Are small companies worth it?

Well said!

 

I concur. I've worked both for a large carrier (Stevens Transport) and this tiny one (MBR Transport). I prefer the small family atmosphere of the small carrier. Yes its a little more work but its worth it for me.

In my instance its a bit of both worlds since my truck is a power only unit for Werner. The small carrier atmoshere with load backing from a large carrier. No worries about back door brokers shoving us hot loads. I end up doing a lot of near dedicated runs for General Mills between Albuquerque, El Paso and Ft. Worth.

 

i think id'e rather be known by my name and not a number

 

I've always done well at smaller companies, they know more about thinking "outside the box".

The company I leased to 6 years ago had about 70 O/Os at the time, now it's over 300, mostly company drivers now and I'm really tired of it.

As a company grows it becomes more rigid with rules and policies, they hired an idiot Ops Manager that spent a lot of time at Schnieder and a large flatbed company...the guy does know how to GET business but doesn't know how to manage at all, he's never done my job, but thinks he knows everything about it.

Now everyone seems to be treated like the stupidest driver that we ever had, there is no accountability, across the board rules and policies are made due to one uncommon incident that should have been disciplined much harsher. Stupid ideas to keep a customer happy instead of saying, "that's not practical here's why"

The days of "don't worry, I'll take care of it" have been replaced by anal micromanaging dispatchers and higher ups.

After I filled out my employment app in '05 it was 6 months before they had an opening for me and they didn't advertise, we had all experienced, quality, competent drivers and good hands. Now we're advertising constantly and paying some of the dumbest people I've ever seen $.50 a mile to start and hiring them right now, that still don't know come here from sic 'em after training.

Right now I'm looking at smaller companies that can afford to pick and choose who to hire or lease on...not just moving freight and panic management.

 

I work for a small local company. We only have two trucks and have a good customer base. We are not a t/t outfit but rather a specialized class b outfit. The owner and boss treats us very good but also expects top notch work as well. It is really laid back and I love it. I have seen how people get treated like a number and dislike it. I am known by Hunter and not driver 123654 or whatever code they assign me. I have no complaints thus far.

KH

 

I agree. I tried that number thing with celadon. it didn't work. I felt like a prisoner in jail. driver id for an inmate number. and the truck number was a jail cell number. nothing personable about them. and now I'd rather be unemployed before working at another major trucking company.

 

I went through a mega carriers orientation, and then climbed into a brand new truck and whittled away the hours for 3 days at a tiny Pilot. After explaining that I could be broke at home with my family I left. Currently I work for a small O/O with 2 very old trucks whos leased with a small (40 trucks) tanker outfit. I have a great boss who maintains his equipment excellently, but I do not have workers comp. or insurance. I drive a daycab so I stay in a hotel every night Im out, which was nice at the beginning, but now is a pain in the backside. Now Im looking into a slightly bigger company that offers all that is lacking, while retaining all I like about my current job.
Maybe this medium/small company will be the ticket.

 

Never let the size of a company deter you. Been with my small company for just under two years. 91,000 miles since December 31st when my Pete 587 was delivered with 71 miles on the odometer. I am home more than any of the bigger companies ever got me home. The main reason is I am utilized where the big guys could care less. They have more trucks than they need...on purpose.

We have 40 company and about a dozen O/O's, a shop, good benefits, oh and road service. Man Schneider used to leave me on the side of the road for 4 or 5 hours waiting for a tire change. Here after hours we call Fleetnet. During the day we call the shop and he calls a vendor right then.

For me personally, I'll never work for a large carrier again. Biggest waste of my time.. 400 mile days, two weeks out, no thanks. Okay I'll give Schneider my first year for training but I stayed with them for two long and then moved to another large company before finding my niche.

 

Its all about finding the right small company. I only have 3 pieces of paper to trouble myself with each taking 1-2 min out of my day, one weekly hours and km's report i keep updated daily. one vehical trip report, also daily. and a daily breakdown of work done and time spent on each assignment if more than one. (local work). Is the company worth it? well they handbomb all their loads they specifically run cookies out and anything back to base. So to people scared of physical labor? it aint for you. Are we rewarded handsomely? ya!! and then some... 30 cents a km, 20.43 an hour for loading/unloading. Border or breakdown waits after an hour ur on the clock for that same 20.43. These guys have about 33 tractors, so ya its small, but all the main paperwork is handled by the office girls, Its about finding the right company, these guys are smaller than most small outfits and run things like a big one.

 

That's cool Swiftey! Thers to many hands in the money pot where I work, theres 4 people involve before I get my portion. I have 3 semi complicated papers to figure out, including the pain in the backside of keeping track of miles of the states I run.