need information please

my better half has decided to be a truck driver. graduation is around the corner & we are trying to figure out the best route to take - which company to start off with to avoid taking it in the shorts. the consideration right now is longhaul for a couple of years & then go local & end up being an owner/operator. i have been around truck drivers for a minute. jack of all trades - master of none - thats me. i was in freight forwarding, ocean freight, p&d, ltl ftl & dispatch.

i know the good companies are out there with good people working for them that are not bul*shi*ters that are willing to help those who need it. i know the money is there to be made as well. there will ALWAYS be freight. with fuel being what it now your best bet is land or sea. air is too expensive. i know the crappy companies are out there as well. people that will lie to you soon as look at you. case in point - i accepted a job with a trucking company only to come to work the next monday & they were out of business. office closed up tighter than dicks hat band. and there i was - no job.

i have advised as much as i can with what little i know. we would like to be able to make the best decision we can with the information that is available to us. any & all advice is welcome. thanks

[gtrdone]

Originally Posted by aef3108

my better half has decided to be a truck driver. graduation is around the corner & we are trying to figure out the best route to take - which company to start off with to avoid taking it in the shorts. the consideration right now is longhaul for a couple of years & then go local & end up being an owner/operator. i have been around truck drivers for a minute. jack of all trades - master of none - thats me. i was in freight forwarding, ocean freight, p&d, ltl ftl & dispatch.

i know the good companies are out there with good people working for them that are not bul*shi*ters that are willing to help those who need it. i know the money is there to be made as well. there will ALWAYS be freight. with fuel being what it now your best bet is land or sea. air is too expensive. i know the crappy companies are out there as well. people that will lie to you soon as look at you. case in point - i accepted a job with a trucking company only to come to work the next monday & they were out of business. office closed up tighter than dicks hat band. and there i was - no job.

i have advised as much as i can with what little i know. we would like to be able to make the best decision we can with the information that is available to us. any & all advice is welcome. thanks

It sounds as if you already know many of the basics.. What is his/your desire.. Wanna be home every night, without working weekends? LTL would be the way to go.. but most start off running a city peddle working your way to the road. What is his preference as far as representation? Union/Non-Union there is security with both. UPSF, ABF, YRCW, FedEx Freight, Con-Way, Saia, Old Dominion, Averitt.. You name it..

Over the Road?? Knight, Risinger, CFI, Milan, Covenant are all good ones.. but will be on the road for a while..

Anywhere he goes, he must understand that he will have to work his way up.. as it is with any company!

It's all in what he wants to do.. but you are at the right place.. have him breeze throught the boards here, he can about find any information he needs without asking.. and even though many of us seem to argue back and fourth.. we actually are all in the same game, and I trust most will give him an honest answer to any question!

Good luck on the search!

i am going to get him on here & let him nose around a bit. i worked for con-way air but due to jet fuel prices - i got laid off. he has gotten some pre-hires. what i know is this - he is most excited about this. if he does otr then we will deal. he knows he will have to work his way up. thankfully he is not dense by any stretch of the imagination. i dont know if anyone has talked to him about union vs. non-union. i know in NY & NJ the chances of you getting off loaded expeditiously if you are non-union are slim - almost anorexic if you will. lol if anyone has anything else - let me know. dont be shy - just shout 'em out if you know 'em. any & all input will be appreciated. :o)