Why turnover is so high

I did, they want me to get some OTR. The recruiter even said, get 30 actual days OTR and then contact him and he may be able to work it out. I am currently going to CT. They seem to be the best fit for me, even if the pay is not the greatest.

 

I have always said that to make a good living at this does not require a driver to run 3500-4200 miles per week, or to be gone weeks on end. I run 2800 miles per week, leave out Monday morning around 8am and get back home Friday at 8am. The check is with in pennies of $1200 p/w and is direct deposited in said drivers checking account every Friday morning. It wasn't always like that, in fact I remember when I got my first OTR job back in 1980 driving for that company in SLC we all love to hate making 12 cents pm. Not to mention being gone 5-6 weeks at a time. I put my dues in back in the day, cost me a divorce, missed every possible holiday imaginable, not to mention walking into the hospital to see my ex-wife holding my newborn little girl. Been there, done that, and I will leave this profession in a New York minute if I ever have to go back to working like that again. I'm at the end of my career, not looking to start another orientation at XYZ trucking company. Smarten up people, take care of your future, it will be here before you know it.

 

Since January I have been doing truck share 7 on and 7 off. I share the truck with another driver and have a life now. If the truck needs to go into the shop I will call him or he will call me and we work around it. The company loves it because the truck runs like crazy every day, the miles are high and waiting time is very low. Most of it is pin to pin. And because the truck is moving all the time we get the better runs. I like it this way and do not want to go back to full time with weeks on end on the road. I'm sick of it.

 

Your question is easy to answer and it's not just IRT. It's the majority of the otr companies out there.

First off, most are paid by the mile. But they are not paid for every odometer mile. The companies pay practical or hhg miles. That shorts the driver either way.

Now take into consideration all the benefits provided or lack there of. Think about the basics like vacation, holiday pay, sick days, jury duty and pay for working on a holiday.

See what what they will pay for healthcare and retirement. Feeling ill yet?

Don't forget the cost of living on the road. How much is that?


Last but not least, time away from your family.


That only scrapes the surface.

Now you can see why turnover is so rampant in the otr industry. Now compare that to local drivers. Not even close.

And I will call bullsh*^ to those that say that you must do otr before you get a good job. I never did it. There are a lot more that never did as well.

Here is a way to steer clear of high turnover companies. If the company advertises in truckstop magazines or advertises on Sirius/XM radio, you can be asured that they are a company to be avoided. They advertise for a reason. And I don't think those reasons are in the drivers best interest. Thus high turnover.

Just my 2 cents. Prove me wrong?

 

Exactly the response requested that the OP deserves. IMO, these are the very reasons for turnover.
You think you can, believe you can, but when faced with reality.... I WANT TO GO HOME... is pounding inside yer head. Then, finding an LTL job near the home front becomes the mission so as to not waste the $$$thousandsof.dollars spent to get that CDL

Firstly... these are personal opinions that have no valid use to the OP.

Secondly.... Each contradicts the other and are not accurate. Marverick, hires newly licensed, each person is required to perform tasks during their in-house training that may or may not allow them to move forward i.e. if you're female and cannot lift 75 lbs over your head you will be given a bus ticket home. This may be important to a flatbed puller.. but not a refer puller and .... praise be to the higher powers... Maverick is holding all wanna be (stuck at 58 mph) drivers to the same standard regardless of division.

.54 cpm after 35 years? wow.

I started as a new driver pulling refer with Magnum out of Fargo at .31 cpm... got a .03 increase after 90 days... got .01 increase for being driver of the month in June..

New pay scales take effect Oct 1 that cap the max at .48 per mile. I was informed I would be at the top. Not bad for a "door closer" with a year of experience.

This is pertinent and actually worth reading twice. Don't take the first one that sends you a pre-hire letter as the only company out there.... read the forums and educate yourself.

You have it right Micah.... you don't get to be the president of the company on your first day. You have to earn it and along the way you may decide this line of work is NOT for you.

 

My experience in the Navy (over 20 years) has taught me that hard work and dedication will be returned with advancing in the ranks and better pay; but my childhood was different, my father drove these massive vehicles and watching his hard work earn him adequate pay and a lot of time on the road time, I realized that it was NOT easy work. I have researched quite a bit and spoke with my father and my friends that have been in the industry and learned that in this business NOTHING comes easily. I am just going to do things how I am taught, be as safe as I can, keep my nose clean, do my best to choose the right company for my situation and do what I can to provide the means I must to keep my family feed, housed and happy. I will show my respect to those around me that aren't being totally ###es and do what I can to help others when I can.

Micah
"Chief"

 

You said a mouthful there,the harder you work the less respect you get.

 

I drink Scotch myself.

 

#### it all! I tried to prove you wrong but I just can't do it.

 

Why turnover is so high:
-Guys who either can't hack it, complain too much about every little thing that doesn't go their way, or both.
-Guys who have a lot of bills to pay and decide to pursue the greener grass on the other side of the fence which has been fertilized with BS, instead of cutting back, staying put, and living within their means.

Just a side note and a recommendation: If you're a young driver, or young and considering going to truck driving school, ask yourself the following question. Are you married? Do you have kids? If you want to make trucking your life (or, at the very least, your career) and the answer to both questions is no, KEEP IT THAT WAY!!!!!