Looking Into Trucking

stewie · #1 (**permalink**) 10-10-2007, 03:14 AM

Hello everyone. I have been reading your posts, you all have some wonderful advice. My wife and I have been doing a lot of research, but there are still so many questions. I am thinking of attending Roadmaster in Tampa, Fl, but I don't know which company to start driving for. I would like to do LTL, but will I get hired right out of school? If not and I have to go OTR for a while, who are some of the best companies to look into? (Honest, good pay/miles, good home time) Please advise, thanks!

JLKKLJ777 · #2 (**permalink**) 10-13-2007, 06:41 PM

Wow Honest? Good Pay AND Miles???? you seem to want it all right out of the chute!
First of all lets adjust your priorities: 1st Get a CDL class A. 2nd Find out which companies accept new student drivers AND operate in Florida (you will need an outfit that serves Florida if you intend on getting home). 3rd Compare side by side each companies pay scale, benefits, equipment, and general policies such as rider programs, pet policies, hometime, length of haul, slip seat, and can you take your truck home. There will be no "perfect" fit (there never is). It will be an individualized choice based upon YOUR priorities and what YOU will accept. No-one gets a good job without several years of verifiable experience AND a clean driving record.
Now that we have that out of the way I think the companies that are left that go to Florida and hire students are very few indeed. I believe Heartland Express, Swift, and Covenant have regural lanes into Florida. Other companies that may merit some investigation are Roehl, Averitt, R and L, and US Xpress. I believe these outfits accept students.

syscokid · #3 (**permalink**) 10-13-2007, 10:33 PM

You may not get an ltl job right out of school but there are other local jobs you may be able to get to get your experience. In my own experience I "Lucked Out" and got a job at a food service company right out of school. Home every night, ok pay for a newbie but hard butt busting work. You may be able to find local work, if thats what you want, but you may have to bust your hump for a couple of yrs. to get your experience and go from there.

easttnhillbilly · #4 (**permalink**) 10-13-2007, 11:06 PM

old dominion freight lines is a ltl company that hires out of school they even run there own schools in some areas they have several terminals in fl just check odfl.com and they will be listed there good luck