Where Would You Look For A Job?
Topic 29822 | Page 1
I do read reviews. BUT, you have to be very careful with reviews. You will only get one side in negative reviews. You don't know the big picture. For example, you will see "the pay sucks". But what they don't tell you, is that they handicap themselves by not managing their own time well, so they don't get the miles they want. They may say "dispatch has their favorites, and they get the miles while I struggle". Well, maybe you haven't proven dependable to get the miles. They only place blame elsewhere, and if they support their claim with a story - again, you are only getting one side. I look for trends, but even then, take with a grain of salt.
Unhappy people will tell more people about a negative experience, than a happy person will tell a positive experience.
For the most part, I spend time reading about each company...watch youtube videos from people who work, or have worked there. Positive or negative (again, you have to be careful with the negative). You can find little details in those videos which will tell you about the company that is not published anywhere - and they may be something positive, or negative. For example - hometime, this company lets you take the truck home, this one does not. It may not be extremely important to you, but a youtuber may mention taking it home...so you take note. One may mention benefits, good or bad. One may mention details about pay. For example, they may mention that your starting pay is one rate, but with bonuses you may actually make more than the published starting rate. Ads only tell you positive stuff.
I am still in research right now. I have one company I really want to go to, and an alternate...unfortunately it MAY be the alternate, if I go anywhere at all - because of one person around me not happy with me being gone for 3-4 wks at a time (not my wife). You have to find what works best for you.
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.
Do you have your CDL already?
If not, start here:
- Truck Driver's Career Guide
- Brett's Book: The Raw Truth About Trucking (free online version)
- High Road CDL Training Program
- CDL Practice Tests
If so, start here:
- Trucker's Career Guide: Choosing Your First Truck Driving Job
- Article Category: Finding The Right Truck Driving Job
- Forum Topics Tagged "Choosing A Trucking Company"
Best wishes to you! Welcome to Trucking Truth :)
~ Anne ~
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.
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.
At the top of this page is a search bar. Type the name of the company you're interested in. That will give you info from this site. We deal in truth. For example I am 100% biased towards CFI. They trained me and I love working for them.
Best of luck. We are here to help. We don't pull punches and tell it as we see it.
And because of you, and a few others I have seen from here and elsewhere, CFI is my first choice. You represent them well. I have done about as much research as I can short of making some calls, thanks to this site.
At the top of this page is a search bar. Type the name of the company you're interested in. That will give you info from this site. We deal in truth. For example I am 100% biased towards CFI. They trained me and I love working for them.
Best of luck. We are here to help. We don't pull punches and tell it as we see it.
Here's a great place to start...
Click on that link, scroll down to the place where you can enter your zip code, and it will give you a lengthy list of companies hiring in your area.
Don't get all tangled up with the details. Trucking companies value their drivers greatly. They treat their exceptional drivers very well. That's the key to success and contentment in trucking. Be the best you can be and you will always find yourself treated exceptionally well.
Here's a couple of articles that should help you understand how to establish yourself in a successful trucking career.
Like Scott...i am.completely biased. I got trained at Prime and almost 6 years later I am still here. Love it!
I hear peo people say all the time that they failed at Prime...and I just shake my head. I am treated like royalty, literally. The mechanics know me and hug me hello.... The dispatchers want me on their fleet and the owner of our 15,000 employee company knows my name. Its a great feeling to belong.
Keep searching.... It takes hard work on your part to build a reputation like that...but when it happens..you never went to leave. Good luck
Dispatcher:
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.EPU:
Electric Auxiliary Power Units
Electric APUs have started gaining acceptance. These electric APUs use battery packs instead of the diesel engine on traditional APUs as a source of power. The APU's battery pack is charged when the truck is in motion. When the truck is idle, the stored energy in the battery pack is then used to power an air conditioner, heater, and other devices
Do Not believe what you may read on trailer doors!
"GREAT HOMETIME"
" GREAT MILES"
"GREAT PAY"
"BE YOUR OWN BOSS"
Hey, you updated your pic, kearsey!
As for OP, prior to starting, I’d never even heard of Millis. I waded through the bs, recognized that my recruiter there not only answered my questions, she answered in writing, and in detail. No empty promises. I’ve got a regional job where I’m home every weekend, and I’m still getting the miles I need to keep me happy. On my weekends when I don’t have my kids, s long as I let my dispatcher know early enough in the week, he can keep me routed out over the weekend for a change of scenery or bigger check. Trust YOUR gut when researching. Some places sound great at first but you’ll notice they glaze over details. Dont be afraid to be your own Advocate. This forum is a great reference though. I’ve been out of training and on the road for 6 months now and while I learn something new every day, I love the job more every day, too.
Like Scott...i am.completely biased. I got trained at Prime and almost 6 years later I am still here. Love it!
I hear peo people say all the time that they failed at Prime...and I just shake my head. I am treated like royalty, literally. The mechanics know me and hug me hello.... The dispatchers want me on their fleet and the owner of our 15,000 employee company knows my name. Its a great feeling to belong.
Keep searching.... It takes hard work on your part to build a reputation like that...but when it happens..you never went to leave. Good luck
Regional:
Regional Route
Usually refers to a driver hauling freight within one particular region of the country. You might be in the "Southeast Regional Division" or "Midwest Regional". Regional route drivers often get home on the weekends which is one of the main appeals for this type of route.
Dispatcher:
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.EPU:
Electric Auxiliary Power Units
Electric APUs have started gaining acceptance. These electric APUs use battery packs instead of the diesel engine on traditional APUs as a source of power. The APU's battery pack is charged when the truck is in motion. When the truck is idle, the stored energy in the battery pack is then used to power an air conditioner, heater, and other devices
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Guys, just interested what channel you would use to find a good job in trucking? Do you believe reviews or maybe your best friend recommendation? Indeed, click some ads?
I know lot of drivers say that ads are not real, so how to choose?
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.