Who's The Worst Of Them ALL to work for?

Oh yes it does my darling dear. I had 6 weeks and was asking to go back to a trainer at the same time they were trying get me to train. What may be company policy isn't always followed by the individual person.

 

I read MOST of this thread. Quite lenghty. Just couldn't read it all. It seemed to be Swift Swift Swift Swift Swift. I know nothing firsthand about Swift so I have no comment outside of what I've seen some of their drivers doing while I was on the road and I've seen a LOT of other companies big AND small do the same and worse INCLUDING O/O's.

I have been driving for almost 6 years now and I have worked, unfortunately, for SEVERAL different companies in that short period of time. I have yet to find the perfect trucking company. I do not believe one exists. So, I have resigned myself to the idea of either get used to it or find something else to do.

If you have been doing this for any length of time you have probably come to the same conclusion. I don't know. Maybe you have found the perfect trucking company. If you have...PLEASE TELL THE REST OF US!!!

Everyone has their own story and it would take entirely too long to lay a proper HONEST foundation to convey a correct understanding of each story. If we each did that HONESTLY and we took the time to read these "Trucking Auto-Biograhphies", a lot of us would more than likely be embarrassed to read our OWN story. I'm not saying there aren't those among us who did right from the start and got messed around anyway. I'm saying sit back, be honest, and try to be objective. I'm talking to me as well. Not pointing a finger.

This may not be the case with everyone, but, my position in life is my own fault. I have nobody to blame but ME. Driving an 18 wheeler is all I know how to do where I can make any decent money. I'm assuming there are a LOT of people in that same boat. And I thank God for being able to do it or I'd be is serious trouble.

Point being. I'm just as guilty of grumbling and whining and moaning and belly-aching as anyone so don't get on some high-horse against me, but, maybe we should try to count our blessings FIRST. Then be HONEST with ourselves and everybody around us. Then see where that leaves us. Go from there as far as who is responsible for what, concerning our success and happiness in trucking. And everything else for that matter, but, this is about trucking.

This is my chosen profession. Career. Not just a job. And it seems to me that, not everyone, but a LOT, maybe even the majority of us, keep trying to blame somebody else. I can't help but believe that a great deal of us had a good idea of at least some of the pitfalls of this industry going into it and if we didn't, we found out pretty fast.

If I can find a company that puts me in a good truck, gets me home when I ask to go home, RUNS ME LEGAL and pays half decent...I can't ask for more.

I believe a lot of us, myself included, need to grow up and be honest with ourselves and be gratefull for what we have before that disappears as well.

I have been given an opportunity to go to work for my brother for a couple of months out in the middle of nowhere in Alaska for different reasons. One of which is to get away and try to get a better perspective on things. I know we can't all do that and I consider it a blessing from God and I am very thankful for it. If we decide to come back instead of moving up there permanently I will be back at wheel and be grateful for it.

Just my 2 cents.

God Bless and Be Safe.

 

OK.
I found the perfect gig, .............................. for me.
The company let me stay out OTR for six to nine weeks at a time, then take a day and a half off for every 7 days spent away from the home-20. When workin' the trade shows, the hours are long and duties are varied, ...... with seldom any appreciation displayed for makin' it all happen.

If we saw three grocery warehouses in a year, it was considered unusual, as were many of the places we went instead. The dispatcher was a former driver (30 years) who knew the ins and outs, and actually stood behind and supported the drivers.
Imagine how it feels when a customer is givin' y'all a hard time about some trivial matter, and demands to speak with your dispatcher about it, ............ and y'all just know they'll regret makin' that mistake.
Just smile pleasantly at 'em, knowin' they just received an industrial strength tongue lashin' that they won't soon forget.
And neither will you.
How sweet it is.

But, ....... when instructed by dispatch to J U M P!, it's customary to yell "HOW HIGH"? --- half way up. If y'all don't arrive on time, the multi-million dollar show won't go on.
Pressure?
Goes with the job.
Git-er-dun.

Some of the Company's Big trucks were triple-digit capable, ---- for a reason. You'd be amazed at the magnetic attraction the Hawaiian Tropics Girls generate for Big truck truck drivers when they know the Girls will be waitin' for the Big trucks and those who drive 'em, to arrive. Much more enjoyable than a cranky ol' warehouse manager who isn't especially fond of those who deliver the loads that they're paid to handle.
MucH more!

You sell yourself short, Rob.
Waayyy short.

 

I didn't mean be a passive push-over. I meant be honest with ourselves before making brash decisions. I understand believe me. I have told more than one company to "Take This Job and Shove It". I just think that there are too many people quitting their jobs on a whim over trivial things.


A man of quick temper acts foolishly,
but a man of discretion is patient.
Proverbs 14:17

 

I retired from a 15 year career as a police officer and decided to follow a dream I had to drive over the road. Transam was my first taste of trucking and I can now warn all from experience, stay as far away from this dishonest, immoral company as you possibly can. First week I drove over 3200 miles and made $360. Only explaination from Transam was that I must have used too much fuel. It just got worse from there. I lasted five weeks, only two of which were positive pay weeks and was never able to get any help from the company. They would agree that my pay was off, but could not or would not explain why or offer any solutions on how to correct it. To add insult to injury, after I quit (as per their contract) they had the balls to send me a bill for $2800. The way this company conducts business should be criminal, it's a shame how they continue to screw driver after driver with a big ####y smile on their faces. If there is any credible pursuit to bring a class action suit against these people, count me in.

 

Well, it's been almost a year since I left the four walls of an office behind and became a professional tourist, ie: Truck driver. I'm not the typical truck driver as I am a widowed empty-nester who wanted a little adventure in her life. I went with Werner initially because Crete couldn't get a trainer for me for 8 weeks (I'm a female). I didn't have a problem with a male trainer as long as he behaved himself...warned Werner I'd kick him off his own truck if he didn't. (you can't scare me, I have kids) Was pleasantly surprised that the trainer I got was the most ethical man I'd ever met. Consumate gentleman the entire time I was on his truck. Of course I conducted myself like a lady also so we got along just fine. I've seen trainers I wouldn't give the time of day, but then I've seen some students that shouldn't be behind the wheel of a car, much less a truck. The turn-over in this industry is putting some scary people out there...
Werner seems to be a typical trucking company. (Don't get me started on truck driver image at the truck stops...)
I get a little frustrated with what I perceive as inefficiencies in the 'system', but that is pretty much par for the course as all trucking companies go. Most of this is caused by simple lack of communication, between the trucker, the dispatcher, the planner, and the account manager. Seems to me that if those in the office started considering a little more what the trucker actually goes through trying to pick up and deliver loads out in the field, things might run a little smoother. I'm not asking for some one to hold my hand, just give me the information I need to successfully complete my task. Simple communication. Last I calculated, the drivers are the only ones who actually generate income for the company...
All in all, Werner is a fairly good company to work for. Average pay, home time when you ask for it, Decent equipment, repairs when you need them.

Note: To Werner: Driver Relations is a joke. They have no clue what drivers go through and is a waste of company assets, unless you're just trying to placate the drivers temporarily so they don't bother the dispatchers...oh wait, isn't that part of the dispatchers job?

 

I'd say the best trucking company you can work for is, the one you own. And the worst company you can work for is yours, as you will start cheating yourself out of every penny you can to pay for it, to shame with health insurance, baby needs new caps

 

I once talked to a nasty, stinky, unshowered-in-3-weeks Werner driver in Chicago. He was stuck in a SHIPPER'S LOT in CHICAGO because Werner shut him down there for 48 hours to punish him for some kind of "log violations" or whatever. Although the guy was so disgusting looking and stinky, I kind of felt sorry for him. If I ever seen a perfect excuse to ABANDON A TRUCK, that was it. Any trucking company that shuts me down in a place like that WILL, I repeat: WILL have their truck abandoned. And when they make that DAC report they'll be dragged into court. By ordering you not to drive the truck, and they can legally do that, of course, ... they're preventing you from being able to leave and go home or whatever. Unless they're paying you to provide security services by remaining with the truck to make sure it's not stolen or vandalized, they can't legally require you to. If I can't drive it, and I'm not being paid to babysit the equipment, they're attempting to hold me as a PRISONER, basically. Nope. Bye-bye! Dac report? Time for the lawyers now.

 

I would agree with you 100% most things can be fixed if everyone involved would just discuss things and not argue about who is right or wrong.

 

As for your list , SWIFT #1 , Prime #2 , Werner #3 , but as for me Sharkey , Sisbro & Core take the cake ! Shippers Rental is the main name ! Crappy Mack trucks set @64 mph & if you idle to much they set you to 59 mph ! When they see a hill or grade they are even worse , I hit some & went down to 20 mph & I'm not talking mountains either ! Thier trailers are the worst in the food haul industry , old nasty looking junk ! When you decide to quit them , think it through carefully , because they will do thier very best to keep your last 2 weeks pay . Claiming abandoned truck or stolen vehicle against your record ! If you are out-of-hours & call them for a relay , they say no-one in your area & charge you with a late delivery ! I could keep on here forever , but you get the idea ! STAY AWAY !!!!!