is this a good company?

I work for a company, i will refer to them as company B. I came off the road in january with 8 mo experience. I applied to company B after seeing a job posting on craigslist. The first interveiw the guy didnt seem to sure about me. But i told him id work for $12. If need be, its better than what i was making otr. Now the man calls me back for drive test, i did ok turning but his trucks are ridiculously old, so i was grind alot when trying down shift. Neverthe less he hired me at $14 then after some time with one of his retired drivers, they moved me to $16 hr. I was told that after 6 mo i would get an evaluation and get paid what other drivers are paid. now dont get me wrong but $16 is better than the .17cpm i was making otr. However, im a little upset with Company B, ive been with them since late january, its now sept. I got my twic, very clean license, thank God, but after my evaluation, i was told i dont do enough loads like the other drivers for a raise. I said ok, how many loads do the other drivers do. The dispatcher, who is the one giving me the eval. Said its npt about the loads but about revenue. I asked another driver how many loads he does, ( on the side) and he said apx 3. We dont unload the trailers and our stops are spread out so it takes some time because we have to also go back to warehouse to get another load and make a delivery. Company B has a good turn out rate, it rarely loses driver and keeps them for years. However, the trucks are old and tires, the trailers are falling apart. I got blamed for damage on trailers before, that i didnt do. Our hours are roughly 5a- to no later than 6 p with no weekends. Ive learned being here, but i feel like im being taken advantage of and that maybe i can find better with my 1.5 yr exp. (1 1/2). Now 2 other drivers told me, " i dont know how you got this job but this is a great company to be with and many drivers with more exp are trying to apply" the boss said he hired me to train me how he wants things done. He is a former trucker and owner of company. My uncle who also is a driver but for US Foods, said he probally hired me because of cheap labor. We dont do nyc, i dont mind doing it though. So im wondering, what makes this company so good? Am i being taken advantage of? Should i quit? Or should i stick it out for the long run ? I dont know what to do and i dont want to make a mistake i will later regret. also, our company is located in a not so good city, so i go in there to unlock the gates, while my wife watches my back. My boss a gaurd there, but he is a former addict, and just as shady as people around the city. He has locked me in the yard a few times, and even leaves early while im still there by myself. ( im not by myself there any more thanks to my wife sticking around till ileave. I told the boss and nothing gets done. So thats the story and those are my questions. Any advice is appreciated. Thanks.

 

No im local now, but when i was otr i was going nights without eating and ####. But i paid my dues I guess.

 

I guess I shouldnt complain about my job, i mean with on 1.5 yr exp i cant expect to get $25 an hour right now. But i have my doubts that i will make decent pay later on with this company. A box truck driver here in nj, makes apx $16 hr. Also im off weekends, holidays with pay, there are benefits, like 401k, health, dental, etc. The equiptment is ugh! So i think thats where my biggest complaint comes in. Like my truck has a bent 5th wheelplate causing the trailer to not sit on the truck equally, theres daylight between the plate, and the shifter and 5th wheel both have play in it, because the truck is old. Maybe im just complaining about little #### too much. Someone give me a reality check. I knpw the grass isnt greener on the other side but do I really know it? I guess i just dont feel safe with this company, im not a fast driver, but with their equiptment, a few times the truck trailer pulled me to shoulder ( bad king pin in the front axle ), the trailer almost rolled over on empty ( day light under 5 th wheel ) , and with winter coming.. im like really? Im the driver who does 5-10 mi under the speed limit already, can i trust this company to help me keep my record clean? I tell them about it and nothing gets done.

 

Yea i hear ya, thats why i posted this. After i posted the threads, i realized the company does offer alot, its the equiptment is shabby. But maybe thats everywhere. I cant however say im not driving today, because i will get fired. Right now im driving a 99' volvo our spare truck is 91' volvo white gmc.