Trucking Companies -vs- Companies That Use Trucks

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by NSBGearjammer, Jan 3, 2012.

  1. NSBGearjammer

    NSBGearjammer Medium Load Member

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    I'm looking for experiences, pros, cons and considerations from folks who have worked for both trucking companies(contracted freight) and companies that use their own tractor-trailers to transport their own products or services. I'm also interested in hearing(or seeing pics) of some of the lesser known career options requiring a CDL A license.
     
    Last edited: Jan 3, 2012
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  3. chompi

    chompi Road Train Member

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    I've seen a bunch of ads on Craigslist here locally that have been looking for people with pick up trucks or box trucks to haul stuff. Check out the Daytona section and Orlando section.
     
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  4. NSBGearjammer

    NSBGearjammer Medium Load Member

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    Thanks Chomp, but not what I meant. I mean companies that operate tractor-trailers as a PART of their business(ex.- MRI/Health services, Carnivals, mobile displays, feed companies, large scale recyclers etc.).
    I start school at the end of the month and just want to hear comparisons and maybe learn about some unique driving gigs not usually considered "Mainstream". Know of anything like that in FL?
     
  5. mgfg

    mgfg Road Train Member

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    I all probability you will find a better job paying more money with better benefits working for a company that moves their own goods as opposed to a trucking company. Trucking is a penny profit business so there's nothing left to pay for extras. Manufacturers have trucks out of necessity to serve their customers and bring in raw materials. If you need proof all you need to do is compare pay packages. Would you sooner driver for WalMart or Swift, Schneider, Werner, Us Express, CRE or any of the other coolie carriers?
     
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  6. Gizmo_Man

    Gizmo_Man Road Train Member

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    From my past experiences, a company that has it's own fleet can at times not do proper repairs. If the budget is tight things get put off. I once worked for a company, that if my truck was down, and someone needed a radiator hose clamp? They cannibalized the broke down trucks. I also had my a/c fan belt removed because my truck was broke down, and another driver needed one, all the while mind you, a truck parts dealer was literally "over the fence".

    It costs huge amounts of money to have a staff of mechanics and a garage on the property, because now they need all kinds of insurance. So we will see less and less company owned trucks.


    The job I have now, we have Penske lease trucks. The customer we serve, they have Penske lease trucks as well. We are a group of drivers that deliver their freight at night, while thier employee's deliver during the day to their customers. We deliver to the warehouse for the day time people to take out.

    It makes business sense for a company not to have their own fleet. But carnivals? I would imagine from what I have seen, they own their own trucks. Makes sense there I guess, as a bunch of clowns are driving them.
     
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  7. Allow Me.

    Allow Me. Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

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    A manufacturer, for instance, might have their own fleet. I worked for a company that specialized in packaging products and had their own fleet that was maintained by penske. Also Coke/Pepsi/beer distributors have their own fleet for local deliveries as do cement companies.
     
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  8. MSheets

    MSheets Light Load Member

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    I have worked for trucking companies for 17 years. Now on my 18th year in September I went to work for Tyson Foods and they tell you up front their not a trucking company and they are correct. I still have the same problems I had before with shippers and receivers but the way I'm treated by the company is way better. One big difference is every Tyson plant has a Pastor on call 24 hours a day if we need to talk to someone. The trucks are maintained like no other company I have worked for. The pay is better than any other. And the biggest difference work is steady all year round. Working for a manufacturing company that has their own trucks in my case is better than working for a trucking company.
     
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  9. American-Trucker

    American-Trucker Road Train Member

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    I used to work for Cardinal Health, they (had) there own Trucks/Trailer and hauled all our own product (Cardinal Health in the biggest Medical Supply company in the world) to the hostpitals every day.

    But they got rid of their fleet because penski PROMISED they could do all the logistics for less.....they have come in OVER budget every month from when that happend in like 2007 until i left in sep 2010.....i have no reason to beleive they have changed since then.



    American Trucker
     
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  10. rogueunh

    rogueunh Road Train Member

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    My trucks haul my own product. Being in trucking to make money would be a pain, lol.

    Then again, I am the guy that many of you hate. I spend my time and energy producing a product, selling it, and trucking it there. However I will BACKHAUL from time to time to get the truck back to the plant! (Let the stoning begin.....)
     
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