I'm A New Student Going Into School, What Is The Best OTR Company To Start With That Is The Least Likely To Screw You Over.
Topic 3500 | Page 1
Jason, no trucking company is out to screw anybody. Word of caution, if you don't change your outlook, it's not going to do you or anybody else any favors. Unsolicited advice is free of charge 
As far as your interest to go OTR , it doesn't really matter if they have terminals (I'm assuming that's what you meant by ports) near your location. Since you're in FL, you'll be hard pressed to get frequent home time. Florida is not a state with a lot of freight traffic, comparatively speaking. You should be able to find an OTR job, but your home time might wind up being monthly. This could vary.
Terminal:
A facility where trucking companies operate out of, or their "home base" if you will. A lot of major companies have multiple terminals around the country which usually consist of the main office building, a drop lot for trailers, and sometimes a repair shop and wash facilities.
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.
Do some more research! Each company has different strong points and each has negative points. You have to figure out what is important to you. Each of us have to make a very personal decision about which company we start with. Each of us have very different things that are important to us. For some it is money. For others it is hometime. Safety, benefits, the major areas the company operates, etc. We each had to do the research and figure out what is best.
Truck Driver's Career Guide
How To Choose A Company
Company-Sponsored Training
Trucking Companies
Truck Driving Schools
Here is where you should start..... study!
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.
Company-sponsored Training:
A Company-Sponsored Training Program is a school that is owned and operated by a trucking company.
The schooling often requires little or no money up front. Instead of paying up-front tuition you will sign an agreement to work for the company for a specified amount of time after graduation, usually around a year, at a slightly lower rate of pay in order to pay for the training.
If you choose to quit working for the company before your year is up, they will normally require you to pay back a prorated amount of money for the schooling. The amount you pay back will be comparable to what you would have paid if you went to an independently owned school.
Company-sponsored training can be an excellent way to get your career underway if you can't afford the tuition up front for private schooling.
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.
I used the resources on this site to help me. From the top select CDL TRUCKING SCHOOLS and go through them carefully looking at what they require, what they're training program entails, the costs and who pays what, and post training for what it is and what it pays. Brett has done an AMAZING job with all of this and I can't thank him enough.
I ended up deciding on PRIME and applied yesterday and was approved today and plan on starting May 12. I have already went through most of the CDL training material, High Road Training Program, and plan on taking my test next week. Got my DOT physical today for $50 even though they do it again at training because I wanted to know I would pass it and so I could get my permit before going.
Whatever company you choose, and I suggest you thoroughly read and talk to them so that you know what you're agreeing to and what they expect from you. Too many people get angry later because they did not do the work up front. From what I've read on here, the ones who go away angry and complaining about the companies are the same ones that went with bad attitudes, chips on their shoulders, and bad work ethics. Don't expect a bed of roses with no thorns. No matter where you go to train and work, there are going to be frustrations and difficulties. The ones who make it are the ones who learn to deal with it.
Good luck!!!
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.
DOT:
Department Of Transportation
A department of the federal executive branch responsible for the national highways and for railroad and airline safety. It also manages Amtrak, the national railroad system, and the Coast Guard.
State and Federal DOT Officers are responsible for commercial vehicle enforcement. "The truck police" you could call them.
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.
what is the Best OTR company to start with that is the least likely to screw you over.
Don't want to kick a dead horse here, but, what company would spend the money to train a complete stranger, put the keys to a $100K vehicle in their hands on just a promise from the student and do all of this just so they could screw said student over? Have to be a pretty rich and sick individual to do so. I've heard all of the complaints (well, not all, but a good cross section) and the ones I heard from individuals I know personally are just more of the same complaint these people have had all of their life: someone has ALWAYS been out to screw them. HUH? People have that much time that they just set up those kind of circumstances? I think "screwing" is in the eyes of the beholder (or what ever the proper title of the "Screwee" would be) . . . I don't think it actually exists in the real world, at least not the kind of indiscriminate "screwing over" that is implied by your question . . .
Jopa
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.
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.
Jason, I'm just gonna jump in here and explain why none of the responses to your original question really tried to answer your question. You will find that the culture here at Trucking Truth does not hold to the very common false premise of most trucking web-sites that indicates that there are good companies and bad companies out there, and you've got to be very careful that you don't get yourself tangled up with one of the bad ones because they will ruin your career. We maintain that culture with pro-active moderators who understand how this false premise is detrimental to the rookies who are trying their best to get a new career started. Therefore we hold ourselves and the members here to the higher standard of being truthful about this industry that has been very good to us and countless others.
Let me share with you just a little bit of my personal experience - I do this on a regular basis because I believe that a man with an experience always trumps a man who has nothing but an argument. I started my Truck driving career at Western Express. If you've been doing much research you've probably come across a few things about this company somewhere, and I can tell you, without even asking you, that you are probably convinced that they are one of the companies that will "screw you over". You simply can't find anything positive on the internet about them unless I wrote it. I am making a much better than average salary for my first year as a driver with these folks and have never had any problems with my paychecks, my home-time, my miles, getting out of pocket expense money re-imbursed, or any of the other multitude of things I've heard people complain about when talking about this company.
The simple truth about this business is that it is a performance based business. The people who, both have, and take the time to write all those awful sounding reviews about trucking companies are usually living out their lives in their parents basement because they didn't have what it takes to be the captain of a big old American Big Rig. This is a demanding job with long hours, erratic sleep patterns, demanding schedules, rewarding scenery, and some really nice paychecks. The problem with most folks is that they only want the last two things I mentioned in that list, and it just doesn't work like that. The rewards come with the hard work involved. The endless drivel on the internet concerning the evil trucking empires is a sad commentary on just how lazy and witless the average American worker has become.
Jason, I can guarantee you that if you've got the right work ethic, a good head on your shoulders, and a willingness to face down what ever a life on the road can throw at you, then you will do very well as a professional truck driver. Don't sweat so much about who you are going to work for, but concentrate on how you are going to work and you will come out enjoying this new lifestyle, and you will be treated with all the respect and appreciation that the other top tier drivers enjoy in this industry. Then you will understand that it's not the name on the doors of your truck, but the person behind the wheel that makes all the difference in how your treated in this business.
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.
I'm looking for a good honest otr company to start with in my career in over the road driving. Any recommendations for company's that have ports in the south.
1) They are ALL out to screw you.
OR
2) They are NOT out to screw you.
ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAY read the FINE PRINT on ANY promise that a trucking company gives you.
Dave
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.
Over The Road:
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.
1) They are ALL out to screw you.
OR
2) They are NOT out to screw you.
That's about as black and white as it gets buddy - doesn't even make sense, guess I'm missing something here???
1) They are ALL out to screw you.
OR
2) They are NOT out to screw you.
That's about as black and white as it gets buddy - doesn't even make sense, guess I'm missing something here???
The point I am trying to make is that if you don't read the fine print, you will ALWAYS think they are screwing you. No matter what, you always have to ASK QUESTIONS. Otherwise you will think you're getting screwed.
Dave
1) They are ALL out to screw you.
OR
2) They are NOT out to screw you.
That's about as black and white as it gets buddy - doesn't even make sense, guess I'm missing something here???
The point I am trying to make is that if you don't read the fine print, you will ALWAYS think they are screwing you. No matter what, you always have to ASK QUESTIONS. Otherwise you will think you're getting screwed.
Dave
gotcha
New Reply:
New! Check out our help videos for a better understanding of our forum features
Preview:
Why Join Trucking Truth?
- The High Road Training Program
- The High Road Article Series
- The Friendliest Trucker's Forum Ever!
- Email Updates When New Articles Are Posted
Apply For Paid CDL Training Through TruckingTruth
Did you know you can fill out one quick form here on TruckingTruth and apply to several companies at once for paid CDL training? Seriously! The application only takes one minute. You will speak with recruiters today. There is no obligation whatsoever. Learn more and apply here:
TT On Facebook
I'm looking for a good honest otr company to start with in my career in over the road driving. Any recommendations for company's that have ports in the south.
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.
Over The Road:
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.