Trucker Forum

I have a few questions for team drivers or anyone else who has input on this subject.
Ill try to make this a short story.
my husband and I would like to become a team and drive for a company,long hauls home time will not be an issue, we need to find a school or company, so we can get our CDL. My husband had his CDL a long time ago and drove for a small company part-time, I have only practiced alittle on a friends truck on his deadend road, We are not sure how to go about finding a place that woun't take us for a ride because we are newbies, I have read alot about the mostly bad things about the companies its hard to find anything that is said about good stuff. not sure which way to turn and anyone shed some light on this for me. thanks

PRIME IS A GOOD SCHOOL TO GET STARTED I STARTED THERE.
YOU WILL RUN HARD N SOME DAYS NOT SO HARD
LOTS OF FREIGHT
GET EXPERIENCE N MOVE ON
LEASE PAYMENTS ARE 1100. PER WK

From what I hear Prime is mostly only a lease company but I can not say, Only what I have seen on their website, plus I believe their training period was like 4 - 6 months. where most companies are 4 - 6 weeks. But again thats just my impression. $1,100 a week truck payment is Really High! Even if they are brand new trucks. As a team you can prob make the payments. I would not start out on a lease operator but as a company driver to get the feel for it first.
Next, I would not recommend getting your CDL through a trucking company unless you do some serious homework first. Some of those companies will get your CDL and enslave you for All costs with Interest, I don't want to say any names (Stevens), If you leave or get fired within the contract period it will be a Major problem for you, Beware. Look into your community college for a CDL training course. You might qualify for what they used to have called the WIA program where the state pays for your schooling, you just need to stick with trucking for 6 monthsor a year, no contract I believe. If you don't qualify might be $3,500 each. Some companies will reimburse you for school cost, but again there is that contract to worry about. Mabe a loan from the bank. Once you get to work you can pay it off quickly.
I can tell you that I worked for KLLM Transport. They haul refrigerated products, and they have a dry division, you would need to get HazMat endorsment (and your CDL). 6 weeks with a Trainer then you can team up. I went with them straight out of school and was verry happy with them for 4 years. I left due to a death, off 2 years but now they don't hire in my area anymore so I am looking for someone good to work for myself. Its scary lol
Good luck

Thank you for your information we will think about what you said, thanks again.

you can do ok at cr england as a team,and you can go to school there.

I will try my best to give you an honest response! Alot of it depends on the individual or in your case you and your husbands needs. Like you mentioned, most of what you hear is going to be negative due to psycological reasons. Humans are apt to be negative about things. Okay, if your just looking for experience, take your pick out of all the larger companies. They are all operated with one thing in mind..Money. Some might be "slightly" better than others but all would be your stepping stone. You cannot take into consideration 80% of what you hear, for your needs and outlooks may be completely different,see? An all around good starter in my opinion is Werner. Of course, pros and cons there too, but where won't there be? I actually ran teams for 5 months when I was with them and it was trying...honestly it was. I run more miles by myself now than I did most weeks running teams. So you can't listen to all that, teams get all the miles talk either. I have met some that did and some that didnt. There is an order of things..#1>Large owner operators(more than 1 truck)#2>Trainers and students#3>Owner ops.#4>Teams#5>Solo drivers...Dedicated and regional drivers are a beast from a different forest. I dont get on much,too much crying and complaining from misleading, negative people for my likings. I will check back, if you have any further questions feel free