The Best Company I Have Ever Drove For!

Hello everyone,,
I just want to start a thread for the best company I have ever worked for, thus far. The owners of a small trucking company, of 5 trucks, that pull reefer trailers and 1 step-deck. I have spoken to two of the drivers that are contracted with this company, who have stated; "The only way I will leave this company is if they close their doors or I die". I have never heard that in this industry thus far so, I decided to hire on with this carrier. The owners, husband and wife, drove halfway to meet me, and pick me up to take me to their office for orientation. Arrived there Sunday night to put my belongings in my assigned truck, a 2012 Freightliner Coronado with a 13 speed transmission. It is a mid-roof but man, the best truck I have ever drove!

When my wife and I met them, we met them at Sonny's BBQ and it has been a while since I ate there. They are nice folks, country like us and we had a good lunch. I said good-bye to my wife and we were on our way back to their headquarters. Boy, what a surprise there, they live out in Gods Country, of VA Beautiful 100 acre spread, a farm and all. Was neat to find out that their office is, of all places, in their home. Talk about a family feel! They fed me, offered me a bed to sleep in for the night but, I chose to sleep in my newly assigned truck. Had a long talk with the wife and husband, great people.

Woke up the next morning, ready to do my orientation and get on the road. Was fixed a great breakfast of eggs and bacon and some great coffee. Oh yeah, the dinner the night before was delicious, half pound burgers done a way that I had never seen before, now looking forward to telling the wife...lol Anyway, orientation took about 4 hours and I spent a couple hours going over the truck.

Left out early evening today and headed to Greensboro, NC to the Freightliner dealer to get a few things done, nothing major at all. Made it to the dealer and in line for the morning. I pray they get me in quick and out even quicker. I will than be heading to Charlotte, NC to pickup a load going to 4 stops and than a final. Three in NY and two in ME. Haven't been that far east in a while so, looking forward to it.

I don't want to give out the carrier name just yet, only my first load and driving for this carrier is much different than any carrier I have ever drove for. They treat you like family, by the equipment they have, the hospitality they provide and the open door policy that is far superior to any I have ever heard of.

I will update this thread every now and than but just remember, there are good people out there....

 

Well, it took until yesterday to get the 1st load completed but, it is done and I drove 95miles to pick up 2nd load. Now doing a 34 before deliver Monday morning. Got a PM done on the truck and had the brakes looked at on the trailer, just wasn't stopping like it should and the pads looked like it might be time for new ones. Sure enough, new shoes and drums was needed. I hated having to call the owner and tell them they needed to fork over $1500 to pay for a pm, new brake pads and new brake drums but, it had to be done. You know what the owner says, "I hope you can get enough sleep tonight, so your not tired while delivering your load". Wow! They cared more about my well being than forking out $1500.00

I figured I would get my 1st pay check in two weeks, like always right? Nope, they say, after looking at me like I am retarded, that I will get my 1st pay check this Friday...lol Got to be kidding me. Anyway, they call me up Thursday and ask if I need an advance because the person that does payroll is sick. I say no worries, just pay me next Friday.... I haven't even trans-flowed the 1st load in yet..lol They are like,,,"are you sure, we don't want you without money"...lol

I can't say if I am going to make 3000 miles a week yet but, everything else is fricken gravy and I love this truck. These people are not your normal business owners and I pray that they succeed in this industry, I sure am going to do anything I can to make sure they do.

 

Okay, looks like we will put it here too so... For all to read, here it goes.
I did not know they didn't pay for deadhead miles but, I do now, thanks boogie1985


Since boogie1985 let me know this, I have had a talk with the owners/boss's about it. They confirmed that they do not pay DH miles, unless they get paid for them. I told them I have a problem with that! I have never worked for a company that didn't pay the driver all miles. After talking about it, we came to a deal and now I feel better about it. I am actually starting out making more money than I was originally told and will make more, in 90 days or less. I do not get benefits of any kind, unless you consider a 2012 Glider with an APU (TK) a benefit...lol I can pretty much fuel where I want, as long as it is in the network NASTC and I am not force routed. I can make decisions on the truck that most company drivers can not and I am working on the longest test ride of a truck that I may buy in the future..

I get a rate sheet on every load so, I know what they are getting paid, for how many miles and how many DH miles they aren't getting paid for, me as well. I have not ran over 100 miles DH yet, only 3 loads so far. I just received the next two loads and one is 5 miles DH and the other is 35 miles DH, not bad at all. I look at it this way; I want to own my own truck in the near future, have for a long time. I want to be an O/O very soon and have for a long time. AS an O/O you will not get paid for DH miles, Medical Benefits and all the other costs that are associated with being an O/O You figure all of that into your break-even number, plus driver pay and accesorial pay. Sorry all, can't figure out how to spell it...lol As an O/O, when you book a load, you have to account for the DH miles, add them to the Line Haul miles and that is your true mileage pay. So, the way I look at it is, I am learning to deal with what I will have to deal with, when I become an O/O. So, for me, it will be easier to deal with, when I do become an O/O.

The other day, when I had new drums and brakes put on the trailer. I offered to send pictures of the drums, I was told I didn't need to, they trust me. That is what I was told, how many company drivers can say they have been told that? If you have this type of relationship with the carrier you drive for, don't you think it is worth keeping, even if you have to give up something else that you wouldn't if you were with a different carrier? I do... I like being treated like a person, not lumped into the same kettle with all the other drivers out there. Sheep, numbers and robots is all the big carriers look at you as.

I have only been here a week now so, I can not say all is fabulous but, I hope to in time. I plan on staying out till mid feb, I will know more than.