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By admin, July 3, 2008 4:27 am

just got my cdl permit and in 2 weeks i’ll have my cdl license,?

what are the top trucking companies in America. take into account the rate per mile, company advancement and raises, traveling opportunity,location, etc. i was leaning toward swift, covenant, and us express myself. also, what type of trucking jobs pay the most. please tell me your suggestions and what you think is important……I’m all ears.

First off this is a decision you need to make yourself because noone knows exactly what you need. All the companies will offer basically the same thing as far as pay goes for begineers. You will probably start out at around .28 to .33 cents per mile. As far as raises goes that will differ from company to company.
Some companies offer what they call “regional” drivers. They will drive certain sections of the country, usually a 3-4 state radius from your home terminal. Others will send you where ever the freight takes you so keep that in mind. Some companies will pay on a sliding scale depending on the length of the haul. The longer the haul the less you make, the shorter the more you make.(US Xpress used to pay this way)
As far as companies go that is hard to say. You need to really call these companies and talk to them, talk to drivers from prespective companies. But what ever you do DO NOT trust the recruiters. They will tell you what you want to hear. Its what they are there for. Most will tell you that they will get you home every weekend but trust me they dont. They may the first few weeks but it will soon draw to a close and then you can expect to be home normally around 1-2 days every 2-3 weeks. They give you 1 day off for every 7 your out. Have you given flat beds any thought? I know TMC and Maverick do get you home everyweekend. And they run the regional routes. But pulling a dry box or reefer look to be out atleast 2 weeks at a time.
Dont accept the first job offer you get either. Fill out several apps and send them in and then sit down and take a look at what each one has to offer and then decide. I will tell you now that Swift is the laughing stock of the highway. They hire any and everyone that comes thru and normally when you see someone do something compeltely boneheaded it normally says Swift on the truck. US Xpress is ok but they have the automatic transmissions. Nothing wrong with that but as a begineer you need to hone your skills on a manual truck. What would you do if you worked for them and then got fired or decided to switch to another company and you couldnt shift gears? Havent heard too much about Covenant. Crete is a company that I have never heard anything bad about. Just take your time and really research this decision.
Company advancement is not in trucking. Sorry to say that but its true. Now the longer you stay with someone may allow you to get the better runs and make alittle more money per mile but as far as advancement you start as a driver and you will stay a driver. I guess you could move over to the dispatcher side but why would you want to do that? They make less the us and some of the most hated people on earth! Another very important thing to keep in mind is that when you get with a company and you find that you and your dispatcher dont get along YOU CAN MOVE TO ANTOHER DISPATCHER! Alot of new drivers dont know that and stick with some sorry SOB that doesnt give them enough miles or is just a prick. Dont take it from them because without you they have no job.
Trucking is a job you either love or you hate. Either you can get used to being alone for hours and days on end or you cant. You have to be self-motivated and you cant take sick days. And being out on the road with hundreds even thousands of miles to go on top of being so sick you cant stand it is miserable but you get over it and get the job done. The harder you work the better life will be on the road. Also, you need good money management skills or you will go broke. Their are people all over the place that love to take advantage of drivers, espcially new ones. Just use your head and you will do just fine.
I’m not trying to discourage you rather I am telling you straight up just how it is. Trucking is the most regulated industry in the world and the most looked down upon on. We have this stereotypical image the public sees us as and you just gotta get past it. Plus, you can make a very good living out here if you really want it but noone will give it to you. You have to take it upon yourself and do it. So good luck and hope this helps. If you need anything else feel free to give me a shout anytime at twiggy148@gmail.com. I’m always out here running up and down I-40 or I-20 from NC to Cali and back haulin that produce, LIVIN THE DREAM!!!

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