Driving after leaving a mega....did it get better or worse?

In A lot of industries they want people with no experience, that way they can train them to do the job like they want it done. They don’t have bad habits to overcome. Of course that’s not exactly the model of most mega companies.

 

It isn't just the mega's.

Bad habits abound when people are starting out in trucking.
Just look at how 4-wheelies drive all day... every day.
Weaving in and out of traffic, tailgating, cutting people off, running stop signs and red lights.
Speeding, especially through construction zones.

Oh, wait!
Truckers do that all day, every day too!

Many people do not like a mega company, like Swift, simply because they hold you to a higher standard of driving.
Follow too close for too long and you get a hit on your safety points.
Roll through a stop sign without coming to a complete stop, more points.
Speeding? The camera can read speed limit signs so... more points.

You want to be a professional driver?
Then work for a mega like Swift for 10 years without getting fired for unsafe driving practices.

Any company that puts up with, or forces, drivers to drive like that is unprofessional in my opinion.
Any driver that drives like that is unprofessional, in my opinion.

 

Congratulations you found your home.

 

Mega will cater to premium drivers and tolerate mediocre drivers
I been with a mega 25 years. Got pushed to top of seniority list in12 months to a dedicated.
Show up,,,run 8 hour line haul and done.
Truck breaks down,,not my problem. Fuel at yard, never have to go to truck stops. Maintenance is little more than filling out a cry sheet. Pretty sure all megas have their share of drivers they abuse but only if the driver doesnt push back.

 

In my experience it was allot better. yes big company work loads can be easier but when you get like by swift a bad team of dispatchers your out of luck.
I had to redo my Cdl due to COVID and swift was the only option after driving for 34 years
While driving as team no problems but the day I got in my truck I got a team of Dispats that where babysitters
Don’t drive when it’s raining
Don’t drive in snow
Yes you can take that overloaded trailer nope I don’t need a overweight ticket
Trucks may be better maintained but every time I passed a overpass I came to a complete stop with traffic backing up behind me because the overweight warning didn’t warn me but put me to a complete stop
In the 4 months I was there I got trucks I wouldn’t call trucks. After complaining about warning lights def system and regen they gave me one that on the first load had to be towed from the gate to shop because of headcasget blowing
Third truck didn’t regenerate and had to be towed to Denver where I had to Waite two weeks to get a loaner to Texas where I got my stuff out of truck and walked of.
Working for a company now where pay is great when I call it is how are you Ben and run 10 10 whole week.
Ok truck is older but safe and no side line warnings no higher warning speed is legal and maintenance is a call away and I am in shop when needed (when I get at home terminal I get in and out same day no appointments needed)
Big company is all fine and dandy when starting out first but remember how many people work in office you get to deal with all of them

 

Closest i ever worked for a mega was Roehl, they act like a mega but aren't near as big. Been there, and NFI . I then bought my first truck through a company lease purchase and never looked back. I will never be a company driver again.

 

You do not work for a mega, you work for an LTL company. Totally different.

 

I subscribe to this. People talk about the bigger companies, but they do things right, and show more reliability when it comes to the check.

 

I guess its subjective which is better. At the end of the day, trucking is all about what you put into it, and it don't matter who you work for or how big the company is. You do your job properly, you'll make a living. After all, that is the main purpose.