what company's are good ones to start out with around South Bend IN

Hey neighbor,I have been in the S.B. area all my life and it's never been this hard finding a job.I haven't been a member long,but I've learned a lot reading all the threads,just take it with a grain of salt.
Truck stops can be a good way to get info,the two at the bypass and the toll road are the biggest around here,just try to talk to drivers that don't have a scowl on their face.LOL
If you can get your school paid for before getting hired you will have a definite advantage.Are you going to CDI or somewhere else?I've heard unemployed people can get their school paid for by the State,that way these companies won't have you over a barrel owing them money and unable to quit without owing them $.
I think you should try to read all the threads on your prehires and try to form your own opinion keeping in mind that a lot of drivers don't know about this forum and they may be doing O.K.,and that a lot posting on this forum may be partially responsible for their misfortunes.
One thing I learned from this site you can google FMCSA to find safety info on any carrier,number of tractors,logbook, and equipment violations,etc.If you want to run legal it's worth checking out,it can tell you which carriers will force you to cheat on your logs or run shoddy equipment.Remember,it's your CDL,don't let anyone force you into losing it or worse go to jail over it.
I just saw on the news Elkhart county is 12% unemployment and St.Joe is 10% so good luck finding something local.I have tried all the LTL carriers(ccx,old dominion,fed-ex,yellow, roadway,etc. and they are laying off).
From what Ihave seen on this forum you can make anywhere from $100 to $1,500/week driving OTR so do your homework and good luck.

 

Sure, you could that. Just keep in mind that in that area, Lake Station for one, that you might be looked at like a lot lizard!!LOL. Just kidding. The best way to do it, at least if I'm being approached, would be the drivers area in a sit down restaurant. No one has ever asked to see my CDL, so they likely wouldn't you either.

The way things are right now, the companies that have prehired you may be the bet. Get a year or so in, then look around a little. But don't quit until you have another job.

No matter which one of the co's you go to, you're going to have a learning curve. Don't be afraid to ask other co. drivers if you have a problem with something. I think I'd steer away from the electronic logs and auto trans though, just my opinion. Sooner or later you'll have to fill out a real log, and shift gears with another co. truck. Better to get those two things in your memory banks right from the start.

I'm not going to tell you which of the co's you've mentioned to go with. I feel they're all pretty much the same. But YOUR attitude is the key to the whole thing. You're going to have to suck it up off and on, and get on down the road. DO NOT dwell on it. It only makes it worse.

Hope I helped a bit, good luck, and above all, stay safe.

 

You're welcome ktmbob.You might want to call Con-Way in South Bend,they had a company sposored training program,last summer they were advertising all the time.I think you start on the docks@18/hr. and work up to driving top pay about 22/hr.They are an LTL meaning you may work nights pulling doubles terminal to terminal.

 

ktmbob,what school will you be attending?I checked out CDI in S.B. in 1999 and TMC was one of the hiring companys back then,they are flatbed,don't know if you want to do that.
Anyway,after looking at the price for school I decided to get my CDL on my own.I drove truck from 1987-1990 before they came out with the CDL in 1991.I studied for the test and passed the written then paid for my own road test and got my CDL.So you don't HAVE TO GO TO SCHOOL.I had a local driving job within a week,probably delivered to your RV plant,I went to most of them for 3 years until my company went out of business.
Also,you can just look in the yellow pages and start calling companies since no one is advertising.The good companies don't need to advertise anyway,just word of mouth.
Good luck and be safe.

 

As for your prehires I have no personal experience with any of them,From what I've been reading on these boards I WOULD BE CAREFUL about any of them.It seems they are starting to make you team up or wait weeks for a truck.I hope I'm not being to negative,any more questions feel free to ask.