My experience with Knight Refrigerated

So here's a cap on what I think of my job and what happens to me. This is going to sound really crappy, so buckle up!

Here is what Knight does.

You get out of trucking school. You're a noobstick, like me! I've almost got a year in, which is amazing in this industry anymore. I've met about a dozen other night drivers who all washed out within 3-9 months.

Knight has a messed up dispatching system. How do I know? I asked every DM I had. I've had DMs come and go. They all said the same thing... "Knight's dispatching system is very hard on the DMs, I've worked at other companies and Knight's system is very difficult to adapt to"

The other thing. You get a week where you get 3500 miles? Good, right? WRONG. They keep track and you will not break 600 miles next week. They have to keep you under 7500 miles a month, so you don't get a bonus. If you get the miles, Knight will find another method to deny you your quarterly safety bonus. I've never gotten one. There's always some crappy excuse. "you idled too much" which is untrue. I NEVER idle unless it's over 80 degrees and it's too hot to sleep, or if it's below 20 degrees. THOSE ARE THE RULES and I follow them.

In the winter, I hook jumper cables from my reefer to my tractor. WHY? So the already running reefer keeps my tractor charged so I can run my bunk heater when it is very cold out. Somehow, I still "idled too much"

DO NOT get your hopes up about their bonus incentive, you will never get it. I've met probably 50 or more drivers that have not gotten their bonus EVER. I have not met a single driver that says they have gotten one.

WATCH your stuff if you go to the Phoenix, AZ yard or the Fontana, CA yard. I've had tools stolen, someone even stole my brake knobs, because they screw on. I had my company issued padlock stolen and I've even had my load locks stolen while in a secure Knight yard. There is a guy at the Fontana yard that will take your stuff out of your truck and toss it over the fence to get later. Be careful out there.

Knight's trucks all work on only a few keys per manufacturer of truck. My 2010 volvo key works on most Volvos, even the brand new ones. I told another Knight driver that. He said I was full of it... then I proceeded to unlock his door with my key!!!! WHY DO YOU THINK KNIGHT HAS 3-6 digit start codes on the dash? BECAUSE... ANYONE, ANYWHERE can enter your truck!!!! Trust me. Try it. You will thank me later.

Some GOOD things to say about Knight...

The Columbus, OH yard shop is AWESOME. I've been there several times for service. They can do an A service in under an hour and a B service in less than three. They really do the work and every shop guy I've met there has been helpful and will even answer any questions you might have about equipment, maintenance or even show you how things work if you ask them.

More BAD stuff...

Be careful if you're like me and work 48 states. THE INSTANT you enter another DMs territory, your good miles turn into #### miles. They steal your loads, they dispatch you on crap miles with 4 stops and you will be force-dispatched. Nobody will help you when this happens. Why? Because YOUR DM has "no control" when you're based out of Phoenix and you're over in Georgia or some other far away state.

I'm not saying to avoid Knight. I'm telling you this, because I'm sure EVERY mega carrier sucks. You are a rookie, you have to eat #### your first year or two. Just like any other industry, you have to pay your dues, or get lucky and know someone who gets you into something better and sooner.

I'm sticking out my year if I can... I hope I can. It's HARD. It's soul crushing. I feel like a huge piece of #### every time I climb into my truck.

Also. I hate Volvo. Short wheelbased throw away trucks. Bumpy rides, too. My tailbone and spine are all messed up. My chiropractor can't believe I haven't busted it yet. My back, I mean.

I would love a better job with a real truck. Also would be nice to not get lied to. I think the first thing they teach new DMs is how to lie to their drivers.

Fortunately, I recently got a new DM, who actually tries to help me. My experience has been less painful since he came along. He also gave me some inside info on what goes on in the office, so I sleep a little better at night, I guess.

I'm tired. I've been on the road since February 10th, just got home yesterday (April 23rd) flarpppppthppppththth.

 

I didn't get the Buffalo offer. I guess they either found someone closer or closed the position. I'm still in Phoenix and I'm likely moving to Pittsburgh this summer to be closer to home.