Knight Transportation - Adventures in a big red truck

Wasn't sure I was going to do a thread but I've decided to.

Little background first. I've been trucking Since 2004. Worked for several different companies during that time including a Five year Stint with Knight. Left trucking in Dec 2012 to pursue other interests and decided in February 2014 it was time to get back in a truck. Sent out lots of apps to see what was available. Found out that being away for a year seems to be the magic limit. Nobody was interested unless I wanted to go through training with them. Well Knight got back to me and said based on my driving history with them they could put me right back in a truck. So I was off to orientation at the North California division March 10th.

Orientation was a lot of boredom mostly. Fill out paperwork watch videos. Take a physical. Road test. Pretty much what you'd expect at any big company. Started orientation with 5 drivers. Lost one on day one because he couldn't pass the eye test. Lost another right before truck assignment because his heart rate didn't come back down fast enough during the work well. Didn't suprise me because he was a chain smoker.

Out of orientation I got sent to the Fairview, OR yard to grab a North Cal truck(the trucks are assigned to specific locations) that had been left up there. Got the truck and it was in good mechanical shape but could have been cleaner inside. Since then I've been running pretty steady with my miles being 2782 the first week and 2687 the second.

Another guy that made it out of my orientation seems to be having a different experience though. He's telling me he hasn't been getting miles and he's not making enough money. I told him first to give the recruiter a call because she did say if you don't get at least 2500 a week to let her know and then to contact the division manager as well. He was assigned the same DM as me so I'm wondering why the variance. My prior history with the company might be getting me better loads I don't know though. Maybe he's rubbing our DM the wrong way. Or it's just luck of where I'm at at a given time versus where he is at.

Knight's not perfect(no apu's, no fridge, slow trucks if you idle, etc.) but then again no company is. I do appreciate them giving me a chance to get back into trucking. I plan on sticking it out here for a couple of years then reevaluating. Only a lack of miles would change that and then only after I have a solid year back.

If you have any questions feel free to ask, like I said this isn't my first time on the big red rodeo.

 

Truck needed an "A" service today and I'm running low on hours with little to gain back at midnight. So they are gonna fix the little things I found wrong when I picked up the truck while I take a 34. Will get back after it on Wednesday.

When I first started working for Knight they had all the miles you could fit into your comic book. Then the bottom dropped out of the economy and miles went to pot. Not just at Knight but in the whole industry. Seems like the miles are there again and the only real limit is the new HOS with it's two new goofy provisions.

 

Ever notice how the driver's lounge at a terminal(doesn't really matter for what company) resembles the bar scene from Star Wars?

Glad I snagged a sleeping room to hide out in while my truck is worked on and I get in a 34.

 

Truck is out of the shop and I've got pre loaded trailer to pick up as soon as my hours reset tomorrow morning.

 

Got a 630 mile load but It doesn't deliver till friday at 0800. Solution, Take my 10 off tomorrow night at the customer so I'm ready to roll with fresh hours as soon as I'm empty. It won't bring back the lost time but at least it will help me start catching up on miles for the week.

 

Okay DM came through for me yesterday. Got me a drop in the yard on the run that had too much time on it and another load to pick up. After playing mystery trailer search for a couple of hours I was able to get an empty and pick up the load. Then I got as many miles as I could before bumping my 14. Result, a 150 mile day turned into a 500 mile day.

Delivered that load today and found a bolt in one my drives. Getting the tire sorted out at the shop now and I'm gonna have a load arrive at the yard to run into a customer about 200 miles away tonight once the truck and my 14 are good to go.