Companies to avoid:

De Boer, Roehl, JBHunt, Schneider, Swift, Knight (ABSOLUTELY), Werner, CRST, Prime. I have recently removed Marten from this list, as it seems that they've been making a concerted effort to stop being "rotten paycheck transport" like the rest of these guys. I still wouldn't go back to work for them because of the sour taste they left in my mouth, and I'm pretty sure they wouldn't rehire me (despite eligibility) because of all the times I called them out during their R.P.T. days. But I have to give credit for effort. The others that are on this list... you'd be better off unemployed... and that's really saying something these days.

 

Back up my claim? Talk to some of their drivers! That's where I get my claim. EVERY Knight driver I've talked to is unhappy. It's like looking at a pie graph. Gather your data, then crunch the numbers. If there's a significant number of unhappy employees, you start asking why. The answers are always the same: Rotten paychecks, waffling and excuses for the lack of miles and home time, expensive benefits that don't cover anything, and overall poor general treatment. These are the same statistics I run into every time with a "bad" company. Believe me, I take the time to get a guy talking. When I can noodle out that some dough head caused his own grief, he loses credibility and I don't take him seriously. These companies I listed are companies that habitually screw their drivers in the name of profit. "Good" companies are ones that are profitable WITHOUT the guy owning it needing to behave like a predatory wallstreet plutocrat (RE: New world noble dictating from the ivory tower).

 

Maybe they're changing their ways. I haven't worked there myself, but I know three guys who did. All of them lost their cars, their homes, their wives. If you can't support and keep these simple things, what's the point of doing the bloody job?

 

Two that are still on the list, and Marten who seems to be coming back around to a 'decent' company. The others, I've simply gathered data on and know to avoid as an experienced driver. In fairness, Roehl is a GREAT starter company. You just need to get the hell out of there once you have a couple/three years in, because your miles WILL go in the toilet. You WILL find yourself begging for something to do. You WILL find yourself repowering loads for students who are out of hours because they're getting 575-650 miles a day, while you're averaging 300. The proof my friend, is in the pudding. Been there, done that, never going back, never going to company that follows the same business model.