Knight

Thanks Surfer Joe ! I think that will be my goal. Wish AZ had some good smaller companies. Seems like the mid west or east coast is the areas to be in

 

Ok guys, after talking to many companies (with a grain of salt). Looks like I most likely going with Knight Refrig. planning on training in Aug. in the heat of Phoenix

 

One good thing about Reefer is that you can haul Dryvan freight to if needed to get you out of a bad area. When I drove for Knight back in 04-06 I saw quite a few Reefer guys at my pick ups. If you haven't committed to Knight, Schneider opened a Phoenix terminal this year. I would trust their training over Knights, no offense. They don't train you for your CDL though. You would have to get that on your own and they would reimburse you after/if you were hired. Just something to consider. The Schneider thread here is pretty active and the majority of it is positive. Not too bad for a mega carrier lol

 

The only negative feedback I've heard about Schneider is that they don't do a good job of getting people home and you'll be treated like an expendable tool- their trucks go 65 and the pay is honestly pretty good starting out (all I'd really care about starting out- its pretty much the Knight experience except they'll expect you to be comfortable with the truck and their training is more of an evaluation so don't expect them to help you get started like Knight will (they do pay 5 cents more per mile). Schneider is sink or swim... For this reason its usually better for guys who went through a community college 10-week program or have a bit of experience under their belt. Schneider is notoriously unforgiving of mistakes and has been known to fire drivers for simply talking on their cellphone in their yard. They are pricks but the checks are healthy and don't bounce.

 

either you have the good big money dedicated run from nj to michigan or your making big money doing whatever short run free local work they got. people say they aint makin bank doin those short runs and goin around town for free but you say they are bums!!

 

Never get a short run and not get paid. Always get extra pay for those short runs also. Yes i have a dedicated run from Jersey to Michigan and then get some nice runs back. 600+ miles each way so i do get paid constantly being on daily pay.

 

I've been working too hard lately.

Here's my last few load lengths - 2100 miles, 500 miles, 500 miles, 1000 miles, been bumping against my 70 for the last couple of days. Then the upside down triangle goes off on my dash. Now i'm sitting till tomorrow to get a forced regen followed by who knows what else.

 

That's that 7,500 mile non-service in action. Make sure when you bring your truck in for service that it actually gets serviced... had issues like this more than once. If you really need something fixed just go to a TA. TA will actually fix problems in a couple hours vs. Knight pretending to fix problems over a couple days. I brought my truck to the shop for its annual DOT (that's right a sticker), left it there for 4 days- got called up saying the truck was good to go and lo and behold I reach the terminal to discover the same expired sticker still on the tractor- mind you a thorough inspection takes a qualified professional 30 minutes...complete waste of time.

 

Well I ALMOST leased the truck I was driving. Glad the day before I did it had an electrical meltdown. Half the interior lights went out and over the last week one 12v outlet after another have burned out. Now I have one working 12v left so I have to choose between letting the food in my cooler spoil and sleeping(I use a cpap machine). Needless to say I've soured to leasing this truck or any truck from Knight. I won't up and quit and they have a gaggle of new trucks in the yard. Tomorrow I'll angle for one of those trucks.

I've begun applying elsewhere, first two questions asked from now on, "Do All of your trucks have an APU and a fridge?" If I here no to either the only thing they will here is "click". If I go someplace to lease it will have to be $1 buyout and I better hear 5year/500,000 mile warranty too.

App to JCT already sent, Lessors up next.

 

That is to bad, don't leave yet I need a good mentor !! seriously wish you the best at whatever direction you go. Stay safe