Dale
New Member
Posts: 16
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Post by Dale on Nov 9, 2005 12:24:05 GMT -5
Hello.
I've been here a little while, but this is my first post? I wanted to ask any drivers here if they know of any companies in PA that hire new "inexperienced" drivers with a CDL? I'm having a little bit of a hard time finding much out there. I am awaiting word from US-Xpress. I have also left voicemails to the Roehl 'recruiters'. It has been days(left 2 messages). Don't know why their so slow to respond?
I had an offer to go to PGT Trucking out of Monaca, PA. driving flatbed. They deliver steel, etc. I may have to give them a try even though I don't have any experience w/ flatbeds(only van) and I' m not familiar w/ their International trucks. I've only driven 10-speed Freightliners like the Century/Classic when I was at school recently. It's a little 'unnerving' to get my experience at this time of year...as the snow will be flying soon?
Arcflash,
I see that you from out that direction. Do you know PGT? any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
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Post by Arcflash on Nov 11, 2005 18:43:45 GMT -5
I've run across a few PGT drivers here and there. They haul a lot of steel, but their bread and butter is wallboard out of US Gypsum in Aliquippa. Their tractors are International 9300 or 9400s mostly with pro sleepers. I'd bet that they have cummins power and a ten speed. Trailers seem to all be ritenours.
I, personally, would not drive for them at this point in my career for two reasons. First and foremost is their pay scale, they pay percentage of the load. The problem is that they are forced dispatch, and their dispatch is in-house. They can force you to deadhead long distances for free, and they can stuff you with crap loads going wherever they want to send you. I am not saying that this is how they do business; what I am saying is that they CAN do it to you, and I don't trust any large company enough to throw myself at their mercy. As for the in-house dispatch, you won't really ever know what a load truly pays. PGT gets the load either directly from a shipper, or they broker it from an agent. Then they dispatch it to you with them as the middleman. They can skim as much as they want from the gross and you'll never know. If they get $1000 to move something, they can tell you that they billed it at $800 and you get your percentage from the 800. There is no oversite... That is one of the big problems in this industry.
The second reason is Forced Dispatch. I would never flatbed under those circumstances. You can get some very dangerous freight out there, and you have no say in whether or not you take the load. Just think of the crazy things you can get, and without the years of experience in securing strange loads you're at risk. These are dangerous days we live in, and that is nothing to mess around with.
What part of PA are you from?... Maybe I can help.
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Dale
New Member
Posts: 16
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Post by Dale on Nov 15, 2005 17:34:38 GMT -5
Thanks for your reply Arcflash. Yeah it does sound like it could get "hairy" hauling some freight and being "inexperienced such as myself. And I have "no" experience w/ flatbeds or securing at this point either. I am from Catawissa, PA. off of US Rt.11 and onto Rt. 42 (goes through town)and Rt.487 meets here at the light. Catawissa is "near" the Buckhorn Truckstop (Columbia Mall across the road) and Bloomsburg. You probably been to the Buckhorn Truckstop lots of times no doubt? If you know of any companies, I'd appreciate the heads-up. I have called many of the trucking companies around here..but they all require a number of months on the road or so many miles. This seems to be the stickler for me. I went to Schneider out of Carlisle, PA. but they did not graduate me/give me a CDL. I ran out of tries on my permit(OTR) and they failed me. I had to pay another trucking school to test me and grant me my Class A-CDL.
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Post by Arcflash on Nov 16, 2005 22:13:11 GMT -5
I run through there alot. I deliver to the Bloomburg Home Depot all the time. I am out there for the 4x4 jamboree every year too. I hauled bagged cement out of Paxinos, PA up to Syracuse a few times and came right through Catawissa on my way up there. I just loaded a little west of you in Milton, PA Tuesday morning. There is a trucking company there, by the same name (milton). They seem to have a lot of trucks and may be a self-insured carrier that will hire new drivers.
You're probably going to have to hire on with a big carrier at first. Most of the smaller places that offer a better work environment are stuck with a 2-year requirement by their insurance carrier. Unfortunately, that means forced dispatch, and that is no fun flatbedding. What you could do is go with a big carrier like Roehl for a while. You can get on their van fleet for like 18 months and then switch over to flatbeds during the summer, and get the securement and tarp experience you need.
It's rough at first, but if you get into an independant gig like mine trucking is much more tolerable.
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Post by dtrain on Nov 18, 2005 14:45:13 GMT -5
Dale; there are several companies in Pa that are hiring and looking for drivers. Schneider is one of them. I don't know where you are in Pa because it is a big state. Here are a few companies that you may want to check out that hire drivers with little to no experience: 1- Crete - terminal in Macungie, Pa 2- Swift- terminal in Jonestown, Pa - north of Harrisburg on I81 3- Werner - terminal in Allentown, Pa 4- Western Express - no terminal but hires out of Pa
You shouldn't have to wait long to hear from any company out there once you file your application. I filled out applications online and heard from companies within days. Go safely; see you on the big road!
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Post by skullitor on Nov 29, 2005 13:43:41 GMT -5
I would suggest Schneider or Werner
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Dale
New Member
Posts: 16
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Post by Dale on Nov 29, 2005 19:28:03 GMT -5
Hi guys. Thank you for your input Arcflash, dtrain, and Skullitor! I've been contacted by Werner and I'm in the process of getting ready to start next week w/ them if my DAC comes back all right tomorrow. They seem like a very good company and I love the the "paperless log" system and it's benefits, like it keeping track of your breaks and available driving hours, etc. automatically. Also that there is no real "trip planning" for the routes I'd be doing anyway. So I am told. Wish me luck guys.
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Dale
New Member
Posts: 16
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Post by Dale on Nov 30, 2005 13:51:19 GMT -5
Well, my DAC came back squeeky-clean! I'll be starting orientation (2.5 days) on Wednesday 12/5/05 with Werner. Then they'll send me on the road w/a trainer for a few weeks. I'm going to start a dedicated account driving mid-west/northeast routes. Although, I might opt to go south instead. I haven't been to all the southern states yet. I hope everything works out for me. Later.
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Post by dtrain on Dec 9, 2005 14:07:50 GMT -5
Dale; best to ya with Werner. They have their good and bad points just like most companies. I'll be going to Western Express in Tennessee. If you keep your nose clean you should do alright with Werner. Enjoy the ride. Go safely; see you on the big road!
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