Question:
JB Hunt. I did a mass online application last night. JB Hunt called me 1st thing this morning. I had looked at them before I hired with Givens and I was interested in them then, but I did not have the required experiance. Now I do.
Called my driving school instructor and he has agreed to help me next week with my backing. Westline says I can back but I do know, I need additional help in figuring out my setups. Which I hope to accomplish with the additional help from my instructor.
I am told I will not be going out with a trainer. I am hoping this is the kick in the pants I will need to get my confidence up and going. I am now glad I have so much to fall back on. I can and will do this. I am told that they stay out for 7-14 days. This will be a lot easier on me and the girls. My youngest had already told me that she can handle up to 2 weeks out. The company also has the benefits that I need now too.
So, I will have a bit over a week off and will be on the move again.

Answer:
Dont count your chickens before they hatch. JB will tell you that you are "hired", but in reality, your application is not even processed or begin to be processed until you show up for orientation. I dont know where you are going for orientation, probably up to East Brunswick, NJ, but men have gone there and after arriving, they have been told to go home.
If I had been you, I would probably gone with Givens. But different strokes for different folks.

Answer:
Thanks Nocount. I do know that attending orientation doesnt mean that I am all the way hired. I did work for Givens from Nov to Jan. I left them because I was put to local work with them ..and no hours. I can not afford to have no hours.
If things dont work here I will try again some place else. I will be attending orientation in Charlotte NC. They were going to NJ until she realized there was an opening at NC.

Answer:

Glad to hear this Bearbell good luck
You should also consider Schneider National, I ran with them for almost a year, and found them to be a good company.
Cheers

Answer:
Thanks W900L:) I had thought about them(Schneider) at first but for some reason decided not to go with them. Dont recall why now.
I hope I am not making a mistake by going with the 1st company to call. But I had looked at them before and had wanted to try them. I have gotten quick a few email responses to the application but noone that shouts at me to call or write back to.

Answer:
Forgive me but I was hoping this woman was finally off the raod for good. She is either very manipulative by playing "poor little me" or she is absolutely no driver that you want passing your family and children on the highway. She cannot back, shift, drive in adverse weather or anything else related to driving by her own admission. Sheesh!

Answer:

Sounds like the "average"OTR Driver today. Atleast "she" is
"man"enough to admit any short commings as a Newbie.
Answer:
Beanbag-I have been a professional driver for 12 years and have 11 years of safe driver awards. Only 11 years as they run a year behind in issuing the awards.
I have posted my short commings in driving a tractor trailer because I wanted input from others. Good and bad, it is all heard and thought about. I am finding driving a truck and trailer a huge challenge where as driving a school bus was easy and none challenging as far as the actual driving.
I decided before I responded to your post to read some of your previous posts. I see you are also a relative newbie. I sincerely hope the best for you out there. I do hope that you dont have to deal with the challenges that I have had. But I am sure the challenges I have faced will make me a better truck driver than I would have been without the challenges, in the long run.

Answer:
Rabelam-Thank you! I really appreciate the words. I had decided long ago when I started using the forum and received so much help that I would be honest in my thoughts. Sometimes it is very hard to admit that when you think something should be easier than it actually is, to admit that it is hard.
Also I can not accept others opinions unless I can be honest with my own about my learning.
I really am striving to be above average. I do hope I can accomplish that.
Again thanks alot.

Answer:
I realize that I have been down on them lately. But with your home time expectations, either national or regional would fit in well for you. National is 11-14 out with 3 home. A word of warning about this though. If you are lucky and end up with a good dispatcher, like I have now, then this will be the case. If you get some loser, like I have had in the past, then you will have to stand up for yourself to get your home time. They have bennies and a good pay plan. With their lanes, I doubt getting home would be a problem for you.

Answer:
Well, I grew up on a farm and have hauled about everything related to it since 1959. We didn't even know you needed a CDL...or is it CDLTW (Commercial Driving License To Whine).
Since you post your experience I go back to my first conclusion...playing "poor little me" and "yes but." Get a life!

Answer:
Buzzdog- I had talked to them when I, 1st graduated school and it was during the time that there was no orientation dates. I have thought a bit about calling them again. I may still call them. I do like the fact that JB has a terminal wihin 350 miles from me. Seems so many companies are no where near this area. Though many do run here. Which brings me to another point. I dont see Roehl around here much. But that doesnt mean they dont run here.
They were actually my first company of choice. Then I went with Givens only because I knew they have to bring me home to get me loaded to leave again. I may give the recruiter a call again today.
Thanks alot

Answer:
I have delivered to Virginia Beach twice. I wouldn't call that a lot, but being that I have been there twice I would imagine that we do have some pretty regular freight down there.
I would second buzzdogs sentiment about the hometime. The bennies suck for new drivers though. They don't kick in until you're off the training board for 90 days. They have clear guidlines for the first two phases, you're done with each in 20 days. But they have this grey area called Phase III. They put you out there on mileage pay and put you to work. You're doing the job but still considered a trainee, and this time does NOT count towards that 90 day probation period. To me that is a scam... I scanned in 4500, and 5000 miles my last two trips out; that's about 2800 dispatched miles a week. I'm getting a penny less and have no insurance, no 401K, etc. Good deal for Roehl, bad deal for me.

Answer:

HEY BS BAG, Bearbell didnt get much of a chance to do much driving after we found out that Immigration Canada would not let her drive my truck.
Everytime Bearbell took the wheel, there was improvement. EVERYTIME As for the manipulative part, I DONT THINK SO. SO GO F*** YOURSELF
Answer:
Gear Jammer- Shoot me an email if you get this way again. I will buy the coffee.
I thank you for the clarification on the training phases with Roehl. I am not real crazy about the 2nd phase training, where you and another newbie are driving together. I have been a "round trip" instructor for new bus drivers and I have always had problems with others driving with me being a passenger since that time. So I make a lousy passenger. I was hard sometimes for me to be with the trainers.
Thank you for the info on the benefits. I have been without health or dental insurance since 11-20-03. I hate not having insurance. I often wonder when the bomb will go off and I will need it. So you stay a trainee for longer than they say you do? That is enough to cause me to look elsewhere...well that and the lack of insurance with all the time as a trainee.
Thanks again and please email me next time your heading this way. I always like meeting folks I have chatted with on here.