Driver recommended companies will be your best choice generally speaking. As stated before, most recruiters are paid to get you in the door so they kind of have an agenda that is not necessarily in your best interest.
A well managed company should avoid allowing recruiters to conduct their business this way because if a driver gets a job that doesn't match what he expected then he's going to be unhappy.
How well do you do your job when your unhappy? How loyal and dedicated are you to the company? How motivated are you do perform as productively as possible?
Companies are trying to get better at driver satisfaction but they don't all make sure that every member of their team is participating in the effort. This means as always, you still have to look out for yourself. Choose driver recommended companies when possible.
Be Proactive!
This means asking a lot of questions to drivers for their recommendation of companies. You go to local truck stops and hang around a little. Just let the manager know what your doing, that you are thinking about driving and you wanted to talk to some drivers about the companies they work for. (If they give you a hard time be sure to come back here and let everyone know about that truck stop.)
Of course you can check back here, as we grow we will collect more and more driver recommendations on good companies to work for.
Understand that you won't find one that is perfect. You must find one that fits what you need. That makes the company perfect for you.
Having said that I have 2 personal driver recommended companies, especially if you have little experience.
(Note I don't think either will hire you right out of school but you have to call and ask them to be sure. Things change. That's not how I started with them.)
~They kept me moving (I didn't have to sit and wait on loads)
~They were reasonably flexible with scheduling
~The Pay wasn't the worst (wasn't the best)
~The staff was respectful (I had no problems personally)
~My driver manager was competent(able to co-ordinate the loads well)
~I wasn't forced to run northeast or northwest
~If I wanted to be home on a weekend I could. (depends on where you live they only have 1 terminal, Greensboro NC)
~Reasonably nice equipment (not fancy but not run down)
~Company small enough that you can talk to the person you need to talk in order to feel your voice was heard (This includes the owners of the company who work everyday at the company or driving themselves. Two brothers with a spiritual foundation and drive to succeed. Started with a little box truck.)
What I didn't like
~The pay raises were slow as company driver(owner operator was ok)
~No dispatch on weekends (most time you were still moving though)
~They try to keep you running in an area you don't mind running.
~I get exercise while working as a trucker driver
(goes back to what I was saying about a company being perfect for the individual, I like physically demanding work. I view it as paid exercise, some drivers don't want to load or unload)
~The equipment is nice equipment (not fancy or run down)
~The office staff is respectful and competent.
What I don't like
~There are some things that could easily be changed that haven't to increase productivity for everyone and lower overhead for the company. These things haven't changed yet after repeated suggestions even though they confirmed that the suggestions make since. Something wrong with that to me.
~The pay isn't the greatest in new furniture hauling business for company drivers.(compared to other dry van hauling its fine but that's comparing apple and oranges) Owner operators pay is fine.
~You don't get an itemized statement with your check. We often do odd and end unplanned things. (Hard to know what your paid for exactly without badgering the office personnel)
~ Trucks just got governed to 70 mph (speed limit out west 75mph)
Overall I enjoy working here otherwise I would leave
A few things to keep in mind while getting your driver recommended list together
Driver who I have spoken to Recommended These Companies
An Webber
is a company that a driver I met named Larry highly recommended. You can actually view this recommendation for yourself on the driver interviews page. Look for the
interview with Larry
They are based out of Kankakee, Illinois, just 60 miles south of Chicago.
CFI
was recommended by Nard, a driver I met down in W Memphis a few weeks ago. CFI (Contract Carriers)based out of Joplin, Mo was acquired by Con-Way Truckload. Nard said he wasn't going anywhere. He had his wife riding with him on the big road. (They looked like happy newly weds.) Hopefully they will come through the site and tell us how trucking life is for couple riding together.
I spoke to a guy out one day, I don't remember his name or where we were I thing we were in Mississippi at the Pilot off I-55. I have to start carrying a pad.
Anyway, he drove for
Western Express
flat bed division. He gave them a 7 out of 10. He said that he started in the van division but he didn't like it situation with that at all (that could have been the dispatcher or not). Now he said things are lovely trucking at Western Express.
I recently met Tino at the Pilot in South Carolina I-85 exit 90 I think. He drive's for
J. B. Hunt.
He said at first he wasn't getting the miles at J.B. Hunt. He ended up moving which caused him to also change dispatchers. After that things improved so much that he is now happy at J.B. Hunt. In fact, he says he is planning to lease on to J.B. next year as an owner operator. Tino really had some good advice for drivers I am going to see if I can get him to do a page.
Well that's all for now I am out the shop and it time to head to pharr tx. October 14th signing off . . . enjoy the day. Later
Good Companies To Work For are Driver Recommended
Do you need to find a better company or do you think your company deserves to be listed with other recommended companies. Please let us know if you are working for a good company.
Have you ever worked for a company that just lie about everything? Well add Colonial Freight System to that list. From day one ...
Colonial Freight Systems
Colonial is hiring lease operaters and man do they lie do you,so they can have someone to make their truck payments.They will tell you it's no forced dispatch ...
PTG Logistics
PTG is a small company out of Cincinnati.We only have about 120 trucks or so.
I have been there for 1 year and 3 months now and absolutely love it.To ...
Ronald Gross Inc. Cabot,Pa.
on a scale of 1-10 i give them a 8. Family based company and they make you feel like one of the family. Good equiptment,not brand new but in very good ...
STEVENS TRANSPORT
Not rated yet
6, LOW MILES, DM'S NOT TO COMPETENT LEADING TO LAGGING DOWN TIME BETWEEN LOADS. FLEET NEEDS MORE APU EQUIPPED VEHICLES, WONDERING WHO PAYS THE TICKET FOR ...
central refrigerated
Not rated yet
I work for central refrigerated and i give them a rating of two. thanks
MCENTIRE PRODUCE/Columbia ,S.C.
Not rated yet
0-mcentire is another great company 2 work 4 if you like salary. I was paid 600.00 a week. i drove slip seat old worn out freightliners/volvo.
drive ...
CAROLINA CARGO /ROCKHILL S.C.
Not rated yet
Carolina convict is a great company if you like working with ex convicts, running teams and only making 10cents a mile. The recruiter said i would make ...
Trans X
Not rated yet
I can't say this is the best company but one of the best I've worked for. Trans X Vancouver is a lot better than their office in Winnipeg.
READY TRUCKING
Not rated yet
I GIVE READY A 9. THE COMPANY BY FAR OFFERS THE BEST IN BOTH LEASE AND COMPANY DRIVING. THE PAY IS THE BEST IN THEIR LEASE PROGRAM, HOME ON THE WEEKEND ...
U HARD AT WORK
Not rated yet
IT WAS HARD AT FRIST BUT THE COMPANY TREATED ME WELL. GAVE ME LOTS OF COMFORT. LOTS OF TIME WITH FAMILY. GAVE DAYS OFF WHEN NEEDED HAD A GREAT TRUCK ...