Starting new driving job the 29th. Going with Marten.

Hey LT..
Good to see you are doing well over there at the Blue bird. I have always heard pretty good things about them. But Like any trucking company your gonna hear some crap also.
I dont care what company you drive for, your gonna have good and your gonna have bad. Trucking is what YOU make of it. All these companies are the same. The equipment breaks down, They cant ##### loads so your gonna sit from time to time. Not every FM is a good one. It takes a tough skin and understanding to be a sucessfull truck driver. Drivers get pissy with there companies and blame them for everything. So yes those drivers are going to go on "that List" That list of drivers that FMs are least likly to help out. If you have two drivers say sitting in Atlanta, both emptied out at the same time, given everything is equal. Except driver A will tell his FM every once in a while, hey I understand there is no freight her so Ill just hangout untill I hear from you. Driver A has a positive attitude and is friendly with his FM. Driver B is a jerk always giving his FM a bad attitude. Always blaming his company for his short commings. Who do you think is going to get that load out?
In trucking you cant look at your last 2 or even 3 weeks of low pay stubs. You have to look at your year to date to determine if your making money or not. Trucking is a roller coaster ride. One week your at the peek running your tail in the ground and breaking the bank, and the next your sitting in a truckstop or a shop and not making any money.. It happens no matter where you work or choose to drive. Thats why you have to look at your year to date.

 

Oh that is so true LDO, Trucking is what you make of it.

 

Wow, lots to read. New to this board but not new to other boards. Have been driving for about 4 and a half years. Live in SoCal and am looking at Martens SouthWest Regional fleet out of Ontario CA. Anyone running that? I would like to stay more local. I just left Crete after being hired onto their Western Regional Fleet and spending most of my time in Arkansas and Missouri.

 

Well I went over to the Ontario Yard today and spoke with one of the drivers there. Usual good and bad stuff....nothing I wasn't expecting. Just have to see what happens and if it happens. Thanks for the comeback LT. Have fun in Washington....

 

Hi Bumper, as you know having 4+ years of driving, its more about your attitude going to a new company than anything else. Coming from Crete(dry van) are you OK with the reefer biz, Its not ya quick load/unload kinda job.

 

hey everyone, new to this site. 1st post. 1st of all Kabar has got to be Randy or one of his quislings. To be there for only 4 months and do nothing but toe the company line on every comment. Its kinda sickening. I worked at Marten 3 years. Got canned end of '09 for some fairly ridiculous reasons. 1st 2 years were great. 3rd year pay declined by 25% Anyway, to the driver hiring on, all the best. Randy......er....a.....Kabar....you crack me up!