Age discrimination

Yes, they called them dollar trucks, because the down payment was a dollar.

 

Cabover freightliners. Truck for a buck!

 

Really stripped down too; no power steering and rough riding. The night and weekend dispatchers were totally useless; their answer to every question was,"Call your assigned daytime dispatcher." If you questioned that answer, they immediately cut off your fuel card. My trainer told me to always top off the fuel tanks before calling in at night or weekends.

When I quit, I had topped off the fuel tanks on a Friday night, then called in and asked for a $20.00 advance because I was broke. The night dispatcher said "Call your daytime dispatcher Monday" then hung up on me. I tried the fuel card, just to check, and sure enough, it was shut off. But, that full tank got me to the Chattanooga terminal where I handed them the keys. Monday morning I went to work hauling boats 48 states.

 

Roehl transport hires older drivers.

 

just a driver they called them dollar trucks, and you are correct the owners of midwest dist. were finally indicted for fraud by the state for the way there leased purchased program was run. and to answer the question a company might make you run with a trainer for a short time. lots of luck

 

How much were the flease payments back then?

 

drivertobroker not sure on the lease payments but the payments on my 71 petes. were $350.00 a month per truck

 

Companies hire younger people in many cases because it's cheaper to do so. Thus it's not so much age discrimination but cheaper labor. In the case of trucking though, the bean counters can't do it. There's no substitute for experience. My co I'm leased onto foolishly decided to ease the experience criteria and hire younger folks with less OTR experience. As a result they got what they deserved....a ton of rollovers.
I have no sympathy for these idiots and pseudo-high rolling suits that attempt to run a company. Driving a truck is a unique skill, especially OTR. It's done by the elite few who know that only experience and age will conquer over time.
We should be glad that for once we can trump those people who think its cute to hire young folks.
Good luck