OK, name the good things about Knight.

Uhuh. Right. And just how friggin far "WEST" are you? Sorry, but when I was there, I worked out of Denver. Now that isn't very far west, I'll admit. But I have friends who worked out of SLC and Vegas. They were of the same opinion as most of us here, and that is that KNIGHT SUCKS.

Maybe not as bad as some companies. But any time you have to fight to get paid what is owed you, any time the company insists that you work for free. . .

Ahhhhh what's the use. . .

 

It took me two months too get my referral money for a guy I "recruited"

Truck was on the shop for a PM, shop guy asks me if I would take the parts pickup to Peterbilt to grab some stuff. Sure said he'd pay me 10 bucks an hour. Got back three hours later. 5 weeks later I got 10 bucks.

Had too ask multiple times for my extra stop pay.

Multi stop loads...they just shorten the paid mileage. It all evens out.

and yet there's still people that passionately defend this pathetic charred waste of a driver mill. Suck em in chew em up and spit em out. Too their defense I've never heard a single instance of a driver getting dinged on their DAC by Knight.

 

I know this is a loaded question so I will duck after typing this to avoid flying objects.

I have read 90% of this thread and have seen someone from every walk of employee (happy, ok, unhappy, former). I understand that in trucking there are some people that are just never happy and a big part of making money is being a QUALITY employee. I saw a lot of people complaining about not getting miles but admitting in the same post that they turn down loads. Of course your not getting miles when you wont drive the ones your offered.

I also see that the west coast seems to be happier then the east.

All that said. I have been out of a truck for a touch over 3 years with 4 years OTR before that. Knight's site says I need 1 year on the last 5. I got that and am having trouble getting my foot back in the truckin door. The Fairview OR terminal is the closest to me is their anyone that can tell me what those drivers are saying?

I understand I need to re-cut my teeth in the industry and am willing to do that.

BTW: I would prefer running solo and I don't care about home time or where they send me as long as I'm rollin.
Also my exp is with dry vans but would like to get some time with refers in the future to add another tool to my belt. Is it possible to cross train after awhile?
Any advice?

 

The Portland yard was garbage but I understand they changed up a few people. I see Fairview drivers all the time. That yard is hard to peg, like you said drivers complaining of no miles yet turn downs loads, that is the fairview yard. I believe they have one good DM, the rest as I understand it not so good.

 

The problem with Knight isn't "lazy drivers turning down loads" You'll get a nice 1000 mile run on Monday, have till Thursday to deliver it and then have to do a local load for free before getting a load out on Friday. Try 470 miles over the weekend. Yet theres still people that don't get it and blame the driver. You can do a whole lot better than Knight. If I understand correctly...Knights the only one willing to give you a chance? See there ya go. The cycle continues.

 

I have not talked to them yet but I cant get my foot in the door anywhere else. I'm getting frustrated as hell with trying to find a job. I have been at this going on 3 months now and I'm not getting anywhere.

There is nothing local where I'm at. In my rural county there is not 1 OTR company and the local jobs might start out in the $11-12 per hour and in winter your laid off most of the time (big propane tankers start at $14, no thanks). Most places wont even look at my app when they see where I am even though I would relocate for a job as all my address really is is a mail drop anyway.

I'm just frustrated.

 

Wherever there's a driver living off the beaten path and more than willing to work extra hard for them there's Knight counting the ways they can take what little remains of their dignity. Knights no different than a pack of rabid dogs cautiuosly circling around a wounded unpredictable dieing animal. But yet there's always going to be people defending them. Interesting to say the least.

 

There are no other companies that will even look at you? I know that pretty much 6 months off the road and you have 'forgotten how to drive'
What did you do your 3 years when you were off the road?
Is it worth it to take a refresher course to not end up at a company that may or may not pay/give miles etc?

 

The problem is where you live I'll agree. It's not even legal to drag a 53 foot trailer up the 101 to where you live. So right there you are limited to commuting to at least Tulare Ca. Your definatly in a difficult area for trucking.

 

I have not forgotten how to drive. I'm not going to debate it. Its just a fact. Considering HOS hasn't changed backing would be my only rusty spot. I still hold my CDL and HASMAT.

*EDIT* I didn't mean for that to sound rude. It just came out that way and I didn't realize it till it was pointed out later. I understand what you where saying and that wasn't directed at you I was speaking in general that I'm sure I still know what I'd be doing even if others may question me.

As far as my time off the road. I quite due to the company I was with telling me if I didn't break DOT regs I would be fired. I put in a 2 week and they had me spend that 2 week sitting in a TS BT then tried to tell me to leave the truck there (1200 miles away) and they would bill me for recovering it. I refused and they brought me back to the yard.

My plan was to get my parents house ready to sell and do some salmon fishing for 2 months then go back to work and just live off my savings. I didn't take a single day off the year before so I felt I was entitled to some 'me' time.

While off an old boss found out I was in town and needed me to straighten some problems out for her. I was rehired with the idea of working 6 months or so. About that time the economy crashed so I stayed put thinking at the time it was the best move as I had a guaranteed job. I'm still there but I need to move on, I can't stand this line of work any more that why I quite before.

I'm fine with a refresher course but their isn't one around here.
I'm fine with going with a trainer for awhile.
Right now I'm not getting any miles so anything would be a step up.
I make $10 per hour now so it wouldn't take much for me to be happy

I don't care I just want back in a truck with the end result to be running solo (after retraining if needed).

*edit* thanks for the info guys. I think I'll follow the majority and hope something else will come along. Although at this point I have exhausted all the carriers that are with in 500+ miles of me and nothing with in daily commuting distance is worth anything here.