These mega horror stories, how prevalent?

Any large employer is going to have bad reviews from employees, but you can also find happy employees for them as well. In my opinion the majority of those leaving bad opinions did nothing to try and pick a company other than submit an application. Take your time reviewing the good and bad, focus on what you want, and are willing to give, then make an educated decision about things.

Unless you have multiple felonies and still want to be a trucker in which case just go to Western Express, where the sobriety shuffle is nearly a required dance move.

 

You won't be screwed out of wages with mega companies or medium size companies.
If you show where you are due wages or accessorial pays, those companies will quickly correct the error.
Some drivers you can give a million dollars and they'll complain why you didn't give it to them yesterday.

 

Today, with Elogs, everything you do is recorded and on record. If you do something that's counted as accessorial pay, there will be a record or receipts to back it up.
If you don't get paid for detention, then simply point it out that you weren't paid and it's recorded on your Elog and you'll be paid.
Complaining in the breakroom or truck stop TV lounge won't help. Do it professionally with your company.

 

OTR trucking is a hard job. Its hard in ways you cannot understand until you do it.
Its long hours
Its not being in control of your sleep schedule
Its often boring
People treat you poorly at shippers and receivers
Its brutally lonely and can be very depressing in ways you have not experienced yet.
If you think you know what you are in for you are a fool.

That said many of us enjoy it
One big thing to consider is that many of us are .... well not super smart.
A common thing that happens is that people who are not as smart can be very suspicious and paranoid that people are out to screw them..
This becomes a self fulfilling prophecy as when people sense you dont trust them, (and lets face it, you will be lied to quite a bit) they tend to treat you poorly.
No one can prepare you for whats ahead, its not the company , they are all pretty bad, its how you deal with it that makes the difference.

 

I think the vast majority of us started out trucking with a company 5-5,000 strong.

Those who apply themselves, in almost any situation, learn, move on and grow.

Im neither for or against their business model. They just are.

 

I never worked for a mega. The megas make it easy for newbies to get started so newbies focus like a laser on working for megas. Newbies like to get all of their info online and megas put a lot of effort into their online recruiting.Whoever you work for you will be in the truck, going their their customers, and not browsing the web. It's not necessary to spend your money to get your forst CDL job, but the newbies won't research any method than signing a contract with a mega. Your results are directly proportional to the research and effort you put into finding a trucking company that matches your needs. The reviewers of the megas are not telling you if they are spoiled, lazy, demanding, waiting for the trucking company to tuck them in every night. They are just listing their complaints. What if those complaints are because the newbie didn't know what he was walking into and also didn't do a good job?

 

The Detention Pay has enough loopholes at some companies you are lucky to ever get it, regardless of the facts of each event.

 

I personally think those megas are just a meat grinder running as many people through as possible. A 90 + percent turnover rate does speak for itself. You may do well at one of them. If you are just starting out.... hey...everyone has to start somewhere. If you have experience I would look elsewhere. But that's just my 2 cents.