DAZED and CONFUSED

Search out the thread "Running with Watkins and Shepard" by chralb.
It's a great read and very informative. Also, find posts by openroadguy.
ORG is driving for Swift, and is solo now. Apparently his laptop crashed and he MIA for about 6 days. Read their threads and it is sure to help.

Best 2 U

 

What chompi said. I have worked for two of the companies you listed. Knight was a trip! You could go home and stay home as long you wanted. Darnedest thing I ever saw. I was in heaven until I realized it didn't pay anything Nice people. Bad paying short loads.

Schneider has gone bad. Don't do that.

Someone mentioned Watkins Sheppard, they would be heads above those others.

When you think of big companies, think drive a while sit a while. They will sit you three days at a time, with not much chance of getting your layover pay unless your willing to hound them for weeks.

Your best bet is connections to small companies. That should be a question you ask your school ahead of time. If they have recruiters from big companies visiting the school, that's not so good.

What other industry, aside from the military has to rely upon recruiters? That's how bad those bottom feeders are. They have over 100% turnover rate for Christ's sake.

Think small. Think about personal connections.

 

I am not driving yet so my two cents may not hold water but if (and that is a big if) I was going to choose one of the mega carriers I would probably roll the dice with Swift. They take a lot of bashing but from what I have read they have a pretty good safety record and they are large enough to keep you moving. But again, that is just from my observations.

 

as an "old timer" like me (and some others) many starting places suck because of the low pay, lack of benefits, non paying sitting times, etc,etc. when a company has hundreds of trucks in the fleet, and thousands of trailers, it IS difficult to keep every thing moving, so there are cutbacks, just like the casino's. if no one is gambling due to the economy, well factories are not shipping things due to the economy, so it isn't just one industry that suffers in an economic recession. what i always "try" to recommend is that a newbie stay with a company for at least 1 year. this will give that newbie (rookie) a good chance at driving all 4 seasons and all weather possibilities. this also gives the employer a very good "birds-eye view" of the driver.

many starting companies pay low, and frankly, why not......?? if no one stays, why pay more money.....?? however, those that DO STAY, GET RAISES, and freight to move, which equals MORE money. yes, i too do not like starter companies, but given that so many people STAY at those companies for years on end means something too, doesn't it......??

many times, the starter companies "test" the newbie, to see what he/she can put up with on the road, whether it be the inconvenient trucker's life style, the long times away from home, the break downs, the customers, you name it, it's all a test, that if you "pass", the company knows you have the fortitude to survive and make them money, which is when YOU make money.

i think the bottom line is, so many newbies think that right out of school they are going to make that "fistful of money" they see in the trucking school commercials or newspaper ads........well this simply isn't true......you WILL EARN a living, but not one in which you will have THAT much money, but a "livable" wage.

and NEVER be swayed by an owner-operator that "claims" or says words much like these, "oh yeah, last year i made $150,000 and this year i will go past that, i see me making $200,000 dollars".......

that is a boatload of chicken shiot..........sure the "TRUCK" earned or made that money, but given taxes, truck maintenance, fuel, insurance, truck mortgage, expenses........that owner-operator probably only cleared "about" $45,000 to $50,000 for actual income........so DO NOT be fooled by company drivers or owner-operators that claim such high earnings.......as they WILL NEVER show you thier W-2 forms..........just ask........watch them side step that conversation in a heartbeat..........

in the end, if you think you're going to make a decent living for now and for ever, i wish you well on that wet dream. because the economy affects every industry.......after all, you got laid off from a multi-million dollar one. think trucking is sound in a bad economy........?? you're fooling yourself, no one here......

 

I went with Southwest down here in Phoenix. I was interested in going with Watkins/Shepard, but when I applied they told me that Southwest was not an approved school with them and I had to go through further training with another company then re-apply with W/S. After being with another company for 8 plus weeks on the road they would hire me. The reason Southwest was not approved was that W/S had never had a student from that school who could pass their 10 day orientation. So pick a school wisely. I wish I would never have went with Southwest and gone with a school that was approved by W/S. I have ended up with Werner and am seriously considering just completing my training time in order to get on with W/S.

 

hey i'm in the same boat as you. except i've been a bartender for 25yrs and I have had it with that. I live in phoenix and am looking into sage of ait...I have no kids of wife's so I'm pretty much flexible. I'm new here but keep me informed I'm going to check our AIT next weel then go up to Sage the following week....good luck......hdnightrider......

 

did I meet you fri at sage? i rode up on my Harley?