How long should i drive for my first company?

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by cdavis188, Sep 3, 2021.

  1. Tonka11-99

    Tonka11-99 Bobtail Member

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    If you are single, I would consider Fedex Ground Wild Teaming. It is OTR. You can stay out 4 weeks and go home for 5 days.
    They pay 76 cents per mile split. Meaning that the team gets 76 cpm and then they split it. It is a W2 job with insurance available.
    Teaming is difficult but if the you can do it. It pays better than almost any other trucking job.
    Here is the pay breakdown.
    5000 miles $1900 each 5000 miles/week is easy
    6000 miles $2280 each 6000 miles/week is fairly typical
    7000 miles $2660 each 7000 miles/week is what we get during peak season
     
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  3. streetglider

    streetglider Medium Load Member

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    the best two jobs you will ever have in your life is the one you just left and the one you going to
     
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  4. nmill

    nmill Light Load Member

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  5. nmill

    nmill Light Load Member

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    Uh what? They sent you to the gay part of Mexico (wherever that is lol)? I didn't know US companies went down there.
     
  6. Dockbumper

    Dockbumper Road Train Member

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    Best reply!
     
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  7. Lunatic Fringe

    Lunatic Fringe Medium Load Member

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    Some of the old-timers still call it, "California".
     
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  8. DRTDEVL

    DRTDEVL Road Train Member

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    A lot of the job-hopping advise is true, but today, small-midsize carriers have to look beyond the hopping and at the reason for the hopping.

    We just hired someone with nearly 20 jobs in the last few years. It was a female driver, and a lot of the time the reason would be "didn't like how I was treated" or "not a good fit" (common with females being mistreated by other drivers or dispatchers with a chip on their shoulder). She was hired on here and lasted 3 weeks... but she only left because her husband had a heart attack. She recently returned, and we're hoping it was the right decision to give her another chance. She seemed happy enough here, and happy enough to return, so we'll see. 10% of our drivers are female, and they are generally satisfied with the work environment here.

    The point of the story is that there are some cases where we ask the applicant why they had so many jobs, and a lot of the time they only went to orientation and left when they found out the recruiters lied to them, so it was pointless to stay. That counts as DOT-recordable employment, too!

    As for our company, we recently lowered the experience requirement to 9 months, but on the down low, if an applicant presents that has a perfectly clean record (no tickets, no accidents whether recordable or not) and 6 months' experience, we can try them out on a case-by-case basis.

    Old-school train of thought would be 1 year minimum, 2 if possible. Today? Get 6-9 months, then put your feelers out to see what's offered. Don't leave your job until everything is finalized at your new company. As mentioned before, don't listen to "you could make up to $XX,XXXX+," because that was what the top driver in the company made. Pay a little less attention to the cpm, because there are many different types of pay packages on top that drastically change the value of those cpm, whether it be cpm penalties for being caught by the tracking device going 1 mph over the company's maximum speed policy while descending a hill, etc. Look at the average driver pay, then ask how it was computed. For us, its literally "take the drivers that were employed for at least 10 months of the year, add up all their pay (minus signing and referral bonuses and 401(k) match), and then average them out. I have found many companies will take their top 10% average, or the top 50% and average them to come up with a total misrepresentation. Think about it: "make up to 60 cents per mile, average drivers here make over $100,000/year!" That doesn't pass the sniff test at all, and it would take about 80,000 miles' worth of accessorial pays to make up that difference claimed (or 167,000 actual miles driven). "Our drivers average 64 cpm and $75,000 per year." That's realistic., because its well under a 500 mile/day average and allows for some additional pays to be added in.

    Wow, I got long-winded there. Anyway, stick it out another 3-6 month minimum before putting feelers out.
     
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  9. Dockbumper

    Dockbumper Road Train Member

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    Here is the bottom line.......At 3 months into this career, you don't know JACK! None of us did. Your backing skills still suck,(mine sure did!), Your time/ clock management skills aren't much better than your backing, trip planning?........ same. You are probably blindly following your GPS box.......and it has led you astray more than once. The list goes on. Stay put for AT LEAST one year. I am a Journeyman Level finish carpenter by trade. Just started this gig 5 years ago at the ripe young age of 56. I didn't learn how to build cabinets, intricate stair railing systems, complicated mill work, etc. in 3 months or 3 years. Truck driving is no different than any other trade. Have you ever watched a skilled Short Order Cook at your favorite Diner? He makes it look easy doesn't he? Go back there and jump behind that grill and give it a shot! You'll have 4 waitresses and 40 customers ready to rip your effing head off in the first 20 minutes. Learn your craft.... rise above the mediocre. If you plan on making this a solid career, it will pay off in spades!
     
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  10. Eddiec

    Eddiec Road Train Member

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    Yes
     
  11. 4wayflashers

    4wayflashers Heavy Load Member

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    I was turned away by local fuel hauling companies for having 5 jobs in my first 2 years. One guy explained that it cost them maybe $15,000 to train you and corporate wont take the chance if you’re a job hopper.

    I’d say if you’re going to make the jump now while companies are hard up for drivers, be sure its to a spot you will stay for a few years. Thing is its hard to know unless you make the switch and by then its too late. Sure you can go back to Schneider but then you’ll have 3 jobs in maybe 6 months.

    Ive seen experienced drivers happy with their gig at a mega carrier simply because they lived real close to an accounts distribution center. (Best Buy DC, Walmart DC, Home Depot DC etc…) These are not advertised as “home daily” but if you live close enough theres no reason you can’t go home everyday or most days.

    Also, companies are hard pressed for drivers right now. If you let management know you are considering going elsewhere they will probably offer you incentives to stay. A company like Schneider will have lots of options to offer you.
     
    Last edited: Sep 21, 2021
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