Knight Refrigerated?

I only go to a company shop for service and then only if I am scheduled for home time. All other road side stuff go to the nearest tire shop or repair facility and call brake down. I don't see why I should lose money because they are unable to prioritize.

 

Maybe your the one that inspired me to create that character. LOL

 

I think profitability starts with the driver. I worked with several DM-s at KR. Not really making much money, until I meet Emile at the Smiths dedicated runs. I ran for him for years. If he wanted any thing done, I did it out of respect. He was a first class DM and I was getting the miles. Every DM I had after Emile I liked and I made the miles. So what changed?

I was treated fair and honest by Emile, and after that I would not accept anything less. Tyson was my DM and anyone who worked for him, I assume had all the miles they wanted.

The point is, Trucking changed the day I found a DM I could trust. My favorite words to the DM are "where are we at on the miles this month."

Regardless of the company you work for. I hope every driver out there finds a career changing manager that understands what fairness is all about.

 

I agree that successful driving at Knight has a lot to do with one's DM. Driving Express for 5 yrs, I probably had 20 DM's during that time. About 3 of them were really good (2 were former truckers, which is rare at Knight), most were right out of college---which started out as avid 22 yo's and wanting to build relationships with their drivers, but then got pressured and burned out in 1-4 mos!

But the 'good' DM's not only covered you with decent loads, but when you got out of their areas of freight, they had built up relationships with DM's/planners in other areas and still managed to cover their drivers. The Local Hometown Carrier philosophy changed Knight tremendously, making the terms compete with each other, which may have been 'good' for Knight as far as business, but was not a 'boon' for the drivers...

 

Believe it or not, I have seen a APU on a Knight truck! Wasn't a O/O.

I'm wondering if it's a test-bed truck though. I've also hauled a air-ride dryvan trailer that Knight has as well. Let me tell you, I looked under that thing a couple of times and really really really made sure it said Knight on the side. I almost went in and asked for a piss-test because I thought I was high and seeing things.

 

The sooner the better, I would call this a rocket science idea!!!

 

The history of Knight shows that they are 'short-term' oriented!

APU's are a long-term proposition, and if a co. turns over their trucks every 200-300K miles, will they get their $ back on the APU's??

I've seen some co.s that hold on to their trucks for up to 1,000,000 miles, and have APU's on them.

APU's also reduce the max freight carried by 500-800 lbs, and are 'another' thing for the shops to maintain...plus, why get APU's when you can find drivers who will sweat it out w/o one?!!

 

Alright, but who is sweating it out? I just spent a week in 90-100 degree weather, where it never dropped below the high 70's at night, and the only time I even came close to a sweat was when I was outside the truck.

Again, the trucks will idle under 34 (and you have an aux heater that will drive you out of the truck on "high"), and also idle when outside temp is above 70.

So much misinformation out there.

 

This 'supposed' misinformation is from a 5 yr Express driver with Knight, going out with a different truck every 10-14 days, and spending many afternoon's sitting in Coachella 'sweating it out' trying to get some sleep, while waiting to deliver an evening load in L.A.

Again, 'whom is the misinformer?---me or a DM posing as a driver?!!

BTW: Even when it's in the 80's, cant leave the windows open as it's 'flies' in the summer, and 'mosquitoes' at other times!!

 

Well, Sir, I have to call "########". Your info may be correct when you worked there (you did work for Knight, right?), but what I said is true. And as for being a DM posing as a driver, that is double "########"!

I don't know, maybe you did work for Knight, and maybe you couldn't idle, but I have been with Knight for 4 1/2 years now, and I never had a truck that wouldn't keep me cool in the summer and warm in the winter.