Don't be a job jumping baby.

At my age, I understand perfectly that when you go into a new situation, dues must be paid and sticking it out will eventually pay off. Small problem: My first job started in January '07, and of course it was one of the top three in size, and has a reputation that makes them infamous. I grossed under $5900 in 22 weeks mostly due to sitting in a terminal waiting for maintenance or sitting in some obscure little town waiting for a load. In both cases, I spent crazy money just so I could eat. The last thing I wanted to do was go through the newbie process and be low man on the totem pole again - it only costs me money. But staying with a company that doesn't allow you to at least pay your mortgage and averaging $268 per week with close to $100 going to just eating is unconscionable.
The second company I went with in June '07 was very good about getting me in and set up to roll, but the earnings, loads, and dead time aren't much different. The pity of it all is I came enthusiatically to work and my driving record is impeccable. I wouldn't have cared how much they ran me, just don't let me sit and call it paying dues. There has to be at least one company out there where I have worth. Companies may claim "just stick it out", but ultimately your paycheck always reflects your worth to your employer. I'm beginning to wonder if I'm doing something wrong or overlooking how to manipulate this business to my favor. Any thoughts from the veterans out there?

 

I take home between $700-900 a week and I am home on weekends. My biggest check was $935.00 after everything came out. You are not in our hiring area, so we won't be for you. Keep looking and researching something will turn up. Good luck!

 

Honestly I don't wanna work OTR career-wise. I just want the experience and the adventure for a couple of years while I'm young. Then I can settle back in my hometown and drive a nice bus or something. Hell even being a Greyhound bus driver for a while sounds fun. Maybe drive a moving truck or something. I don't care much about the money. Anything CDL-wise is better than working at a fast food joint or grocery store. I plan to self study and become HVAC certified, A+ certified, and Network + certified. Perhaps even more. Trucking is just one stage in my path of different professions in my life. I don't wanna marry one career field. But I do understand that if I don't drive for at least a year accident free that I might as well kiss CDL jobs goodbye.

 

Cloudrider, I hope I didnt give the impression that a person should NEVER leave a bad job. You certainly sound like you had very good reasons for leaving. I wouldnt call what you did "job jumping", rather "self preservation" Like I said right off in my post, when it comes to trucking I have no right to speak, I was only refering to those who always see greener pastures over the horizon, and never even bother to try watering their own! I sincerely hope it all works out for you. Whenever I hear of these type of stories it makes my blood curdle thinking of what I may be getting into.

 

I am CompTIA, A+ & Network+ certified....guess what...I make more driving a truck

 

But a atleast you have the experience under your belt. And are a little wiser for it.

 

NO, NO! No wrong impression! I do wonder how many others have to deal with this kind of madness, and if this is typical of the first year in this industry. I'm on my way to the 3rd job and keeping my fingers crossed that the madness doesn't repeat - orientation, training, set-up, and no work! Scary!

 

Wife has a great job, could actually live off her income alone, it would be tight, but we could do it. But stay at home dad, or driving a desk is just not for me.
I know the rules, I know the score, and I fully intend to play the game with the cards stacked against me.

I know I will sit:
I will sit for repairs to the truck, or the trailer, that someone else has beat the crap out of.
I will Sit for loads, to drop off or pick up, that are not there, because I was tired and didn't take the time to preset my next load.
I will Sit with no hours left to my name because I was not paying attention to my logs, or someone took eight hours to load me halfway.
I will sit for a load shift, because I am overweight, and I was dumb enough to go into the yard with full tanks.
I will sit, and I will sit.

And If I have cell phone coverage, I will sit on the phone.
To my dispatch, keeping them up to date.
To my wife and kids, keeping up to date with them, and letting them know how I am progressing. Asking my boys what they learned in school today.
To my Parents, keeping up to date with their health, and how my baby nephew is doing in school, since his mom got her self locked up.
To my friends, asking them how their load is going, or where they are, and generally just bugging the hell out of them.

I will also drive. And when I drive, I am free.

Yes, bad things will happen.
Yes, your dispatcher is going to forget something important from time to time. They are human after all, and they are not on the road with you.
Yes your life will be rough, but remember, your life will only be as rough as you make it on yourself.

As long as you can adapt and overcome, you can make anything worth the wait.... well... as long as there's something at the end of the road worth waiting for.
A person, honest, with their self, can tell when they are getting the short end of the stick.

Wow! I didin't mean to preach, and hope no one took offense lol.
I am stuck at home, bored off my butt lol

 

If you just want the 'flavor' of the road and dont really need the $$, can find co.s after that 1st year who will let you run 'casual,' some as little as 1 day/mo!! Course no insurance or other benefiits...

 

Don't get me wrong, we want the money. lol
If I didn't want the money I could sit and play 18 wheels of steel at home for free.
We want the money.
If for no other reason then, to lift us out of this 2 bedroom apartment lol.
But let's not delude ourselves.
I know there's gonna be good weeks, and bad weeks. There's gonna be days on end of non stop driving, followed by mind numbing hours of sitting. First year pay will blow chunks. But I know its comming.
It comes with the territory.
I am just saying, put your best foot forward, learn from your mistakes, and keep on keepin' on.
Point is, if your sitting, don't just sit. Take the good with the bad, and make the bad into something good.
I guess I didn't make that clear in my last post, or you only read the first part of my post and didn't care to read the rest,
As for the 'flavor' of the road, as you call itlol, I agree.
You don't even need to drive. Get in good with a driver at United, or Atlas, or Allied and go lumping. Course that 'Flavor' can be awfully hard to live without once you get used to it.

And hell, like you said.

You have any idea how many Gravel Companies are hurting for drivers right now? If, after your first year, you find Line haul not to be your thing, Haul Local.
Starting wage around here for Class A Gravel Hauling is about $16-$17 an hour, to start. Paid Holiday's. Paid Vacation after first year. Home every night. Insurance I think is a bit iffy. Paid Sick Leave.

In Fact you know what.... that doesn't sound so bad after all lol