Changing companies

I need ideas...

Have been working almost 2 years for Covenant Transport. One out of those 2 years have been in the Wal-mart dedicated division.

For those who don't know, this division is totally diferent from everything else at Covenant, it's almost like another company.

There are 50 trucks in this account, one dispatcher and one load planner. They are very professional, dedicated, efficient, accessible, they treat us with respect and always help us when we need. They never bother us. They send us the assignments and leave us alone. I always get home right on time, have good relation with them and no complains.

The pre-plans are sent 2 days (sometimes 2 and 3 pre-plans) in advance according to OUR PTAs, so we can plan our time and the week in advance. I LOVE THAT!
And if there's any problem, I can communicate straight with load planner and adjust schedule (but rarely needed it).

They guarantee about 2500 miles per week. But the way I run, have been getting over 3000.

There's no appointment for delivery. All deliveries are drop n hook at Walmart DCs (distribution centers) anytime I arrive.

I drop loaded trailer and get mpt right there. Wal-mart trailers are almost always in great condition and if I need help with trailer, shop can help me right there before I hit the road. That's very convenient. I LOVE THAT TOO!!

Before getting my mpt trailer at Walmart DC, I can get written directions to my next pick up at the dispatch office. LOVE THAT!

After one year in this account, I know almost all the Wal-mart DCs I go. They are easy to find, spacious, clean and well organized.

So, I got really spoiled working in this account.
But may leave Covenant in the near future because I plan on a trip abroad for a couple of months and not sure will be able to get my position back when I return as this account is on high demand.

Besides, my biggest complains are that Covenant doesn't pay much. I am still making .27 cpm, no detention in this account. And I have no APU in the truck. I just can't go through another winter living in a freezing cold truck. Covenant bothers us if we idle truck. I don't think they will give me a truck with APU as those are for trainers, members of the executive council and drivers with many years at Covenant.

Also, Covenant has been installing eletronic logs in their trucks. Not sure when I will have one in "my" truck but I will not work with that.

So, I'm preparing a list of potential new companies, but confess, I am afraid of what I will get (in terms of miles, condition of equipament, dispatchers, load planners logistics,...) That really scares me. I don't want hassles, bad dispatchers, problematic customers (shippers, receivers)... And I don't want to keep jumping from company to company...

I was VERY FORTUNATE to get the Wal-mart account at Covenant. That is pretty easy, no hassles, no headaches... But where am I going to get something as good or better that pays well????

Does anybody have ideas? Suggestions? Well appreciated.

 

WOW! I thought I would hear something to the contrary... 27 cpm for someone who has been driving for almost 2 years in the same company is very little (I understand dedicated accounts pay a little less than the regular fleet because they guarantee miles).

I am between the rock and the hard place. My trip abroad is not vacation. I wish it were. I was born and raised in another country. My only family now is my dad who is 80 years old. I'm a female, have no kids, no husband, no sibblings... My mom died 3 years ago and since then, I haven't seen my old dad. He misses me a lot. Would like to see him, meet his new wife and take care of some other important things while I'm there.

But loosing this job and then not being able to find something good in this bad economy will be a real bummer...

I'll have a total of 2 years trucking with Covenant next April. Will get some bonus, etc.

Yes, I know the conveniences in this Walmart account are a teaser, but the low pay... (maybe that's why they pay so low, because it's easy job). But this torture in the winter, having to live in a freezing truck, make it almost impossible to endure. After my first winter in the truck, I swore would never go through that again. But this winter was the last one.

I will investigate other companies... will be going to a truck show at the end of this month, talk to some recruiters, see what is out there and what they have to offer to someone like me...

I can also talk to my dispatcher and get an idea of what to expect from Covenant if I leave for almost 2 months.... I definetely don't want to go back to their regular fleet or the other accounts they have...