THIS IS BS Im about to give up

Bent Wrench wrote:
It's called OTR!

You don't get to choose where you go.

We can request preferences and if possible, get it!

You don't get to choose what you drive.

Nope...

You don't get home time whenever you want.

Over 90% of the time, we do!!!

 

After 23 years in the industry I have found that for the most part it is the same thing just a different name on the door. It usally depends on the dispatcher you have and how good they are. That will make a good company seem bad or a bad company seem good, it is all in the dispatchers hands. We all know that a truck driver for the most part will complain every chance they get. I blame that on hour after hour of sitting behind the wheel and running crazy thoughts through their mind. I did it for years until I realized I had to keep my mind busy while driving to prevent evil thoughts.
So here is a word to the driver who is looking for a "good" company; try out any company you come across that makes you feel good when you first call them and again in the interview. If they do not interview you and road test you I would recommend not signing on with them. That tells me they are to lazy to hire people who are a good fit for their company and they are herding you through the door. Good Luck

 

I might be new here, I am new here, but I have been a worker for a long time. When a guy starts out with "this is BS, I'm about to give up," that's a clue. He left Werner on other people's opinions, first mistake, big mistake. Now he wants more opinions? Isn't there something about learning from experience in life? These companies all survive because they're basically doing most things right. It's up to us to make it happen, make it work, there's no guarantee and no pot of gold, either. He didn't want to run "North or West," hates "the 587," I mean, what company is going for that?

 

When I found my job, I hadn't driven for 27 years except for a month of helping my brother in law on a local gig, I got the oldest truck to drive, A 95 T600 in 2009, did my job, got paid dam good, now I have the third newest, (they have a couple of 2011 T660's) but I go where they need me to, and haul what they ask me to. I still make dam good money and I will probably end up on the eastcoast now and then but WTF, at what they pay, I will go gladly

 

yep you gotta earn your way. nothing is given to you. I lucked out my dm was a good guy and I hadn't driven east coast so he was giving me time to get comfortable again before he sent me out there

 

I've worked at the same place my whole driving career..My tractors were absolutely bare boned and use to draw laughs and jeers from "real" drivers, My benefits and pay would shut them up. We finally have an ex driver ordering our trucks and yes my Freightliner Columbia is the best truck that I've ever driven.I love it.Maybe I'm just easy to please,or maybe I toughed it out until things got better.
You have to look at the big picture,not how you look in a certain brand name truck. I have 30 years driving here,it's nice to be senior man,but I started out just like everyone else.

 

When I drove in the 70's i had to take a day cab from Los Angeles to NYC, every thing I have drove has been uphill from there

 

Good one, Baty. I've been looking hard for a "good company," too. I have some straight truck reefer experience, 4 years, but I'll be a rook OTR, and I know it. The drivers comments on this forum have been very helpful and useful. The main thing is to drive trucks, be reliable and a good resource for the company that's writing your checks. Just like everything else I've ever done. If the company is making profit from paying you, everything will be fine for both sides. I relate you your comments on avoiding evil thoughts.

 

Mr Ed..you got it...a truck is a tool..nothing more , nothing less...I make twice the money driving a worn out day cab with one seat and no jake than I made driving the only brand new large car I was ever in ( 95 western star big cat and 18 speed) i drove bare bone junk for a few years in 94 I went from a 83 gmc brigadeire to a new 94 ford 9000 I thought I was in tall cotton but the newness wears off quickly..then when I got into a new star i thought boy this is living but again the newness wore off quick...a truck is a truck...I am here to make money and have good benefits for my family and myself...I am not here to look cool with a big chrome truck with 600 hp I am here to make a good living regardless what I drive...a lot of guys would trade money and bennies to drive a fancy largecar, but Im not one of them...

 

I forgot to mention, the industry/insurance companies mostly want drivers to work full time for a year OTR. All weather, all roads, and loads of many descriptions give entry level drivers some basic experience. If you can handle that first year, you'll have a lot of choices, a lot more, anyway, about the kind of driving you prefer. And, you'll know more about what kinds of driving are available to you, where to look. I want to drive HazMat (always was a risk taker) and I'm looking now. It's not talked about a lot, but the insurance companies actually play a major role in transportation. Their rates decrease quite a bit for drivers with a year or more successful driving experience. That makes drivers a lot more attractive to employers. So, that first year is where to put your best effort and most focus. After that, it starts to make sense. My $.02