Question:
Hiya folks,
I have done a great deal of research on getting into the trucking profession. Grew up around it as well, father still drives for a small company in Maine (Maycomber). After two years of research and exploration it looks as though the time is now. I have had to give up my last job of 10 years climbing these big trees in the northwest as a contractor to the gov't. So after school I'm going to have a few companies to choose from. I have narrowed the playing field abit by reading all these endless forums. SO.... The question is what if anything does anyone know about these companies, Gordon or Sherman Brothers? Would you drive for them? Pro's and Con's and perhaps any other suggestions on who to check out. Im stuck here in Eugene Oregon and the little lady doesn't want to relocate.
Thanks,
Alt
Somedays peanuts, Somdays Shells!
shane harvey

Answer:
entirely different operations to choose from. Sherman Brothers is for sure closer to you. Flat beds only. Every load I see them under is heavy...period. Lots of long loads. Last I heard they run pretty hard so you'll need to pin them down on home time. Mostly west coast and sometimes western seven I think. They have curtain sides also but don't know if they're only for senior drivers. The other day I saw some kind of tanker with their name on it. They will start you in a COE. When I started I wouldn't drive one...now I am driving a COE. Not so bad..and the trade off is getting home every other night doing a dedicated.
Gordon is out of Wa. doing the I-5 corridor mostly. Don't know much on them but I have noticed they seem to have put quite a few old COE's in service. They are a van operation. Lots of three axle trailers. Last I checked their pay package it was the best I found out here on the left coast. The pay was better than Sherman Brothers at the time. Two years ago the were starting newbies in a slip seat mode after training. That was what kept me away. Maybe they do it different now.
There is also May Trucking up in Brooks right on the FWY....across from the Pilot....BOL
Character: Doin the right thing when nobody's lookin..JC Watts

Answer:
dang, company got ride of them awhile ago, and now no more flattops either. Gordon is good if you like I-5, heavy loads, and if you have patience. We run 2,3, and 4 axle equipment, including 4 axle tractors, have various fleets(been there a year and still finding out about some little dedicated fleets). Good pay, benefits suck, you may slip seat when you start, but the students i train have been getting right into a fairly new rig. Run 10 speeds, castraited engines, gov to 65 mph, run canada and usually no further east that colorado. lot's of oregon and california, as we haul alot of georgia pacific loads. Main commodity is paper products, and home time is usually every 2 weeks, longer if ya want. You run leagal or not at all, no pets, rider policy is garbage (seasonal and time length rest), no hard wired inverters, no linears, no extra chicken lights, oh yeah, qualcomm is disabled while truck is moving.....unless your team or a trainer. If ya got any more questions, email me. super_truckin_fool@hotmail.com
There are no stupid questions, only stupid people

Answer:
Sherman just up the road in (Harrison / Harrisburg ?)
Would seem the logical choice of the two..unless GTI has a terminal in your area that I don't know about...
Does Walsh Trucking operate out of Eugene / Springfield or no ?
Best of Luck
JB
Answer:
If I was going to flatbed for a Or. company I'd suggest Combined Transport. They haul alot of glass it seemed. And their drivers stay forever. (a good sign!)
How often do you want to be home is the next question.
So you ask the carriers that same one.
My old trainer works for May and they keep him happy. Gordon didnt and he lives within 5 minutes of their main terminal.
May gets him home and wanted his training ability. (He doesnt train anymore)
It all depends on your wants and needs. See who best addresses them.
NPE (nickel plated express) is also a decent company worth checking out.
Fred H. leases to them and is extremely happy and I never met a unhappy co. driver.
If you want to stay on the I-5 corridor I'd check with all the ones mentioned.
Don't worried about governed trucks out here. You don't want to speed in Wa, Or, and CA.
They'll make it hurt if you are caught!!!!
Knight stays west and trains but I havent heard much good about them.
Good Luck, TC
I loved flatbedding, hated reefer and dry van warehouse treatment, just so you know my point of view.

Answer:
I checked with Knight a couple of weeks ago.
It seems they have stopped taking students and are looking for 9 months OTR.
I was hoping to get in with them here in Phoenix.
thanks
bob1056

Answer:
Thanks for the info. Here's the deal I was thinking GTI because I've heard lots of positive remarks about them. I had been contemplating pulling a reefer for them because it would keep on the left coast and Canada and probably see the family abit scince I am right off of I-5. The terminal is about 3 hours north of me which isnt a big deal i used to commute 200 miles one way just to climb trees for the fools with the forest service. Plus GTI'S payscale isnt so bad for a newbie driver. Sherman looks good but im not sure of the skateboard thing. I dont mind the hard work with tarping and all (actually prefer the hard work), but will I get a well rounded experience that will alow me a job elsewhere in the future. Basically I just dont want to limit my marketability for the future. The bad thing with serman is the pay after a year only goes up half a cent. They did say that i would be out 6 home 3! I will take that with a grain of salt. Believe half of what u hear and all of what u see and experience!!!!! Walsh, Yeppers they are right near here in Springfield. I dont know what they need for experience but I am gonna find out. NPE, Well lets just say they will be seriously considered once I have the experience they require.
Alt

Answer:
OH yeah nearly forgot, Combined Transport is about 4 hours south and I dont know much about them. Besides they pull skateboards and glass.
Alt

Answer:
Start in skateboarding. The box companies will take you if you change your mind. But its harder the other way around. That was my experience anyway. The good flatbed companies want FB experience.
You can believe you will get by the house alot with Sherman. They will take care of a fellow Oregonian from what I saw. That wouldnt be a bad place to start either.
Best of Luck with whatever you decide

Answer:
Thanks for the info Skiff! Looking more and more like skateboards everyday.
Somedays peanuts, Somedays Shells!!!
Alt