June 2012

I was ready to quit May Trucking after my first 2 mos. on the job. I experienced so many of the same frustrations others have been voicing on this forum about truck driving in general and the same specific complaints regarding May. I remember calling my best friend in Tampa, FL who is a very wise counselor and experienced in the corporate world as an auditor of large companies books. After expressing my many frustrations, he said "you have three options:"

1. Quit (which I couldn't do with only 2 mos exp no one would rehire me).
2. Take it (which I'm not prone to do because I don't like taking crap from anyone).
3. Start finding ways to climb the rungs of the corporate ladder so that when the crap comes rolling down it won't hurt or effect you as much.

So, that's exactly what I did. I started finding out who the players were that could help facilitate my advancement, etc. I built liaisons, friendships outside of the corporate structure, etc. It's amazing what a hand-written Christmas card that is delivered in person can do

Things changed for me...

If I felt I needed a new DM, I got one.

If it was in my best interest to change my home terminal, I did. If I needed a load, I knew who to call. If I needed reimbursement for idle time, I knew who to call. If I needed detention pay covered covered, I knew who to call, etc, etc, etc.

In the process, I also learned that there are certain things that I could not change or influence. The corporate big wigs have adopted a certain business model that works for generating the most profit for the owner and no matter how hard you try and influence that, you will have no luck. That's just the way it is in the real world. So, I learned what that was and stopped fighting what I couldn't change and worked the system in the ways I could to position and maximize myself in every way I could within reason.

I paid my dues and put in the time. Now I've moved on. However, don't regret my experience there at all. It's a great place to learn the ropes in the industry. Yet, not a great place to spend one's whole career as a driver. That's just the cold hard truth. In the long run, I get the impression that the powers that be there, don't really give a crap if driver's stay or go.

Of course, that's just my humble opinion

 

AGAIN...I GOT THOSE MILES FROM DAY ONE, I have only had 2 students the last 3 months...and yet my YTD is already 60% of my total for last year already
you seem to be more in the business of complaining about not making money...LEAVE MAY and make money somewhere else...and, if you don't make money there...chances are; you're the issue!

 

Glad to here scooter knew who to talk to get reimbursed for idle time, dentention pay, who the palyers are etc etc. In business plan that is the worse way to run a business. This will only lead to low profits and high cost of business. Management should never, never play favorites. When someone gets a favor it is usually costly to the company. This does not even include morale. Then for the business to cover lets say a drop and hook as oppose to live load to play favorites it is like a snowball. It does not effect just one person but many to make it work. It will delay or put a load in a position to have to make more sacrafices to get it there in time. All you have to do to see this is look at oh lets use denver. You have 3 to 4 guys waiting for a load over the weekend. Their DMs all knew pta and the situation. Yet they sit over a weekend becuase of poor planning. When you get behind it just gets worse and worse over time. Having 3 to 4 trucks sitting still cost money. Not to mention drivers attitude. Oh the DM gave a friend a load so he wont sit but it ended up making 3 sit. Seems to me planners and logistics are the problem with May. Currently there are over 18 trucks sitting in Denver yard. This cost the company money. Then management needs to address training issue. Poorly trained drivers cost May money, either accidents, late fees, efficiency. Again it is like a snowball it just gets bigger and bigger. We will not go into the class action lawsuit regarding pay, lack there of, unethical practices. It also seems to me May has lost sight that it is the driver who makes the money for the company not safety, human resources,planners, management. Those positions are there to compliment and tweek things to get the maximum profit. Sending a driver out of his way to save a few cents for fuel is stupid and bad business. it cost more in the long term than short term. Efficiency is key. It is turn and burn. More frieght moved more profit. Trucks that dont move with a load cost the company money. It is again the snowball principle. Oh and it does take money to make money. Yes a company can not make everyone happy all the time, but making a few happy pets is not profitable. This is not a knock on scooter, it is business. Never do business with friends. These are just some basic business points not rocket science. Good ole boy systems fail in the long run.

 

May has developed a business model that works for him. His model is based on entry level drivers being micro-managed on scheduled appts and sit times which average the drivers take to around 2,000 miles per week company wide.

Trying to influence upper management to correct some of things that you and I believe are inefficient and counter-productive to making money is like talking to a wall.

Believe me, he's not losing money. Even if his margins are only 3% net, I suspect his profit is somewhere between 5 to 7 million a year. Would I be in favor of him spreading the wealth a little more among the drivers? Heck yeah! Wouldn't hold my breath though.

 

up until this last time coming off hometime, I usually had a preplan waiting for me when I was done with my current load. I never really sat much, one time in GA I had a preplan that picked up on like sunday morning and it was friday afternoon when I was ready, I went to the shipper saturday morning to see if he 'needed my trailer' and they loaded me right then. Tho the past few runs I've delivered and just chilled before anything was sent to me, I still haven't waited more than a few hours for a dispatch but things do seem to be slowing down a bit. I'm sitting at the hinsdale oasis on 294 if anyones passing by!!!! whats wrong with these people in panda express dont they know im hungry?! chicken is good at 7am too!!!

 

Of everything I liked while working at May, the idle charging completely set me off and ended it for me.

 

Look into jb hunt in your area. I'm grossing 1100 a week 780 take home and I'll prove it. work Mon thru fri home everyday weekends off. Home depot dcs I thought I was gonna miss otr not at all. .53 cpm $19.50 hr as soon as you get on property. I'm getting paid hourly now waiting for a blow out to get fixed. I was iffy since its a mega carrier but getting great settlements every week