to large DC's and never face a difficult back, or would you rather possibly face them early in your career instead of being a 10 year vet that can't do much besides a straight line. For my job, just like PJ many times im sitting on road with 4 ways on waiting for a break in the traffic to start backing. My situation is a little different but there's quite a few stops I sit on a busy street and unload from there. I don't like tying up traffic by any means but many times there's no choice. Easier said than done, but get over that fear. If you're allowing traffic building up, and horns blaring to get you nervous you're almost guaranteed to hit something

That does sound unnerving. Like you, my instructors always tell me in that instance take your time and let the 4 wheelers wait it out. It's better to make them wait for a bit and not hit anyone, rather then hit someone and make people wait even longer . The first time it happens I'll be nervous, I'm not gonna lie. But it's something that WILL happen so oh well.

It gets a bit unnerving at times. I have a customer I go too often. This one you have too call them and have them open the gate. No problem, I call and the gate is almost never open. 4 lane city street without a turn lane. I pull up throw the 4 ways on and wait. When the gate gets open I wait for traffic to clear then pull into the oncoming lanes setup to back and get started. My front will swing into the lanes to the right. Once I get command of the clear roadway I just take my time. They can wait.

Good advice, Rob. You're right, I would honestly like to get used to that early on, and get it out of my system. I guess it'll just take some getting used to.

If you're driving a truck you will always be in someone's way. Thats their problem not yours. It took me a while to get over the guilty feeling of holding up traffic. Seriously don't stress it. Eventually you'll be able to get in fairly quick and look back at this and laugh at yourself. Would you rather drive for a company that only delivers to large DC's and never face a difficult back, or would you rather possibly face them early in your career instead of being a 10 year vet that can't do much besides a straight line. For my job, just like PJ many times im sitting on road with 4 ways on waiting for a break in the traffic to start backing. My situation is a little different but there's quite a few stops I sit on a busy street and unload from there. I don't like tying up traffic by any means but many times there's no choice. Easier said than done, but get over that fear. If you're allowing traffic building up, and horns blaring to get you nervous you're almost guaranteed to hit something