Hi

My short trek in the trucking industry ended in 1 year, realizing most companies work the same way and look for illegal drivers to do local intra-state deliveries cheap and without argument.
Although the problems I may list here may encompass more companies than these two, I thought you should know about them. Both companies hire pimple faced, peepsqueek teenagers for driver managers and give them the power to run your life. USX manager expected me to be on my cellphone at any given time he needs me, several times a day, cause their "tracking" device does not work. I was on a farm road, one lane two ways, no shoulder, deep ditch when the wuss wants me to stop and call. I did not, so by the time I get to pickup, the a-hole canceled it. Windows XP based computer, bait and switch pre-plans, computer forgery, unreliable messaging system.
JBH expects drivers to sit on load/unload 4 hrs. before getting paid. Also they do not give you a detailed pay sheet, you need to find it yourself to see what reimbursements they are not giving you this time. Truck electric system is 5amp. fused so even your laptop cannot recharge, do not allow converters.
Both or maybe all companies expect you to sit on the merchandise over the weekend, even though you could deliver early. Why ? More room for the manufacturer, while the retailer cannot sell the stuff, solution - driver morons.
Everyone says JBH is terminating the OTR and will ship all by Freight Train much like Schneider. I hope they all jump on it and choke when the Union cannot make the pickups and deliveries at all.
The reject managers of the bigger companies, a-holes with attitude and dude looks like a lady, end up at USX and JBH, pay looks good, miles under 1500/wk..
Getting manager's permission for scale reimbursement ??? That is ridiculous.
They are doing the opposite of what's needed to save time and money on deliveries. Now they want to kill all drivers with the idling laws in every state ?
Idiots !!! We need to kill some rich people in an orderly and seasonal fashion so they pay attention. Dumb and obnoxious leadership does not equal profit.
Just like tuning down the trucks wastes more fuel.

I like the idea of having managers paid a percentage of what the driver makes,
that way they'd give a damn and no more "planners", let's kill those, managers are planners otherwise you cannot be a manager, so everything matters.

Laters,
A.S.

Your post is an example of a common problem in the industry . Newbies take their experience and leave thinking "all companies are the same " . This results in far too many inexperienced drivers behind the wheel . All companies aren't like that . You have to start somewhere and get the experience the good companies require . Drivers that put up with some abuse getting started can work their way up to a company that doesn't require you to violate HOS , pays detention time , etc .

No IFs Butts or Doubts about it !

Just because you have to be a trucker and you worked hard to stay in the industry and finally after years of searching you found your corner niche company you make ends meet by, does not mean it satisfies someone else OR that the industry is allright. IT IS NOT.

They churn out driver mills for one reason, low pay and no complaints, the meaning being you don't hire anymore experienced drivers. Just buy the cheapest trucks and pay the rookies minimum wage. They are exploitation factories, period. BTW Swift has DOT in their back pocket so don't even try,
that's how much money they save.

YES all those small companies who claim are better, enabled companies like SWIFT to get bigger and swallow their workload by NOT HIRING GOOD DRIVERS EARLY. After six months I knew enough to do the job well with no incidents. You want to hire and KEEP smart drivers NOT the ones that take three years to - DUH DON'T HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF YOU !
As for Masters of the Wheel, well you don't hire those for startup pay and everyone has their own time to develop such skills.
If You don't make the opportunity, don't expect results.

Laters,
A.S.

Give useful advice, A.S., on how to find those gems called 'fair companies.'

Been driving for many years and yet to find one which stayed in business.

I guess the best way to do this, if you say there are no fair companies, I know I didn't search nearly as some of you people, is to buy your own truck and be an independent.
By that I mean buy a good used truck that you can pay entirely or quickly in one year.
Then hire yourself as an O/O only to those companies that subsidize the fuel, that way you can make it on lower pay. Do NOT sign contracts with one company exclusively, that way you can move around with where the freight does. So you can always get something going.
This is what my brain is telling me, any objective O/Os care to tell me if it's doable ?
I'm nowhere near $40K to buy a good used rig.