New driver, probably going Roehl or Melton

When you are starting, they are all the same.

Get a year in and take your lumps as a new driver, then figure out where you want to land.

 

Schneider veteran here.

Latest gig: hazmat tanker (hauling fuel) -- but NOT with Schneider. Home daily.

I can recommend Schneider tanker to you, only with 2 conditions met:

• You are ex-military (Army, or Marines).
• You get recruiting to agree that you will be put on a DEDICATED ACCOUNT right after you finish your training.

Past that....

You are applying for what is in truth a professional job position.

Thus -- it follows that you probably would prefer to be treated as such.

With all that in mind -- go to each intended carrier's website; fill out & complete an application for each available position; then...when it's finished, complete...& ready...send it in.

Several days later...follow-up each application with a phone call to recruiting.

Give the recruiter your 1st & last name, & say, "I'm just calling to check on the status of my app, please."

I think you'll find with that approach you will get treated a lot better -- especially since you'll have all those endorsements on your app (& most other applicants probably won't).

Footnotes:

• STAY AWAY from any job or account that delivers to ANY of the so-called "dollar" stores (Dollar General, Family Dollar, etc). They're FAR MORE hassle than they are even remotely worth.
• Avoid any/all hazmat tanker jobs until you have AT LEAST 2 years experience.
• Your 1st year to 18 months as a driver will pretty much suck -- regardless of the carrier you choose.
• Your pay will very likely suck for the first year or so; that's because you lack the experience to command more. Later on -- you will have more experience.

Carrier suggestions: scrap all the ones you are currently pursuing; instead, go after these (using the methods discussed above):

• Foodliner (for food-grade tanker)
• Swift (for reefer duty -- think "food")

-- L

 

Your zip puts you near me. Have you tried Freeport Transport? I don’t know anything about them, but it might be worth a shot. Good luck.

 

Hope for the best but expect the worse. Try to last one year or at least 6 months minimum! Use this job as a barometer of what you like and don't like as you make your way in this industry. keep notes - No job is perfect and there will be a lot of trial and error. Ask questions and take down names. Good luck!

 

Western Express alum here. I'd say they're as good as anyone to get started. The flatbed division is more of a money maker got the driver than the dry van side. The pay won't be the highest there, or anywhere your first year for that matter. To get experience, it's ok for that purpose. If any of those companies are ready to bring you in, pull the trigger and hit the road. It doesn't really matter what the recruiter tells you because trucking is all about what YOU, the individual put into it. That will determine your experience at any company because as mentioned earlier, they're all the same.

 

I spent time at Roehl (dry van & reefer) and Melton when I was new. Out of the two, I’d go with Melton. They were slightly more laid back than Roehl, and Roehl had WAY too much nanny crap when I was there.

 

Tmc

 

Tmc would be a good option if you want flatbed. One of the better flatbed outfits for new drivers.

If reefer interests you look at magnum out of fargo. Top notch training program and they have strong lanes in your area.

 

I did dry van for Roehl about 10 or 11 years ago. I enjoyed my time there and don’t really have anything bad to say as far as my experience there. The equipment was well maintained and most of the people were nice to work with. I do recall most of the flatbed drivers that I talked to seemed to complain a lot about not getting a lot of miles, so with that in mind, maybe if you are set on flatbed then you should go with Melton, since they are strictly flatbed (I’m not sure if that makes a difference, I am only guessing here).

Just my two cents.... either way good luck!