I haven't been trucking very long (1 yr. in July), and really surprised I was able to land this job not too long ago. I have only been there for about 6 weeks, but so far it seems to be a great company. This is an employee owned company. We have 3 warehouses (Bedford Park, Allentown, and Atlanta) that drivers are based out of. The home office is located in Arlington Heights, IL. I am based out of the Bedford Park warehouse, and am the only OTR driver there. There are 4 local drivers there. Not sure how many drivers there are company wide, either.

Pros:
1) Home every Friday. Only once have I been home later than 2 PM on Friday afternoon, and then I got home about 6:30. Then I go back out early Monday.

2) Pay. I get paid .38/mile loaded, and .35 mt. Not too bad for someone who just started out less than a yr. ago. They start hourly pay at 15.50. After 3 months, I get a review, and if I have done a good job, then I get raised up to .39/.36. Between Bedford Park, and Allentown, the lowest paid driver still earned $58k last yr.

3) Miles. I get about 2600/wk.

4) Local runs. I am considered OTR, but if I unload 150 miles or less from the warehouse, then I am considered local, and get my hourly pay. It doesn't happen very often. Only when I get home on Thursday afternoon/night, and they need something delievered on Fri., then I do local runs.

5) Dock Pay. I get paid my hourly rate for bumping a dock (loading/unloading)...so if I bump the dock 7 times, then I get 108.50 extra.

6) Vacation. I actually get vacation time (known here as PTO-Paid Time Off). None of this "you can't be gone any longer than 4 days, or we give your truck to someone else" crap. PTO accrues from day 1, and I get 1.54 hrs/wk, which over the course of the yr. comes up to 80 hours, which is 2 wks. From yrs. 1-5, I get 3 weeks, and 5+ I get 4 weeks.

7) No preroutes. I get to choose which route I want to take. They don't give me a fuel route, either. I choose when and where I need to fuel.

No Qualcomm. They issue us a cell, and we call dispatch for our loads.

9) Trucks aren't governed. But I don't ususally go faster than 65, unless I need to pass someone. No more holding up the hammer lane traffic trying to pass someone doing a little less than me.

10) Dedicated Lanes. I know where I'm going to go. I usually go to Tenn, KY, Ohio, PA, or NJ. No where else.

11) Benefits. I have BC/BS, 401k (no company match), PTO, dental, vision, etc.

12) People. I love the people I work with. Everyone is friendly, and easy to get along with. I am not a truck number, driver code, or employee code here.

13) No Orientation. After I got hired, I spent 4 days with a local driver learning the paperwork.

Cons:

1) Jersey. I spend a lot of time loading/unloading in Jersey. I have gotten use to it, so it's not as bad as it used to be. Hard to get used to the Jug Handles, though.

2) Live loads/unloads. This can also be a Pro, since I always have a trailer, and never need to gpo looking for one. The only time I EVER live load is on a backhaul. The rest of the time trailer is preloaded. I ALWAYS live unload, which really isn't that bad since I mostly (90% of the time) am hauling paper (rolls, or skids).

3) Size of Company. This can be viewed as a Pro, also. But, with the cost of Fuel, and the threat of the Economy going downhill, I do worry if I'll be here next year.

4) Trip Reports. These really arent that bad. The worst part about them is you have put times down that you got loaded/unloaded. You also have to down the mileage from each state you drove in, and the toll miles. Other than that, it's more of a pain than anything else.

Sorry about the length of the post, just wanted to get the company I work for, out there a little bit. Just in case anyone asks, I'm not sure if they are hiring or not. I don't really ever see them advertise. I was hired because I put my app on a website, and the Fleet Mgr. gave me a call and told me about the opportunity.

Anyway, Thanks for reading, and hope you all stay safe out here.

The company says you need 1 year, how can did you get in without having one year?

Kinghunter

Yeah, I know the website says you need to have to have 1 yr. experience, but I think they have relaxed that rule, and go more on your background, and recent driving record (both comercial, and non-commercial).

I asked that same question to the local driver who trained me, and that's what he said, anyway.

Like I said earlier, I was surprised I landed this job without more experience.

Well I am very surprised and I think you got lucky. I hope all goes well and keep us updated. What equptment do you have?

Kinghunter

Thanks King. I am pretty sure I got lucky. Like I said, I put my resume on a website, and a couple of weeks later i got a call from the fleet mgr, and we went on from there.

Before this, i was working for Swift, and not making much. I was available, and not getting preplanned on any loads. I was bringing home $300 checks, and basically just not very happy with the whole thing. I was looking, but couldn't find anything I really thought would be better, but then I got this call, and jumped on it. I was skeptical at first, but not anymore.

Just hope the economy holds up, and if it doesn't then I hope I can still keep the job.