So Many Bottom Feeders, So Little Time....

On this my inaugural post I wish to express my sincere thanks and gratitude for all the experienced truckers and even some of the noobs for their testimonies on this website for me to digest.



At issue in this New Thread: I am trying to narrow down my choices for which company I wish to get abused by. Not being a masochist, I wish to keep the torture to a minimum. Hence, CR England, Stevens, Swift, and Werner are not eligible for consideration.

I have a 'pre-hire' from Schneider for a Regional Gig, but they already played the 'ooops, just kidding ' card with me regarding the $4k signing bonus which was offered at the time I started my CDL School but then said bonus disappeared into the night with its invisible ink. I preferred Schneider's regional offer because running it would keep me out of NYC and the mountain ranges. Their yard is 43.6 miles away, 37 of it highway miles, and two $0.75 tolls paid twice every week as the route is scheduled to get me home for the 34 hour restart.

I do wish to be paid by the hour if possible; Old Dominion, an LTL oufit who pays hourly and whose yard is the closest to where I reside (8 miles), is the only outfit that is currently accepting applications from recent graduates in the Chicagoland/Northwest Indiana area that I know of as of this posting. Local jobs around here usually require 12 months experience.

The third company is kinda, a, uh....'rogue'... :-S ma-and-pa company owned by an Eastern European, Russian or Polish or Lithuanian. The trips would be 2,000-2,500 one-way from O'Hare Airport area to destinations in California. Oh, and as if this is not bad enough, I would have to pull a reefer and deal with lumpers too. Also, the pay is 1099 and not W-2, so another 7.65% off the numbers and no Workers Compensation. And--many desert miles for more dice rolls of the truck breaking down 50 miles from civilization. So, why am I considering this opportunity? $1,675 per trip . The yard for this company is ten miles away through just-a-step-better-than hard-core city traffic. Run six days, off the seventh.

Yuppers---it is all about the money---no matter how little or infrequent it is or how stressful or how hard to earn the greenback it is. I can look through post cards and family albums to see the country--took many trips while I was growing up. Lifestyle--when one is broke (as I am now), not many lifestyles can be worse than a 'zero' life. Get a job at Mc Donald's or Burger King? I am not young nor a minority so no chance in my 10 mile radius. Additionally, If you think that $8.76/hour is enough for making a living, then please draw me a sketch on how its done!

The game plan is to attempt to survive one year--that then play the Jefferson's Theme Song--"Movin'---on Up..." If I can get on a Old Dominion, I can see a career there. I do get mezmerized with what Owner Operators can gross, but regardless, I am going to be a Company Driver for at least the first twelve months.

I may even consider teaming with someone for the first six months---but this is a REALY big "IF". Getting on with Conway, an LTL, is a thought once I get six months experience. I am not sure if they pay by the hour though.

I have a great living situation currently (paying below market rent while living with my sister), but I am also more than willing to relocate to Indianapolis or Northern Indian or most anywhere in the "Dixie South". Qualifiers: nothing northeast of Binghampton, NY, , no desert areas, and nothing North of the southern tip of Lake Michigan. No New Orleans either.

All respectful and helpful replies and/or suggestions will be appreciated.


Regards,

CastingMyFateToTheWInd