My experience with Knight Refrigerated

keep it up smaggs

I can't believe they have it set up with the DMs that when you run out of your area that you get the shaft on loads. That is crazy. I never had anything like that at England. You keep your DM where ever you go.

 

I'am in the autobody paint business and kinda glad that I will be getting out. After 15 years of years of it, it's time to move on and I have been wanting to do this for a long time and completly understand the ups and downs and lack of money. It's not like I make alot now, about 40k which comes with high blood pressure and sleepless nights!
I have a few family members that were drivers but are know retired.
I have talked to them and they said to me you have to start somewhere.
The only reason for the limitations on the two companies is because I have to stay close to home while in school so my wife can finish up a few things before I leave.
Believe me, its not like I want to go to knight or swift, if central, stevens or prime had something out here (arizona) I would do it.

 

If you can't be out of the area during school, you might want to just wait until your wife finishes up her things. You won't be home much either way. Wait til she gets done, then go to a better company that will pay you more and with a much better reputation for training or freight. You'll thank yourself later.

 

As far as I am concerned aren't all training compaines the same. Don't they all treat newbies like sh#@! I have talked to all of them, recrutiers and drivers, some people you talk to love those certain compaines and some don't.
I guess you take everything with a grain of salt and start somewhere, and grin and bear it like Smaggs has.

 

I am supposed to be starting with Squire on Mon at 8am. Going for my cdl permit test tomorrw. Was told by Squire Transport that its paid training for their refresher course. Anyone know any info on what their refresher course is? Any OTR or is it all class time here in Phx? Won't have to do full class training and have my DOT Med card good until 2014 thru my doc.

 

Somewhat.. the only difference is, some companies don't want you to leave. And if you do, they can make it difficult for you to get hired on at another company, because of what they put on your DAC Report. Some companies tell the truth, some exaggerate the truth, and some out and out lie.

 

What exactly does smaggs have to show for all that hard work??? Bills for his back doc, gf problems, not much money..... use smaggs exp as an example of what not to do, he did what you want to do and you can see how thats working out.....or you can go the opposite way and come out ahead








American Trucker

 

So what are some suggestions to do?
Like I said before I can't get the grant, will not put it on a credit card and have little money in the bank.
If no one says to go to a company paid training, then what?
I need to make a decision quick as my current job will be ending in may!

 

Dont go to work for any trucking company. No one pays anything. If you talk with someone who says they make a lot of money, they're lying. Everyone treats you like sh't,like the shippers and consignees. Let me tell you, It's a known fact that trucking companies are looking for people that haven't ever made any money and who are dumb, cause that's the only ones that stick with it. You will put two weeks into one as far as hours go , and won't have nothing to show for it. That's why 85 prcent of everyone quits within 6 weeks. good luck

 

I can say the same thing about the autobody paint business. Any time I get a guy who is interested in this business I tell him to stay out while he can.
You have to put up with picky pain in the a@# customers who don't pay for showroom quality, insurance adjusters who screw you out labor hours (money) immature grown men(employees) and so on and on!
So I guess no matter what you do, everything gets to be annoying.