New To The Game.

Hi all. I am new to this industry and I'm in process of aquiring my Class A CDL. My question is, are there any great companies out there, that are not the mega carriers, that will help train me? Thank for any feed back.

Hello Joseph, and welcome to our forum!

Hey let's start off with what you perceive as a problem by working with a "mega carrier." Can you give us a little insight as to why you want to start elsewhere?

There's no wrong answer here. If we are to help you, it just helps if we know what the issues are.

Hello Joseph, and welcome to our forum!

Hey let's start off with what you perceive as a problem by working with a "mega carrier." Can you give us a little insight as to why you want to start elsewhere?

There's no wrong answer here. If we are to help you, it just helps if we know what the issues are.

I'm pretty sure it's the bad rep mega carriers get from people who dont make it in trucking.

Joseph, good luck with your training. Like Mr. Old School said, it's helpful to tell us about yourself. Like age, location, current level of training, type of driving you want to do, etc.

Thousands of new drivers do very well with the big companies: Hunt, Swift, Schneider, Prime, CFI, Wolding, Roehl, etc. They all have tremendous resources and training programs. Then there are really great smaller companies also. But if you want some feedback, let us know more about what you are looking for in a company. Smaller doesn't necessarily mean better.

Hi again. Thank you everyone for your responses. So, I'm in my last week of CDL training at a local (school, academy) here in Florida. I am not 💯% sure which route I want to take as far as division. I am leaning towards flatbedding, and have found a few companies that will train me. My experience is only what I have learned so far in school. As far as the Mega carriers, I just don't see myself working for companies that I might find myself getting lost within the numbers. Maybe I'm wrong... I really don't know. There more reviews that state more cons than pros. So, I am hoping you can all tell me. Though, I know that it really will come down to the individual.

Check out this article: Why I Am More Than Just A Number At My Mega Carrier.

Prime Inc has over 6000 drivers and many members here drive for them and love it. As long as you work your way to being a top tier driver you will be treated great anywhere you go. If you're constantly getting called to wake up, or late for appointments due to poor planning (not weather, break down related) then you may feel like "just a number". Although you may work for a company with over 12,000 drivers you will still only deal with a handful of people.

As far as the Mega carriers, I just don't see myself working for companies that I might find myself getting lost within the numbers. Maybe I'm wrong... I really don't know. There more reviews that state more cons than pros. So, I am hoping you can all tell me.

Joseph, to be honest, internet reviews for trucking jobs are completely irrelevant. Here's why...

Trucking jobs are very competitive. Most people don't understand that concept. Most of the bad reviews are from people who couldn't get themselves established. In other words, they were poor performers. They did poorly, but they don't even know it. They blame the company for their own faults.

You cannot get "lost within the numbers." In trucking you will have a very small circle of contacts. You will be assigned a dispatcher with whom you will work closely. You will be part of their team. My dispatcher has 15 drivers he works with. I'm part of that small team. I'm working for Knight/Swift, the largest publicly traded truckload carrier. Great pay. Great benefits. Great experience.

Don't worry about the size of the company. It's really not a credible concern. It's typically better being at a large well established operation as a rookie, but somehow this mysterious idea persists that you're just going to be a "number." Don't fall for that garbage. It's just not true. You will produce your own satisfaction at this job. It's completely performance based, and as you can imagine, the new guys have a lot to learn. Your dispatcher will be trying to help you and of course we spend all our time here helping new guys.

Here's a great article by one of our members addressing some of your concerns...

Why I'm More Than Just A Number At My Mega Carrier

Remember it makes 0 sense for a company to have you sit. They do not make money unless you do. Plus the larger the company the more resources they have to support you on the road.

I started with Schneider and was treated VERY well. I had a great DBL (Schneider’s version of a driver manager) and I never felt like just a number.

I only left Schneider after a couple of years, for a company that gives me the same (sometimes more) miles (read; pay) while getting home more. This company requires experience.

When you limit your choices, you limit your potential income.

Set your priorities first. Then look for the best candidates (I.e. companies) to serve those priorities.

Good luck!

Joseph sees himself getting lost:

As far as the Mega carriers, I just don't see myself working for companies that I might find myself getting lost within the numbers. Maybe I'm wrong... I really don't know.

It's easy to see this: "lost" among two thousand drivers. Sure, your Mega company has a central phone number for payroll and such.

But on a day-to-day basis you will work with your #1 team mate, your DM or Driver Manager. Like Old School says, your DM will make money (miles and miles of it) for you because by making your deliveries your DM gets his/her pay, too.