Whats The Best Company To Start Off With. I Have No Experience.
Topic 26142 | Page 1
To be truthful, go with whatever company works for you. The main suspects are all good choices for starting out with
That all said, every company has their ups and downs. But, one thing to consider, no matter which company you choose, most training companies will try to push you for the first year.
That first year is crucial. It sounds harsh, but the trial by fire method (As I like to call it), is there to weed out those who can and those who cannot.
I'm unsure of the numbers, but I'm confident in saying that 3 out of 5 people who make it past truck driving school and the trainer truck , will probably quit before the 6 month mark.
I'm not saying it's a bad experience. But it's certainly not easy either. Especially when somebody isn't used to potentially 14 hour days, 7 days a week with only a a short bit of time to yourself each day plus getting enough sleep.
It's worth it though. And I hope for the best. There are many fine folks in this forum who are more than willing to be your cheerleaders.
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.OOS:
When a violation by either a driver or company is confirmed, an out-of-service order removes either the driver or the vehicle from the roadway until the violation is corrected.
Schneider is a good company
April?
You are on the cusp of being stale.
Use this to review Trucking Company options.
...and use this to
Good drivers; conscientious, focused on learning safe and efficient techniques and habits can be successful for any of the companies listed that will hire entry level drivers.
Good luck...and don’t delay too much longer.
Whats the best company to start off with. I have no experience and i just got my license back in April. I have a clean record. no DUI. No felony. I live in Chicago,IL. I want to go OTR so i can see this beautiful country.
Why did you NOT HAVE your license? How long did you not have it?
Usually - you have to hold your REGULAR LICENSE for a year, to qualify for a CDL.
Rick
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
OTR:
Over The Road
OTR driving normally means you'll be hauling freight to various customers throughout your company's hauling region. It often entails being gone from home for two to three weeks at a time.
DUI:
Driving Under the Influence
Rick asks a great question...
Why did you NOT HAVE your license? How long did you not have it?
Really important Jamal. That’s going to be your number one issue at this point.
Thanks for picking this up Rick...
Jamal
Rick and G-Town make good points. This is something that has to have your total commitment. You can't hang on both sides of the fence so to speak. If your license was suspended before and you just got it back, you might have a problem. Not saying you will but most companies get so many applications that if that comes up as a red flag, then they will probably go on to the next applicant. If it was for speeding tickets or alcohol or drug related issues, you might have to wait 'til those can get removed. Some are 3 years and they fall off and some states it's 5-7 years. If it was for not having insurance, this might not be too much of a problem as long as you have it now. But you'll need to check with your local DMV.
Good luck and don't be a stranger here, there are many who have been in your situation.
Raptor
Dm:
Dispatcher, Fleet Manager, Driver Manager
The primary person a driver communicates with at his/her company. A dispatcher can play many roles, depending on the company's structure. Dispatchers may assign freight, file requests for home time, relay messages between the driver and management, inform customer service of any delays, change appointment times, and report information to the load planners.DMV:
Department of Motor Vehicles, Bureau of Motor Vehicles
The state agency that handles everything related to your driver's licences, including testing, issuance, transfers, and revocation.
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.
Jamal
Rick and G-Town make good points. This is something that has to have your total commitment. You can't hang on both sides of the fence so to speak. If your license was suspended before and you just got it back, you might have a problem. Not saying you will but most companies get so many applications that if that comes up as a red flag, then they will probably go on to the next applicant. If it was for speeding tickets or alcohol or drug related issues, you might have to wait 'til those can get removed. Some are 3 years and they fall off and some states it's 5-7 years. If it was for not having insurance, this might not be too much of a problem as long as you have it now. But you'll need to check with your local DMV.
I think he means that he just got his CDL in April.
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
Dm:
Dispatcher, Fleet Manager, Driver Manager
The primary person a driver communicates with at his/her company. A dispatcher can play many roles, depending on the company's structure. Dispatchers may assign freight, file requests for home time, relay messages between the driver and management, inform customer service of any delays, change appointment times, and report information to the load planners.DMV:
Department of Motor Vehicles, Bureau of Motor Vehicles
The state agency that handles everything related to your driver's licences, including testing, issuance, transfers, and revocation.
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.New Reply:
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Whats the best company to start off with. I have no experience and i just got my license back in April. I have a clean record. no DUI. No felony. I live in Chicago,IL. I want to go OTR so i can see this beautiful country.
OTR:
Over The Road
OTR driving normally means you'll be hauling freight to various customers throughout your company's hauling region. It often entails being gone from home for two to three weeks at a time.
DUI:
Driving Under the Influence