Question:
Ok, I know you all have been asked before, but Im new (to the forum and trucking). Been going to school, at the end of the first week (4wk course) at a community college (Clark State in Ohio). Very good instuctor retired w/20 years on road experience, 30 years in the business. Needless to say he has a lot of good, real life advice.
My husband and I are wanting to drive teams, we are both in the class. Everyone says teams is the way to go. We are just unsure about a company to start with. We dont really want to be seperated for training for a long period of time.
Obviously Swift and Prime are not ones to go with . Any good advice is welcomed.
US Express was in today and didn't seem to be too bad.... Any good employment advice for new out of school drivers?

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xx

Answer:
Thanks for the reply. We are looking for something with a little more road time for now, but will still look into it.

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Not that you want to go with them, but my wife and I decided to go with Swift. The sole reason was because with Swift, I could go to 6 weeks (42 days exactly) of training first, and then they would allow me to be her trainer. We haven't gotten that far yet, but they told me that when I train her that she would NOT be on training pay. When we go out together and I train her we will be on regular team pay. Again, haven't gotten that far so I can't verify that through personal experience. Just to be on the safe side financially I am anticipating my pay at solo and her's at training pay, but it'll be nice if it is immediately team pay.
My wife didn't want to have to be on a truck with another man, which is why we chose Swift. The trucking companies will tell you they can probably get you a female trainer, but I'm here to tell you when it comes down to it they may tell you that the wife has to go with a man or not get a trainer at all. I'm sure several people on this board can verify this.
We figure we'll get our 6 months or up to 1 year of experience and then better options will open up for us.
Swift was the ONLY company that offered this type of training opportunity, that I know of (I've searched!). And I KNOW they will allow me to train her as it is in their company manual (as long as I pass my OTR training).
Want to know what the OTR training is like at Swift? Follow along with me on my blog on this board. I just started training, but I will do a day by day account of exactly how it is. My blog ID is: EastTXisGr8. Hope you enjoy it!
However, I do know a husband and wife team that went with USXpress. I think they started their OTR training about 2 weeks ago, each one with a seperate trainer. I'd be glad to get you in contact with them so you can ask them how they like USXpress. Email me privately and I'll ask them if I can give you their info.
Thanks,
Jon
Jon@usermail.com
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"All I want is a kind word, a soft bed, and unlimited power."

Answer:

WOW!
Six weeks and your going to be a trainer!!
I hope for the safety of everyone you are a very fast and good learner!
You did hear that winter is coming on right!
..and mountains, and shifting, and being stuck in very close quarters hours on end telling someone you presumably love and care for how to drive?
EastTXisGr8 said:
No, a company with a good reputation will not tell you this!
Granted, a female may have to wait a while longer until a female trainer becomes available! Just the same as if you are looking for one who smokes, or doesn't smoke, or never swears or whatever you need to have or else!

Answer:
Although this is off-topic for the subject, I'll address it quickly. I have had previous tractor experience about 10 years ago hauling heavy construction equipment. But since it was so long ago, I have to go through the 6 weeks training. I wouldn't train my wife if I didn't feel like I was capable of safely doing so. However, as far as anyone else is concerned about training their spouse, I'm not determining whether they should or not. I'm just relaying what Swift's policy is.
On the other side of that, my wife and I have a very special and close relationship. We have no problem being in close quarters together constantly or my giving her instruction. Not to say we wouldn't have a few spats now and then, but it certainly wouldn't be any worse than spats you have with any other co-driver. And the making-up is much better!
In regards to the getting a female trainer...well, we are talking large companies that hire newbie drivers. All I can say is I've talked to several different companies, and the recruiters told me yes, not problem, we are such a large company that there won't be any problem getting a female trainer immediately for your wife. But when we talked to the training department and said we didn't want to come to orientation until a female trainer was lined up and we could guarantee that my wife was going to be able to fairly immediately leave for training, then they backpedal and say, no, can't guarantee a female trainer, could take months and may have to just take a male trainer who has been through "sensitivity training". Also, couldn't guarantee a non-smoker, for me or my wife. I'm not saying there aren't companies out there that guarantee you get a female trainer, or get the type of trainer you want. All I'm saying is the recruiters will tell you what you want to hear, and the large companies hiring newbie drivers are saying something else when it comes time to go on the road with a trainer. So be prepared and hopefully you get a company that means what the recruiter says.
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"My two cents worth....and priced just right.

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Look up Old Dominion with Google. Most OTR teams run terminal to terminal and alot of miles. Good pay and last I heard they take new grads.