What makes an experienced trucker worth more than a newbie?

Going to cheaper drivers is very true except in my line of work. The smarter bean counters will know that experience will be cheaper in the long run. One gasoline spill is over $100,000 these days to clean up and you just don't have as many with drivers that have been doing the work for years. Plus having experienced drivers doing the local work is alot cheaper than even hiring a common carrier. We had a cut-off mile of a 160 miles before the common carrier would be cheaper. The only longevity benefit we had that was different than a driver with 2 years in compared to a driver with 30 years in was vacation. That's why they hire only experienced drivers. After 2 years you're doing the same work as any other driver. And nobody ever complained about it.

 

2000 years ago a philosopher named Aesop wrote "Slow and steady wins the race"! It still applies today!

BTW, I helped him write it! LOL

 

I am a mere 6 months in a PAM truck. I made a couple mistakes that cost the company some money. But I learned a LOT from those mistakes.

I will try to find a way around a traffic jam!

I've gotten a HECK of a lot better at backing too.

 

Trucking is for the most part a low/semi-skilled occupation. However, certain niche areas of the biz value experienced drivers over inexperienced.
For instance, in LTL you need to be able to work the dock, build and break a set of doubles, drive them in all sorts of weather conditions, peddle local freight in the city, etc.
Carhauling is another one...I remember when Swift tried to get into the carhauling biz...the claims KILLED them and they sold out.
LTL, carhauling, heavy-haul, O/D loads, fuel hauling, etc...these are the areas you want to get into to make more $$$$$.
Hauling a van around doing irregular-route OTR don't pay squat because there's too much competition in that end of the biz.

 

I'm a newbie, and I say you cannot put a price on experience. If I had a trucking co. the only way I would take on a newbie would be cause I have trucks sitting in the yard with no drivers. There's safety issues and half a dozen other things in that issue. If I could I'd give what little money I have to bypass the painful learning process and all the mistakes and stress.

 

So have I, but methinks you are just pissed cause you are new at this game.

A good driver that is experienced knows all about things that you are just learning about. It also involves a certain intuition, like knowing that the car in front you is going to make a turn or brake before they signal, if they even do. Or seeing a glint of a deer's eyes in the woods, before it jumps out in front of your rig.

Most of us million plus milers all can do things like that without blinking, which is why we are still running right side up, while lesser driver are in accidents until they can no longer drive or they quit in disgust because not everyone can be a good driver anymore then not everyone can be a good (put the name of the job or sport in here). Thats just the way it is.

Lots of people shouldn't be driving a red rider kiddies wagon, much less a motor vehicle, IMO.

 

BINGO!!!

 

An experienced driver will get the load there and respond in the proper manner expected by the reciever. He or she is better managed, knows how to not get lost or hit low bridges. Icy road conditions or snowy roads handled much better. Knows where to park a truck in the N E and handle the mountains properly. When it`s all said and done the truck won`t be laying on the side of the road ( Insurance claims ) or on top of someones vehichle ( Bigger Insurance claims ).

 

Unfortunately, transportation is weighted down with more than it's fair share of crooks. I was reading through the post and someone referred to trucking as a "low/semi-skilled occupation"...and that attitude along with lack of organization is what keeps "us" cut-off at the knees. I work with a small..small carrier. These people are in the business of hiring guys at the bottom of the payscale and ripping them off. Its sad, but true. It is a rare company that gives a #### about how much money your saving them with your years of experience. They just look at that as money in their pockets...period. I wish I had been able to find a company that truly valued their professional drivers in my nearly 30 year career. To date..NOT! Truck transportation in my way of thinking was over when Jimmy went missing....

 

I don't really wish to learn the hard way about winter but that's what's gonna happen.