Headed to Martin Transport

Ok, after numerous attempts at landing a local fuel hauling job I've come up empty handed. I have one guy at a local company who for the past two months has said "I have the job" but it's one delay after another. The last excuse was that the 3rd party verification company they use is holding them up. "There's an easy fix to that" I say, "fire their ###". He just laughed.

Well, I'm done waiting and have decided that I'll head back out OTR. I have 33 months experience and a lot of these companies want 3 years for their insurance. Three years doesn't mean 35 months, or 33 for that matter.

So, I got an offer from Martin Transport out of Kilgore, TX. It's a tanker outfit so not only can I get more and recent experience but also tanker experience, all in one whack. It'll be two - three weeks out with flexible home time. I'm told (taken with a grain of salt) that average pay is over $1k/week. We shall see but even if it's $800 it'll be better than what I've been making.

I did the road test today. No problems. They run 10 speeds and most of the driving will be between Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. I could find myself up around Wisconsin and over to Pennsylvania from time to time and all points within that box.

They do pay loading pay after the first hour. They offer 401k matching funds but I can't remember the amount right now.

There is a one day orientation and that's on Monday. My drug screen should be back on Tuesday and then they'll get me out to TX to get a truck and start training. I'll either grab a ride with another driver, or they'll rent me a car or give me a plane ticket. No greyhound. Whew!

So, I'll post updates when I can. If, by some miracle, I get the call from the local guy then this post will just be typing practice I guess. I'm not holding my breath though.

 

Got a call this morning. Looks like there'll be a truck in the area next week so I will probalby hitch a ride out to TX.

 

Had orientation today. Mainly watched videos and had some of the dreaded paperwork. I actually had to sign a receipt for the three little books that are supposed to be kept in your truck - Hazardous Materials, Safety Regulations, & Emergency Response Guidebook.

Being a tanker company, they are very safety minded. At some point I'll need to take a physical & resperator training. Reminds me of my days in the Navy on subs.

I'm told that the majority of the time I'll be driving through SE states along I-10 but can find myself anywhere and often times I can spend a lot of time running loads for one shipper and basically staying local, but not local to my home.

Looks like I'll be catching a ride around Thursday out to TX to pick up a truck and start training.

Will update more as I get more info.

 

Thanks for the replies gang. Thanks too chalupa for the heads up on the pay and about the safety concerns. I too am very safety conscious so it'll be a good fit I'm thinking. This ain't 40,000 lbs of Wheaties that we're talking about here.

As it turns out, I won't be headed out this week. They don't have a driver in the area for me to hitch a ride with and evidently there's some weather happening over towards Texas so It'll be Monday or Tuesday and if by then the local terminal manager doesn't have a driver available he'll be flying me out.

Will update more as I get more to update.

 

Got a call from the terminal manager today. I have a flight scheduled from Tampa - Houston on Tuesday morning then a short hop over to Corpis Christi. Someone should be there to pick me up and off to find a truck I guess. Maybe hotel. No idea at this point. Another weekend of freedom!