They spec the equipment complately wrong, and then completely fail to do any but the minimum maintenance on it. They run nothing but outdated equipment, and provide the newer drivers with nothing but cast off junk. The maintenance shop crews are surly, and resent the truck repairs as intrusions on their break and TV time. Trucks are never washed unless the driver pays for it himself. Their trailers are old and look every day of their age.

The dispatchers are 9-5 office workers who have probably never seen a truck before, and have no understanding of a drivers needs or any conception of what his working day is like. They will do anything to keep a customer happy, regardless of the costs it incurs to the drivers.

The owner is only concerned with the bottom line, making a dollar on the backs of his drivers. He spends all his day running around playing corporate CEO, and has forgotten that he ever looked at a truck. He tends to think of the business as a place to stash his less than brilliant sons, rapidly moving them up into management positions

The shipping customers are all idiots, the recievers are all clowns, who believe that they have a God given right to delay a truck to meet their schedules.

This is the company I work for, and there is no doubt that all of these things are true. We are the worst company in the trucking business, and I know it's true. I've heard all of these things from other drivers, and they hould know, since most of them have been here for ten years or more.

Bottom line, take everything you read or hear about any company with a grain of salt. Check it out for yourself and then decide.

I'm not sure what motivated you to post this, but I feel a reply is necessary. Am I correct in assuming that you work for one of the often mentioned carriers that is viewed in a negative light, and you have some dissagreement with what is said?

I don't think you are being fair to a soul, when you offer a blanket statement that reports and testimonials that are offered, should be "taken with a grain of salt". People are free to digest what is written any way they desire. People are equally free to offer information that they feel necessary to inform others of their experiences.

Without question, one man's undesireable job can be another man's dream job. While I may like my job, and you may like yours, we may each feel that working for each other's carrier would not be desireable for ourselves. If there was nothing positive worth noting about a carrier, then they wouldn't be in business. I happen to think that there are some that shouldn't, but then that is my opinion.

I think it is important that people have tools at their hands to make informed decisions when selecting something as life affecting, as their job. When I entered this industry many years ago, I did not have the luxury of interacting with other people to learn about a company.

One of the many reasons why I am involved online as an advocate of sorts, is to save others from making some of the mistakes and pitfalls I experienced. This industry is rampant with dishonesty and misrepresentation of key aspects of the jobs that people consider taking, and it wastes time, money, and even lives. Do you have any idea how many marriages have been broken because of the job? Do you have a clue how a misinformed choice in this industry can cause you to lose everything you have worked for? Have you ever had an employer take a month's worth of your wages from you and laugh about it? I have.

Many people are shocked to learn that drivers of commercial vehicles, who work for Motor Carriers engaged in Interstate Commerce, are not afforded protection under the Federal Labor Standard Act. We are left to fend for ourselves, and this web site is but one of many tools that can be used to inform oneself about a prospective employer, and other aspects of the industry, so that they are not rushing in blind and naive, to be chewed up and spit out by unscrupulous players that exist out there.

This site is no different that the many others out there, except for the civil tone that exists, and maintained. We hear too much about the bad, and not enough about the good. That does tend to leave one wondering if there IS anything good about trucking. I'm here to tell you that there is. You just need to know how to find it.

I WANT to know what type of equipment I would be expected to operate, and how it is maintained. I WANT to know if there is an undertone of surliness displayed by the office and maintenance staffs of a carrier I am considering. I WANT to know what kind of baggage comes with the customers I will be serving. I WANT to know of the goal of the management staff will only be to make as much money as possible, with everything else being a secondary concern.

These are only a few of the very important issues that will determine the likelyhood that I will find the job satisfactory, or that I need to look somewhere else. Employers in the trucking industry have tools available to size YOU up, so what in the world could be wrong with our being able to do the same thing?

I've seen the worst and the best that this job can offer. I've made my share of mistakes, and so have many others. Had I had this opportunity many years ago, I might not have made some of those mistakes. Are you remotely aware of the way that newbies are abused and exploited in this industry? If this is allowed to continue in the manner that it is presently, then we all stand to lose. I assure you, as of this moment, there are people just THINKING of ways to promote the concept of economical slavery and involuntary servitude.

We are judged by our work records, and there is no sense in trying on a job, like you would try on a pair of pants. Making informed decisions and carefully making those selections, when they are necessary, only makes GOOD sense.

We cannot rely upon the advertising industry to portray the jobs offered in an honest light, when we read an advertisement. We cannot rely upon those who recruit employees to paint an honest picture of the jobs they offer. We cannot depend upon the government to assure that working conditions will be decent in this industry. They washed their hands of it in 1980.

We CAN rely upon each other to inform ourselves of the reality of things, and to help each other improve our own image. Doing so can only improve the lives of everyone affected.

I invite anyone that reads this to take the time to post their comments, be they good or bad about their employers be they past or present in the appropriate forums that this site offers. Even when there are conflicting opinions and/or information to sort through, it helps people to arrive at their own conclusions, and there is nothing wrong with that.

No, my point was a little bit tongue in cheek in that I read some people tell how horrible their carrier is, yet they stay there for quite a while. I am actually very happy with my company, and have few if any complaints, and the few I have get resolved. Just kind of pointing out that no matter what you read, take it for what it's worth and do some investigating for yourself.

Okay...I just didn't get that from your post. I read it differently, but agree with what you say. Everyone SHOULD do their own research, and make wise decisions. I do think that when people offer testimonials in a forum like this, they need to be considered for their content, and always keep in mind that no one is paying them for them, and they are more likely to be truthful than not, for that same reason.

THIS SOUNDS LIKE A COMPANY MY HUSBAND JUST LEFT. WHO ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT? MY BROTHER IN-LAW IS LOOKING FOR A NEW JOB AND I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE SURE HE DOES NOT GO HERE.

I AM DOING RESEARCH FOR HIM RIGHT NOW. HE WORKS A COMPANY THAT IS HAVING MONEY PROBLEMS AND ARE UNABLE TO PAY THEIR DRIVERS, AS MANY COMPANIES SEEM TO BE DOING RIGHT NOW.

THANK YOU PRESIDENT BUSH! WHAT JOBS ARE STILL HERE ARE NOT ABLE TO PAY THEIR EMPLOYEES. GIVE THEM A MIN. AND THEY WILL LEAVE THE US JUST TO STAY IN BUSINESS.

DO YOU RECOMEND ANY GOOD COMPANIES I CAN CHECK INTO FOR MY BROTHER IN-LAW.

THANKS FOR THE HELP AND GOOD LUCK, SOUNDS LIKE YOU NEED TO SWITHCH JOBS!

Now I am confused........Any reason we are blaming President Bush?

dougd is blaming the current administration for companies that have "outsourcing" jobs since before Reagan. The current economy going back for some time has been a "global" economy and the fault, in my opinion, is in the american people for not wantinting to take a "demeaning" job that pays less then what that person "thinks" that it should pay....

As well as buying products not produced in this country.

Wow! You just described my first company to a tee! Everything was on the button except for the drivers staying on with that company 10 or more years, that company's turnover rate was something like 80%. EIGHTY FRIGGIN PERCENT!!!! It surprised the hell out of me that it's one of the companies this website recommends to work for! Also, I will give them credit, they maintain their equipment very well, they can afford to, considering what they pay their drivers. My dispatcher did happen to be a relative of the owner too. Greg Knight was his name, and you described him perfectly in your post: No idea what it was like to drive a truck, didn't care about home time, didn't care that roads were going to be closing soon due to snow, lied to drivers to get them to take loads, would always ask for "favors" ( which stopped once I asked what time the clock was starting and kept bugging him about money I was owed once the JOB was done ). In all fairness to Greg, it wasn't just him pulling this crap, it's every dispatcher that works for this deceitful company.

I don't know what company you're talking about, but if anyone wants a description of what it would be like to work for Knight Transportation, minus the two exceptions I pointed out, take this man's description as Gospel! Preach on brother Burky!

They also want it cheap....