I got a serious question for all of you people on this forum.

Well it sure isn't up to the CDL mills that have sent so many misfits that got rejected .
If I know a company that needs a driver I know what their qualifications are and who fits them . If only qualified applicants are referred it eliminates wasted time checking applications .

 

I drive for a small company that doesn't hire outside of a 40-50 miles radius of where I live (which is the same town their office is located). If I saw someone that lived in my area asking for help finding a job and there was an opening at my company, I would happily give that person any info they needed.

Another thing is that my job is specialized. I haul bulk materials in either pneumatic tanks or hopper bottoms. Some folks act as though they don't want to do anything but pull a van (be it reefer or dry). I knew from the beginning of my career that pulling a van wasn't what I wanted to do throughout my time as a driver.

 

You bring up a great point here - the better jobs and companies are always at least somewhat specialized. Some people don't want the added responsibility and that's fine, but newer drivers that would like to make a nice career out of trucking might be able to gain something from this.

I always hear I don't wanna pull hazmat, don't wanna unload myself, no doubles, don't wanna do 10 stops per day, and the list goes on. Seems a lot of people just want to hook a van in a yard and run 2000 miles - that's fine and there's nothing wrong with that but those companies are all hauling the same freight at the same low rates so consequently, there all gonna pay the same low wages.

Where I feel drivers bare some of the responsibility here is what they look at when considering a company. Obviously it starts with pay everywhere - but from there I feel drivers continually look at the wrong things. Sign on bonuses, truck speed, type of truck, drop and hook, all seem to be popular questions. To me, retirement plan, health insurance, longevity among drivers, companies financial position, and safety record are what you need to be looking at. I don't think FedEx Freight or WalMart boast about truck specs in a truck stop magazine - nor will they hire you without ever meeting you.

I see some LTL and tanker/bulk drivers indicated they have good jobs. All of those have a good deal of ancillary work and responsibility outside of just driving. With that work and responsibility comes the pay and benefits - with the pay and benefits comes the drivers that stay at a company for 20 years.

 

Then it wouldn't have been deregulation, just new/different regulation.
When the government starts setting prices, they will start setting wages and controlling the total economy. Wait a minute, they are already doing that. Didn't they try that in Russian a few decades ago??

 

I disagree, but not completely. For example, the company I am with right now is "specialized" in flatbed only and can't seem to turn a dime. OTOH, another small company I know does NOT limit itself and therefore can haul pretty much whatever it wants at a moments notice. Thus if one sector goes south they can smoothly transition to another.

 

His point was strictly otr dry van doesnt pay. and it don't. Those universal companies like your talking about are kind of neat, I hauled for one a few years ago, they had a little bit of everything. They had different drivers specialize in different trailers though so it didn't really help the driver, the company as a whole was very versatile and did good though.

 

One of the reason I don't say who I drive for is for my own safety. I want a some anonimity. I don't want someone who had a beef with somthing I posted start something with me at a truck stop.

That is also why I don't post exactly where I am or where I am heading.

I am all about helping other newbies, but I also feel that if they need to be spoon fed than perhaps this isn't the industry for them.

I took the advise I got here and did my own leg work. I found a private school to go to, I avoided the big carriers, I looked online for smaller companies in my area, I went in and applied until I got hired on to one.

It never occured to me that it was anybody elses responsibility but my own, to do the leg work. On the road you have to be able to think for yourself and figure some things out on your own. Perhaps, doing a littlle research and finding good companies to apply to is good training for the independance you will need on the road.

 

Well said. You're gonna do just fine at this.

 

I agree with Scarecrow. I did OTR for 4 mos and was hating it. I worked for big blue and even though it was a start I and they gave me a job I still didnt think it was a life for me. Now I do bottom hopper in a day cab and able to sleep in my own bed. I also enjoy the bottom hopper work as well. Lets me get out of the truck and stretch the muscles.