small ("mom & pop") company recommendations?

Craigslist probably has what you're looking for.

 

Maybe I'm wrong, but I always found the most crooked and shady deals on Craigslist with most anything to be bought. Mostly extreme priced junk that has a bum or fake title. Quit using that long ago for that reason.

Is it different for trucking companies?

 

Probably a lot of the same for truck driver ads, but some on here have found what they want on there.
One cabbie went to cdl school and couldn't find a job because he had 15 tickets. He found a decent job on Craigslist hauling produce out of California to Hunts Point, NY. Many drivers wouldn't consider that a good job, but it worked for him.
I worked for one small mom & pop outfit early in my career and it was a total disaster, so after that I stuck to the big outfits.
Milan Express isn't a mega, but it's not small either. I think their terminal is in Jackson,Tennessee; not far from Memphis and they don't run Northeast.

 

Well, I'll be glad when I get back on the road. It would be nice to find an outfit with some good old fashioned common sense, like the far different generation and world I grew up in. We all strived for perfection in those days, worked our $%# off, got paid well for it, and didn't gripe about it.

 

I know many people that are now driving for small (25 trucks or less) carriers. To a man they will tell you it is the best kind of trucking there is. They will also tell you to be VERY careful and research the company. There are hundreds of small carriers on the FMCSA radar. Be very careful and go into these jobs with both eyes open. Remember this. Because these small carriers can be a great place to work. It behooves a driver to remember job opportunities are not there that much. If you do find a opening find out everything you can before accepting that job.

 

Im going to send you a PM.

 

Yourga trucking in Little Rock

 

Craigslist or indeed.com
A lot of smaller outfits are invite only or word of mouth type thing so ask around.
Just watch out for the 1099 companies they tend to be smaller most times..
Don't hesitate to expand your search outside your area......For example I'm in New York my current company is Indiana based.
You're in a busy freight lane finding something shouldn't be too awful hard.

You lasted 9 months longer than I would have with a mega, congrats !