Are trucking companies this bad?

For the record I don't take ANY advances. When I'm telling you my paycheck is $300 it's $300. My lowest check was $192. I had ONE check that was over $800 because of a bunch of "trip sheets" that didn't get paid for a few weeks.

Like I said, I usually get one run a week for 1,000 miles and then it's one $20 short haul after the next. To give you an example, Two days ago I finish off a delivery at 7am, started the day at 6am. They unload me quickly and I'm ready to go. My quallcom beeps and it's a pick-up right around the corner 4 miles away. It's getting delivered 23 miles away THE NEXT MORNING. I call dispatch and say "You mean to tell me my day is basically over and I'm sitting in this truck stop for nearly 24 hours"??? She tells me the consignee ran out of delivery appointments for the day. This happens at least a few times a week.

And believe me I've been on the phone with the "Routing" department more than a few times. This company just looks at total miles for a route, no consideration for how long I'll be sitting. They route me from Virginia up to NJ along Rt13 and Rt1. I call them to tell them RT13 is nothing but stoplights and 35mph speed zones. So the guy tells me "But It's 30 miles SHORTER than using Rt 95.


Rather than shooting straight up the Northeast extension (I-476) they route us along crappy 611, 313 and 309, small little Pennsy towns with a million traffic lights and streets you can barely manuver a moving van around let alone a semi.

To come from north of NYC to NJ it's a lot easier to run 84 over to the thruway (87), down 287 to the NJ turnpike. More miles but it cuts many unpaid hours out of the day. I asked someone within the company what happens If I just take my own route that I know is safer AND faster? Growing up in Jersey I'm familiar with how to get around North Jersey/NYC. The guy I spoke with said If I get a blowout, breakdown or get in an accident on their route I may get in trouble. However If the same thing happens and they found out I was making my own directions for a run, I'd most definately be fired and I could count on a really bad DAC report.

And for those nay-sayers, I'm not making up numbers here, not taking advances either. I'm telling you like it is. Seeing what they pay me it's hard to believe they can keep anyone in this field. If there's some way for a new driver to at least make a living at this, I'd sure like to know how. This is a far cry from what the recruiter led me to believe. Don't think for one second my goal was to be almost 50 years old making less than minimum wage.

 

Are you nearing a raise? Coming to the end of a contract? It sounds like someone is trying to get rid you, trying to make you quit. Will you owe your company or school alot of money if you quit right now? Did you really piss off a DM or dispatcher? Did you tell them your email address or maybe even your username on this forum and they read what you post?

What's the name on the side of your truck in that signature?

 

I had wondered this myself. I don't know Wisconsin law (where the company is based from). I know in NJ you have to get paid at least minimum wage for the hours spent.

 

Otr drivers are exempt for the labor laws in this country.

 

No on all your questions. I've been there 3 months, new student driver. Had a CDL before starting this job and they don't require us to sign a contract of anykind. I've actually gotten along well with my trainer dispatcher and new "full time dedicated" dispatcher. I'm not going to push my luck badmouthing (and naming the company) most everyone can recognize that truck. I never said the company was BAD, I'm just really dissappointed in what I get paid. And I'm sure there's someone within the company who "searches" the name by keyword looking for posts. For those legal lawyer types, I never said this was MY truck and you'll see someone just happened to photoshop the truck number right off it, Lol.

And as far as the company trying to "get rid of me", They could have dismissed me right after orientation if that's what they wanted. It's not like I was making good money then overnight my paychecks were super low. It's been this way since day one and hasn't improved.

I'm sorry this thread got kind of hi-jacked. Back to the Original posters question. I'd also be curious to hear from other new company drivers if this is the normal treatment for new student drivers.

 

If things are as you have described, then perhaps you need to sit down with your dispatcher and see if something can be worked out to get you more miles. If you cannot reach a solution then you may want to consider asking for a new dispatcher.

 

Did you tell them you don't want to travel out of the NorthEast region?? Do you get home time?

 

I know im late and i didnt read the whole thread,

There ARE ALLOT of VERY bad companies out there, some much worse then others, but there ARE also some good companies out there, I'll give you a few to Check out:

Watkins Shepard- Dry Vans/ Flat beds - OTR - Regional - Local

KLLM- Reefers - OTR - Regional (DONT SIGN A LEASE!)


IF you pick a bad company and get 6 months solo before you quit: Look at Millis Transfer - Dry Vans - Run East of the MI River



DO ALLOT of research BEFORE you pick a company, your going to have to decide whats important to YOU, some want home time, some want money, some need good benifits, some of want freedom and respect, and you CAN get all of these things if you find a good company.....





American Trucker

 

yeah, like A/T i got in on this one a little late but there ARE some good companies out there......i got in with one fresh out of school......

brand new truck, great miles, decent pay, home EVERY weekend.....they're straight up and do what they say they are going to do and i haven't met anything but good people here.

DO YOUR HOMEWORK.......don't fall for the hype, the pretty websites, the recruiter's lies......get out to the truckstops....talk to the drivers, get it from th ehorse's mouth...different companies offer different things and you have to find the one that suits best what you're looking for.......being a newbie, regional and for sure local may be a bigger shot in the dark to take than getting a great gig and home every weekend.....be prepared to go otr for awhile till you can land one of those jobs unless you really really have been living right and someone is looking out for you lol

I think you're in our hiring area.......if you want to pm me for specifics and details you can and see if my gig suits what you're looking for.......but there ARE good places to go out there......just not too many of them. you have to be picky and not jump on the first thing that comes along.

good luck to you

 

I told them more than a few times I LOVE getting those longer runs and hate the northeast. I guess one problem is my home terminal is near Philly PA. They love to route me near there. One reason I chose this company was to be a "national" driver and see the country. That hasn't worked out though. Ironically, I could have signed on with more than a few northeast regional companies if that's what I wanted.

I did have a long disscusion with a company rep this morning about all this. Apparently my opinion doesn't matter a whole lot. They basically told me what I've heard many times on this forum before. Their job is to move freight, everything else is secondary to that.