Really BAD First Job Experience... Don't Want to Repeat... Suggestions?

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by Southeast Trucker Mike, Jun 14, 2014.

  1. Southeast Trucker Mike

    Southeast Trucker Mike Light Load Member

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    Jun 9, 2014
    North GA Mountains
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    Hi Truckers!

    I am a "newly-minted" driver and, probably unlike most others, am no "Spring chicken"... I'm 51. I didn't choose to earn a CDL-A out of desperation (again, like too many others!) but rather because I enjoy driving, am adventurous and don't mind at all being alone with my thoughts, listening to books on tape, and I enjoy the autonomy. I was trained by a certain "big" company in Iowa, where I discovered pretty quickly that MOST being recruited into the business are in their 20's or 30's and not too many have schooling beyond high school, if that. OK... so a bit of a generation gap (and culture gap, to be honest), but I'm a very respectful, polite, well-spoken and tolerant person so I figured I'd be able to "get along" with ANY co-driver. Well, after co-driving for 15 days in a so-called "Lead Driver" program and having been literally ABANDONED at truck stops not just once, but TWICE, I'm so disillusioned.

    Both lead drivers were alleged to be "experienced", and would teach me about the business, the vehicle, trip routing and planning and evaluate/improve my driving skills over a 4 week period. This was a TOTAL lie... both were under 30 years old, were "so-called" owner operators that got themselves into "lease-purchase" deals with the Company, had only about a year of driving "experience" and practically ZERO backing skills, and ended up acting like immature TYRANTS regarding THEIR "space"... me being what amounted to an uninvited guest. They "tried" to restrict my access to the Qualcomm, would NOT let me enter my own HOS log entries, not let me communicate with the fleet manager (who was, supposedly, my "direct supervisor"), were ALWAYS gabbing on the cell phones with their "homies", cranked the "rap-crap" music during my sleep time, and utterly and completely disregarded just about all Company policy and knowingly ran with SO many safety violations. They taught NOTHING, openly HATED the Company I worked for (claiming THEY didn't work for ANYBODY!), falsified my log, and ran with safety violations that CLEARLY would have failed me if I had been unfortunate enough to undergo a level 1 DOT inspection. After the second abandonment (for reporting to a "student liason" a broken driver inside door handle for six days running... only the passenger door opened from inside), I was again treated like "the problem" and told to travel 24+ hours to their terminal, BY BUS, for a trip that would have been 8.5 hours by rental car. They SO LIED about their attention to safety and policy enforcement... which they had DRILLED into my head during training!

    Now, after being back home for two weeks, I am on the brink of accepting a job with another HUGE trucking company that is VERY similar to the one that I just left, that lied so blatantly about their "great" treatment of employees and attention to safety. Their FMCSA record is nearly as bad, and comments on websites like this one are generally "negative". I so WISH that I knew somebody in the industry that could just interview me, and road test me to see my value. I've only driven about 2,800 miles in the past month (Cedar Rapids, IA - Cheyenne, WY, then Denver, CO - Portland, OR - Gaffney, SC - then 3/4 way to Laredo, TX), but I truly loved the driving/sleeper cab environment and I drove the majority of the time without distractions and VERY safely.

    Do any of you think there might be some OLDER, EXPERIENCED owner-operators that usually drive solo, but could USE somebody like me to assist with longer hauls, and to grab better paying loads? I would be a GREAT student for somebody that KNOWS the business, KNOWS the equipment and would enjoy teaching a co-driver that truly RESPECTS other people, as well as likes the job. I am supposed to attend "orientation" next Wednesday for this new company but, instead of looking forward to it I feel dread that it will be the same lousy situation with another immature, uneducated, rude KID all over again. Do I wait some more... or do I just simply suck it up and TRY to unhappily "pay my dues" for the next year?
     
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  3. pattyj

    pattyj Road Train Member

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    Jul 19, 2008
    Sioux City,ia
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    This company you speak of is CRST isn't it?
     
  4. Wooly Rhino

    Wooly Rhino Road Train Member

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    Jul 6, 2008
    Liberty, Missouri
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    What Company was your first one and where are you going now?

    We like names.
     
  5. Stormdriven

    Stormdriven Medium Load Member

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    Mar 11, 2014
    south, central, US.
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    Sorry your experience has been so bad.

    It's possible this next company will not be as bad.

    If your feeling confident about your skills. When you get to orientation See if you can identify & get a private moment with the safety director (or whoever is in charge of the Instructors/examiners who give the Up/grade road tests).
    Tell your story & ask for exactly what you suggested (all he can do say no or maybe yes).

    They need drivers. And, if your ready, and can test out ok. They may up-grade you.
     
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  6. rjones56

    rjones56 Heavy Load Member

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    Jul 15, 2008
    staunton va
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    You may try reaching out to owner/operators and smaller mom&pop operations in your home area. Other than that I`d say you`re going to have to suck it up. Glad I`m not starting out with todays trucking.
     
    blairandgretchen and Skydivedavec Thank this.
  7. harlycharly55

    harlycharly55 Medium Load Member

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    May 5, 2014
    Houston, TX
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    Sounds like you were with CRST or CR England! There are alot more companies that take fresh Grads w CDL A! Do a little research on this forum don't settle for another crappy company!
     
  8. pattyj

    pattyj Road Train Member

    22,474
    20,134
    Jul 19, 2008
    Sioux City,ia
    0
    Especailly if its as bad as his first one.
     
    Skydivedavec and blairandgretchen Thank this.
  9. kenszo47

    kenszo47 Light Load Member

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    May 21, 2012
    DELAND,FL
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    I cut my teeth with covenant. Its interesting. I had many teammates in six months. The monster is sleep deprivation. You see it all the time with your children and adults worse. You can't sleep in a truck that is bouncing down the road. Ya need to talk about the monster and take advantage of everytime you guys can shut down and sleep. I still monitor myself. Truck stops are not the best place to get a nights rest.
     
    blairandgretchen and Skydivedavec Thank this.
  10. Joews

    Joews Light Load Member

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    Jun 14, 2014
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    Yea, CRST is terrible but i truly believe it's what you make of it. That being said there are some boneheads out there so it is understandable that you want to quit the company.

    Now if you want a good gig and you want to get your endorsements while you have your down time i would definitely say you should hop on with an ltl carrier and run teams for them for a bit while your still in the i wanna see the country mode. Once you get sick of road life you can transfer to your local terminal and live a normal life.

    Try Dayton freight, old dominion, saia, estes, Pitt Ohio,abf, yrc, etc, or an ltl carrier in your region.

    All drops and hooks, constant freight, no bs just driving.

    Good luck
     
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  11. youngclarkh

    youngclarkh Light Load Member

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    Jun 14, 2014
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    I am even older than you (56) and after reading your experience I am having second thoughts about getting my CDL. What a nightmare you are going through.

    Seems like you would be fine on your own, without the juvenile trainers.
     
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