Good Companies versus Bad let's have a Chat

That's an issue?

 

Ya know, Honest TB, I know you wanted to keep this a secret, but it's just too exciting not to talk about it!

Ladies, and gentlepeople, here at BYOB&CBD, we are always on the lookout for any way to help out our bretheren, our fellow man (and woman, as it may be), our fellow drivers. And I believe the 121'st largest leasing company(but growing exponentially everyday) has figured it out. We like to refer to it as WTF!

What is WTF, you might ask? Well, as our founder @TB John , would say, it's a way to not lower payments! WTF stands for Winning Times Five! And it works like this.

Anyone who comes into the spacious offices of BYOB&CBD and says to lovely Inga..."INGA! WTF did I get in to?" or "WTF, INGA, now what?" will not get their lease payments reduced by five! Imagine that! Not getting your lease payments reduced by five! This is a program exclusive to BYOB&CBD. You won't see this at Prime, CRE, Schneider, or 118 other leasing companies. Only brought to you by fine upstanding folks at BYOB&CBD. So don't hesitate to call, operators are standing by. And we all know the number, right?

 

Not to some I guess.

 

Much like any veteran driver, I have often debated good vs. bad, small vs big, etc.
I started out in this industry over 22 years ago when there were still "old school" drivers and companies around. Back when a handshake meant something and drivers would hang out after a long day and buy each other a cup of coffee. Back when a driver would wave at you when facing each other on a 2 lane country back road while trying to dodge the coops. Back when drivers wore boots and took pride in how they looked.
Over the years I've worked for owner operators with one or two trucks, mega carriers with thousands of trucks and for the last 5 years with a small company with 55 trucks. I enjoyed working for the O/Os but lacked much needed benefits and health insurance. I nearly starved to death the years I ran with the Mega carriers (Werner and Stevens Transport). I finally did the footwork and educated myself on pulling tankers handling chemicals for a small company dedicated to one customer out of Texas. I really like the work and never have to beg for miles although I do sometimes have to work a little harder to set myself up for planned time off in spite of having seniority and a spotless record of safety. Either way, I've learned to always have a plan and I demand my plans are followed by my dispatcher. Most of the time, if not always, it works out. One thing I always tell my new drivers is to always remember, YOU are in control of that truck. You have the final word. Period. As long as you run hard, be reliable and have some integrity you always have the Ace up your sleeve when dealing with your dispatchers or planners. Never give them a reason to be able to treat you like ####. Remember always, in today's climate, they need us a hell of alot more than we need them. Most of us can quit a job this morning and have a new job by tonight.

 

5th year at Landstarve. Living in my Cascadia with my cat and surviving on Beefaroni.

 

@Bumper
1) Respectfully speaking, if my counting & math are correct, your wife will turn 65 on 12/30/2022.
2) Absolute best of luck to both of you, God bless both of you and your entire families.

NOTE (1):
I myself turned 65 on 10/1/2021, received my Medicare card shortly afterwards, (Part A - Hospital Insurance), currently under a medical & dental plan with my current employer.
1) I am currently working for a national retail / pharmacy chain as a retail clerk, having been with them for 14+ years, (since 4/17/2007).
2) Providing that I do not get laid off or terminated from my job, I will be retiring this year, 12/21/2022, receiving my last paycheck on 12/28/2022, which will be 1 month 3 days shy of full Social Security retirement age, (66 years 4 months - 2/1/2023).
3) SADLY & UNFORTUNATELY, since 2016, my company has been closing about 200+ stores a year, causing MANY employees to become unemployed. So far, by the GRACE OF GOD, I have been spared.
4) Once I hit full Social Security retirement age, I would then file for Social Security, along with my IRA account, and an insurance annuity account which will also provide supplementary retirement income.

NOTE (2):
1) At one time I TRULY & REALLY wanted to become an OTR truck driver, driving all 48 states, possibly going into Canada. I would have been willing to drive dry vans, reefers, hoppers, tankers, and flatbeds.
2) I would have been willing to drive over the mountains, through the woods, into the valleys, coast to coast, from sea to shining sea, and to go anywhere & everywhere, any day, any night, all year round.
3) UNFORTUNATELY, I am NOT able to pass a D.O.T. physical.
No reputable truck driving school, along with any reputable trucking company, will take me on as a student, and RIGHTFULLY so.
4) I have never married & never had any children, (actually checked to be sure).
By the GRACE OF GOD, I never had to worry about child support payments. I also do not have any pets, plants, or fish, (aquariums), to worry about.
5) I live in a 1 bedroom apartment which would have allowed me to be gone for stretches of time, due to not having a house or any properties to look after or worry about.
The only time that I would have needed to go home would have been for physicals / dental appointments, driver's license / car registration renewals, lease renewals for my apartment, (along with paying rent in advance), filing federal & state income taxes, and making sure all bills were paid up to date.
6) I do have an O.K. work history. I have been in the workforce since 1974, going onto 48 years.
The job that I am currently working at is my 10th. job. It is also the longest that I have worked at, (since 4/17/2007 - going on 15 years).
7) As for my driving record, I have not had any tickets, violations, or warnings since 2007, over 14+ years. By the GRACE OF GOD, I have NEVER had a D.U.I or D.W.I..
I did have an at fault accident back in 1995. FORTUNATELY & THANKFULLY, the motorist that I did hit did FULLY recover. I had 3 NO-FAULT accidents:1997, 2010, & 2014. FORTUNATELY, nobody got hurt. Everything was settled by insurance.
8) By the GRACE OF GOD, I have never been arrested or convicted of any crimes.
What little drinking that I did years ago, I totally gave it up. I have never smoked or used drugs, not even having ever tried them, including marijuana.
9) SADLY & UNFORTUNATELY, both of my parents, all 4 of my grandparents, along with all 8 of my aunts & uncles, have all passed away.
My days of eldercare responsibilities are behind me. On my mother's side of the family, I had 8 first cousins. Only 3 of them are left. The other 5 of them have all passed away.
TRUTH BE TOLD, all of these deaths are TRULY & GENUINELY an EERIE feeling. I do REALIZE that this is the cycle of life.

God bless every American and their families! God bless the U.S.A.!

The absolute sheer driving force of our national economy - without truck drivers, our entire national economy would come to an absolute standstill - if not outright be dead.

Over the mountains, through the woods, into the valleys, coast to coast, from sea to shining sea - truck drivers can and do go anywhere and everywhere, every day, every night, all year round.

 

That was an old post. She turns 65 on 1/03/2023. So I’m under a year! Will probably retire between Thanksgiving and Christmas this year. Close enough for me!

 

@Bumper
1) I too am looking forward to retirement. I have had all the "fun" that one can handle.
2) The absolute best of luck to you, God bless you and your entire family!

God bless every American and their families! God bless the U.S.A.!

The absolute sheer driving force of our national economy - without truck drivers, our entire national economy would come to an absolute standstill - if not outright be dead.

Over the mountains, through the woods, into the valleys, coast to coast, from sea to shining sea - truck drivers can and do go anywhere and everywhere, every day, every night, all year round.

 

The problem I have is when I do find something good it doesn't last. Change in management then everything gets stupid or we somehow lose my favorite account or work gets slow and I'm not making the money anymore or any combination of those.