Hello there Driver. We appreciate you taking the time to drop by to catch today's upload. Any experiences with the companies Dave mentioned in the video, or on our website? There are plenty of other good companies out there, so go ahead and throw your suggestions in the comments too! Love to hear from you.
Pride transport was a joke. I couldn’t leave fast enough after I realized they screwed me with their “bonus” program promisesand ended up making less than my rookie job. And run like hell from their regional SLC/Denver/Montana division….short hauls and largely live unloads on both ends though they promised nearly all drop n hook. You can end up on three docks in a day for 400-500 miles and way blown 14hr clocks on a regular basis.
I can tell you that the best thing about the Korean mafia, is that it’s not a particularly well run company. That means they leave you the hell alone and let you do your job! It’s late Friday afternoon and I’m stuck in traffic headed back to Phoenix from a drop in Tucson Tucson. All week long, aside from communicating via very short text messages about when I’m starting the next day, or something very minor, I have barely said, and I’m not kidding, 2000 words face-to-face with my dispatcher. And he was out in the guard shack dispatching this morning! Example, where am I going this morning Rodolfo? Tucson. You take container, they will unload, bring back the empty. Really I take a full load down to SA recycling and they’re going to Unload and I bring back the empty? Yes. That’s the longest conversation I’ve had so far this week
Nice video man, both my brother and going to go team drivers with CRST next year. Right now we are detoxing because we were major pot heads smoking for the last 2 years everyday. We’re applying after we hit 4months soberiety, it’s the hair follicle test that scares us. It’s a big step in our lives to better our future. We’re very excited and motivated to make big boy changes. I’m 29 years old and my brother just turned 28. Anyone that reads this, it’s not too late to make change and better yourself. Dec 8th '23 first day sober 💪 I’m all ears to any advice.
I worked for Western from 2014 until 2017 as a yard jockey. I would clean the trailers when they’d get back into town, and get them road ready again. They were my foot in the door into the industry, and I will forever be thankful to them for that. I left when I got my CDL because they require experience. Even their yard trucks and forklifts are painted blue and chromed out 🤣
First off Smart Trucker I really want to show my appreciation and thank you for your content! From driving in the snow to learning how to deal with the DOT your videos have been very educational and helpful! I recently just got my hazmat, tanker endorsements and my TWIC card! I'd love to see you do a video on good carriers that haul specialized freight and hazmat! I heard Gemini Transport and KAG are a couple of good specialized carriers!
I was shocked that you mentioned Heartland Express. I had heard they paid good, but then I talked to a driver in a lounge. He was getting paid less than I did at Swift and he was a veteran! Most mega companies give you a bonus rate for that. Even at Swift there was a guy coming in brand new hire and he was going to be making more than I was and I’d been there a year at the time. If I remember I believe they had this guy at .40 or .45cpm and there were a lot of other terrible details that I don’t remember. He seemed like a good guy, didn’t come across as a liar at all. Wonder what the deal was.
I'm surprised you didn't mention ATS. I've heard many drivers really like working for ATS. They have a program where you can start out in the flatbed classes. Then you can work your way up in the different heavy haul classes.
One of the reasons Walmart drivers will average the best pay is due to the hundreds of terminals and Walmart retail locations that their drivers can land each day/night. There's no fighting for a parking spot which means the drivers can maximize their miles since they don't have to shut down early before all the truckstops fill up. I'm considering finishing my career with them.... I might finance a truck through the bank. I'm still deciding just yet.
I work for Heartland Express and you were right. They are on the top list and have treated me well. I only had one time where I was out 2 days more than usual. Everyone says Heartland is bad and they call them “Heartless Express”, but me, I have them on top!
I would like to see all of GP Transco’s dispatchers work and live in the US. Not Lithuania. Also, GP Transco still has the highest health cost to the driver. Close to $600 per month. Their 401k is on the low side with the usual 3 to 8% match.
Dick Lavy Trucking out of Bradford OH, is a great company that was starting with 1 truck 45 years ago and still comes into the office daily. Treats his driver's fair, low turnover, good pay and top notch
Another medium-sized carrier that runs long nose peterbilts Dynamic Transit. Not perfect, but pay is good, and trucks are nice (if you can ignore the ugly mirrors on the hood) 😅
Hey there driver. I’ve been following your channel since I started driving three years ago and I’ve always loved your content. But as a former driver who used to work for CFI I have to disagree with you on heartland being a top carrier. They might treat there drivers good. But they’ve bled CFI dry.
Hey I'm from NY and was a weed smoker but I quit once I got my CDL recently. So its been around 30 days and I can definitely PASS a urine test but I hear its 90-120 days to pass a hair follicle. Besides Western Express do you know any Starter Companies that give Urine Drug Test ONLY because I've been doing my research and it seems a lot of starter companies do Hair and Urine test and I probably won't be able to pass a hair test for another 3 months. Do I have any other options?
I’ve been with Crete for 7 years. This past year they’ve really gone downhill. Micromanaging, not respecting drivers free time and not paying proper detention / empty miles.
CFI is a good starter company. They’re easy to work for, got me home on time and treated me well. Their pay on the other hand was a joke. That ultimately is why I’m not going back.
I work for a company owned by heartland and they are great. I saw tmc on your website and I strongly disagree. I believe they used to be good but now are going downhill
So I started at Roehl Transport in April. Through Roehl I was able to obtain my CDL by signing a contract to remain with them for one year. A few days Roehl decided to terminate because I was having trouble with my "backing". Since then I have applied to so many starter companies who have all given me the runaround on how I need 3-6 months. How can I get experience when no one will hire me. I have been told that I would have to wait one year before anyone will take a chance on me. Any advice?
Question for the group: Covenant is offering me $0.67 cents per mile straight out of CDL school. I'm a veteran and retiring at 20 years. I know it's team driving at covenant. Is this good starting pay?
Hello, greetings to everyone, I want to start driving trucks and traveling throughout the country. I find that one of the things that helps me make more money is traveling longer and farther. But I only drive small cars, I need to learn how to drive big heavy duty trucks. I KNOW THAT BEING NEW AND WITHOUT EXPERIENCE, I can only expect very cheap pay. I ask you: what is the best company right now in the US for beginners? I would like to be in one that really prepares me well and TEACHES me WELL how to go up and down a mountain with a super-loaded truck safely. And I also trained myself to know how to drive in winter during the snow. I KNOW THAT AS A NOVICE I AM GOING TO EARN VERY LITTLE, BUT AMONG ALL THE COMPANIES, WHICH WILL BE THE ONE THAT PAYS THE BEST OR MORE OR LESS? I VERY APPRECIATE YOUR RESPONSES OR GUIDANCE. I'M JOSE FROM BIRMINGHAM-ALABAMA.
All OTR companies where you have no life and they run the dog crap out of you don't do it drivers not worth it , instead find a local cairrer that pay good and will get you home daily and weekends
Worked for Pride for a couple of years and made good money. Injured my hand on the job and they let me stay on my truck for 2 weeks while I was trying to get it sorted and when it was revealed that it would take several months they helped arrange a rental to get back home and kept checking in with me for 6 months after which they said they had to let me go as I still had no return date. I'm still not cleared for work yet and it's been almost a year but according to the doc in another couple of months I should be cleared and I was told if I just reapply I'll be able to get back into a truck as soon as they start their next orientation group. I had 2 major breakdowns with 1 truck and it spent 2 weeks in a shop in CA and they got me a rental back home to OR and then backdown when it was finished and then less than a week later when it broke down with the same code they got me into a loaner truck from their Denver yard until I got back to the terminal and got a new truck, so even though the breakdown pay sucks I was only idle for a short amount of time. I'll probably go back unless I can find somewhere local that I can make similar money.
All companies teach scumbags employees to treat some drivers different. I had a dispatcher with the same name. Prejudice not going to say the other truth.
you will be just a truck number at a big corporate carrier , too many rules by folks who never been at a shipper and they will play your life as a toy. big nay to big carriers , they hire every day a new folks because they know the old ones will leave because they dont take care of neither old nor new. they have a class every week for a dirty reason.😢
As an Ontario based driver where are the Canadian based firms? Cabotage rules are a stone biatch for us, I always thought NAFTA etc. was supposed to make us one happy continent.. . Not so much. How about some Canadian content brother.
Hello there Driver. We appreciate you taking the time to drop by to catch today's upload. Any experiences with the companies Dave mentioned in the video, or on our website? There are plenty of other good companies out there, so go ahead and throw your suggestions in the comments too! Love to hear from you.
Pride transport was a joke. I couldn’t leave fast enough after I realized they screwed me with their “bonus” program promisesand ended up making less than my rookie job. And run like hell from their regional SLC/Denver/Montana division….short hauls and largely live unloads on both ends though they promised nearly all drop n hook. You can end up on three docks in a day for 400-500 miles and way blown 14hr clocks on a regular basis.
Would you do a top 10 list of the best and worst states in the US to be a truck driver?
Thank you. I like your videos. They are real and practical. No theory, no school stuff. Info right from the road. Thanks.
I can tell you that the best thing about the Korean mafia, is that it’s not a particularly well run company. That means they leave you the hell alone and let you do your job! It’s late Friday afternoon and I’m stuck in traffic headed back to Phoenix from a drop in Tucson Tucson. All week long, aside from communicating via very short text messages about when I’m starting the next day, or something very minor, I have barely said, and I’m not kidding, 2000 words face-to-face with my dispatcher. And he was out in the guard shack dispatching this morning! Example, where am I going this morning Rodolfo? Tucson. You take container, they will unload, bring back the empty. Really I take a full load down to SA recycling and they’re going to Unload and I bring back the empty? Yes. That’s the longest conversation I’ve had so far this week
Nice video man, both my brother and going to go team drivers with CRST next year. Right now we are detoxing because we were major pot heads smoking for the last 2 years everyday. We’re applying after we hit 4months soberiety, it’s the hair follicle test that scares us. It’s a big step in our lives to better our future. We’re very excited and motivated to make big boy changes. I’m 29 years old and my brother just turned 28. Anyone that reads this, it’s not too late to make change and better yourself. Dec 8th '23 first day sober 💪 I’m all ears to any advice.
I worked for Western from 2014 until 2017 as a yard jockey. I would clean the trailers when they’d get back into town, and get them road ready again. They were my foot in the door into the industry, and I will forever be thankful to them for that. I left when I got my CDL because they require experience. Even their yard trucks and forklifts are painted blue and chromed out 🤣
First off Smart Trucker I really want to show my appreciation and thank you for your content!
From driving in the snow to learning how to deal with the DOT your videos have been very educational and helpful!
I recently just got my hazmat, tanker endorsements and my TWIC card!
I'd love to see you do a video on good carriers that haul specialized freight and hazmat!
I heard Gemini Transport and KAG are a couple of good specialized carriers!
Aw man, no Swifty, Schneider, JB Hunt or Western Express!🤣🤣👍
I work for walmart... really good gig... the only thing i HATE is slip seating trucks. I work 5 days and have to take everything out of the tractor.
Heartland Express is garbage they abused me and my husband refused to get our truck fixed too. Driver manager extremely rude. No miles as well .
I was shocked that you mentioned Heartland Express. I had heard they paid good, but then I talked to a driver in a lounge. He was getting paid less than I did at Swift and he was a veteran! Most mega companies give you a bonus rate for that. Even at Swift there was a guy coming in brand new hire and he was going to be making more than I was and I’d been there a year at the time. If I remember I believe they had this guy at .40 or .45cpm and there were a lot of other terrible details that I don’t remember. He seemed like a good guy, didn’t come across as a liar at all. Wonder what the deal was.
I'm surprised you didn't mention ATS. I've heard many drivers really like working for ATS. They have a program where you can start out in the flatbed classes. Then you can work your way up in the different heavy haul classes.
One of the reasons Walmart drivers will average the best pay is due to the hundreds of terminals and Walmart retail locations that their drivers can land each day/night. There's no fighting for a parking spot which means the drivers can maximize their miles since they don't have to shut down early before all the truckstops fill up. I'm considering finishing my career with them.... I might finance a truck through the bank. I'm still deciding just yet.
Heartland and Prime? Surprised they're on this list.
I work for Heartland Express and you were right. They are on the top list and have treated me well. I only had one time where I was out 2 days more than usual. Everyone says Heartland is bad and they call them “Heartless Express”, but me, I have them on top!
Nussbaum (pronounced NOOSEbaum), my former company, is, indeed, a great company. So is CRETE, my current employer.
I would like to see all of GP Transco’s dispatchers work and live in the US. Not Lithuania. Also, GP Transco still has the highest health cost to the driver. Close to $600 per month. Their 401k is on the low side with the usual 3 to 8% match.
heartland had me sold but they wouldnt let me take my dog even though she is registered service, thats a huge problem for me.
Dick Lavy Trucking out of Bradford OH, is a great company that was starting with 1 truck 45 years ago and still comes into the office daily.
Treats his driver's fair, low turnover, good pay and top notch
Another medium-sized carrier that runs long nose peterbilts Dynamic Transit. Not perfect, but pay is good, and trucks are nice (if you can ignore the ugly mirrors on the hood) 😅
Hey there driver. I’ve been following your channel since I started driving three years ago and I’ve always loved your content. But as a former driver who used to work for CFI I have to disagree with you on heartland being a top carrier. They might treat there drivers good. But they’ve bled CFI dry.
Thank you very much for the mention, @SmartTrucking! And thank you for all that you do for the industry.
What about LTL wiggle wagon companies such as Estes, Old Dominion, XPO, Saia, etc?
Hey I'm from NY and was a weed smoker but I quit once I got my CDL recently. So its been around 30 days and I can definitely PASS a urine test but I hear its 90-120 days to pass a hair follicle. Besides Western Express do you know any Starter Companies that give Urine Drug Test ONLY because I've been doing my research and it seems a lot of starter companies do Hair and Urine test and I probably won't be able to pass a hair test for another 3 months. Do I have any other options?
I’ve been with Crete for 7 years. This past year they’ve really gone downhill. Micromanaging, not respecting drivers free time and not paying proper detention / empty miles.
CFI is a good starter company. They’re easy to work for, got me home on time and treated me well. Their pay on the other hand was a joke. That ultimately is why I’m not going back.
Smart-Trucking thank you for saying gp transco they are the best trucking companies to work for
I work for a company owned by heartland and they are great. I saw tmc on your website and I strongly disagree. I believe they used to be good but now are going downhill
Crete Carrier has 27 terminals across the us!
can you do a video about best comp for owner ops to leasse tjeir truck under
What about o/o company's like Brown, Mercer, or Landstar?
I agree with heartland express I use too work for them
So I started at Roehl Transport in April. Through Roehl I was able to obtain my CDL by signing a contract to remain with them for one year. A few days Roehl decided to terminate because I was having trouble with my "backing". Since then I have applied to so many starter companies who have all given me the runaround on how I need 3-6 months. How can I get experience when no one will hire me. I have been told that I would have to wait one year before anyone will take a chance on me. Any advice?
You should do one with flatbed companies as well
Question for the group: Covenant is offering me $0.67 cents per mile straight out of CDL school. I'm a veteran and retiring at 20 years. I know it's team driving at covenant. Is this good starting pay?
Do you have a video on doing your in cab brake tests for getting your CDL. FOR TESTSING
Thanks!
Kenneth My Man! Thank you for your support and your ongoing loyalty! Always a pleasure to hear from you. 😎👍
I drove for a logger, not the best thing to do. I was young & it was fun, back then.
Are Canadian pennies red?
Yep there were but they're out of circulation now.
Hello, greetings to everyone, I want to start driving trucks and traveling throughout the country. I find that one of the things that helps me make more money is traveling longer and farther. But I only drive small cars, I need to learn how to drive big heavy duty trucks. I KNOW THAT BEING NEW AND WITHOUT EXPERIENCE, I can only expect very cheap pay. I ask you: what is the best company right now in the US for beginners? I would like to be in one that really prepares me well and TEACHES me WELL how to go up and down a mountain with a super-loaded truck safely. And I also trained myself to know how to drive in winter during the snow. I KNOW THAT AS A NOVICE I AM GOING TO EARN VERY LITTLE, BUT AMONG ALL THE COMPANIES, WHICH WILL BE THE ONE THAT PAYS THE BEST OR MORE OR LESS? I VERY APPRECIATE YOUR RESPONSES OR GUIDANCE. I'M JOSE FROM BIRMINGHAM-ALABAMA.
I thought you were Canadian, where are the Canadian companies?
Aren't you Canadian though man?
All of them are just for new drivers you wouldn’t make more than $1500 per week.
How about Canada 🇨🇦?
Working for hogan transportation on the car hauling side they use 389 but don’t be fooled they are turned way down on power
Pride and Heartland shouldn't be on this list. They really made me feel like all 'family' trucking companies can go to hell.
Say no to mega carriers
All OTR companies. Gotta love OTR drivers like to ignore local companies
Best careers to lease on to?
Loved Pride! Went local but over all they Care and take care of equipment.
Crete and Shaffer used to be good. But not so much any more.
Hi
We made it SHAFFER 👍🏽
There are no decent trucking companies out there to work for....period. They're all a joke.
All OTR companies where you have no life and they run the dog crap out of you don't do it drivers not worth it , instead find a local cairrer that pay good and will get you home daily and weekends
Worked for Pride for a couple of years and made good money. Injured my hand on the job and they let me stay on my truck for 2 weeks while I was trying to get it sorted and when it was revealed that it would take several months they helped arrange a rental to get back home and kept checking in with me for 6 months after which they said they had to let me go as I still had no return date. I'm still not cleared for work yet and it's been almost a year but according to the doc in another couple of months I should be cleared and I was told if I just reapply I'll be able to get back into a truck as soon as they start their next orientation group. I had 2 major breakdowns with 1 truck and it spent 2 weeks in a shop in CA and they got me a rental back home to OR and then backdown when it was finished and then less than a week later when it broke down with the same code they got me into a loaner truck from their Denver yard until I got back to the terminal and got a new truck, so even though the breakdown pay sucks I was only idle for a short amount of time. I'll probably go back unless I can find somewhere local that I can make similar money.
All companies teach scumbags employees to treat some drivers different. I had a dispatcher with the same name. Prejudice not going to say the other truth.
I wish UPS would have better trucks. Otherwise I love it there. But man…. Some of the trucks are sheer garbage!!
Now do Canadian Carriers. 😂
Heartland Express ….Disagree!!!
I don't know brother big carriers they have Big ass they wanna eat and not shit
I prefer smaller companies
Are better
you will be just a truck number at a big corporate carrier , too many rules by folks who never been at a shipper and they will play your life as a toy. big nay to big carriers , they hire every day a new folks because they know the old ones will leave because they dont take care of neither old nor new. they have a class every week for a dirty reason.😢
Still need to make a list of the worse companies.
Top O Da Afternoon
Not a fan of heartland
Pride is own by a eglund brother
Kennesaw transportation out of georgia truly a Christian trucking company and every Sunday is church on the radio feed or on cb radio
You didn’t mention Ozark
Nah harrrd pass
As an Ontario based driver where are the Canadian based firms? Cabotage rules are a stone biatch for us, I always thought NAFTA etc. was supposed to make us one happy continent.. . Not so much. How about some Canadian content brother.
It’s all the same. Don’t do trucking stay in school.
Heyl
JCT in Sapulpa, OK is #1.