one frustrated trucker

Crete and Shaffer drivers earn in that range. 62 mph trucks is the only thing not in line with your post. A lot of companies offer faster trucks with longer runs and Lower pay rate. I've bit that apple a couple times myself. Need to focus more on what you need and less on what you want.

 

I got out of the industry for a bit and just recently found the need to get back to driving. The one thing I have noticed, most outfits are governing their trucks to 60-62, I decided to go with Pride Transport, they are governed at 65 with a 30 minute per day usage of 68 MPH for passing. One smaller company I applied with is set to 70, but lower pay.

I agree with Chinatown's sound advice. If it were me, I would move on and research the companies he has stated above.

I wish you the best of luck which ever direction you go with.

 

We-e-e-e-l-l-l, there you have it, Artist. Clear as mud...

Go, stay, move on, wait it out a couple months, yada, yada, yada, this one will hire you, that one will hire you, don't go back, lateral move, and hike!! Hey!! Why not flip a coin, eh?

Anytime you approach a problem with significant unknowns it's a good idea to get the big picture. First, you've got a family (and probably can't just ask for some time off until freight comes back up) and are now making less $$ than you were where you left, but since this is the slow season, you might be making these lower $$ or worse there right now, too.

Yeah, recruiters suck. And lie. And lie. And lie to keep seats filled whether they've got freight or not. Now you know. You'll have to make a decision, or decide not to decide until you've got more information. There's at least one here I wouldn't give 10-cents for his recommendations. Not!! Hopefully your next move WILL be to an outfit that doesn't turn over 100% every year. But that would take you pretty much out of truckload OTR, wouldn't it?

If you want to stay an OTR truckload trucker, then you need to put some money aside all year for this slow season, comes back every year with the white stuff, and decide whether you want to wait it out at home or stuck in their sitting truck.

Otherwise you're just playing spin the bottle...

 

This is why most BIG companies have a driver turn over ratio of 80% or better, they lie to you! Truth is, you need to stick it out with this job till you have 2 years of experience! 2 years of experience is what is required by the better companies to work for. I would suggest that after you have 2 years of experience you go to work for a company pulling platform freight. With platform freight, you have a chance to move up to heavy haul later on and make some really serious $$$. Do not be a job hopper! You will find that if you have many different jobs in a short amount of time that the list of good companies, willing to hire you, will grow smaller and smaller.

 

That's good advice from fireba11. Keep your eye on the ball.

Imagine a plumber on a plumber's web site, loves 'plumbing' so he says, hates wallowing in poop, figuring out angles, getting fittings right, that's his thing.

Okay, he's at Roto-Rooter because new construction is bust.

What to do, what to do???

Adjust, Artist. Adjust. Fireba11 says you need more than the one-year ticket you now hold. A two-year ticket will open up lots of better doors for you. Doesn't matter whether you want flats, vans, tankers, reefers, hoppers, intermodal, or bulk, really. You can be like a little kid that just can't wait until tomorrow, won't make it get here any faster.

fireba11's right, of course!!

 

Wow, a whole year's experience, and you're not CEO yet? Stick it out for a couple years. As you gain seniority and prove yourself, the job may improve. Yes, you have to prove yourself. You've already left at least one job within a year or less, job hoppers are super-common, no need to invest in making a driver happy if they're just going to leave at the slightest wrinkle in the plan. You've got to prove that you can tough out a few hiccups first. Then, if the job doesn't improve, at least your options will have.

 

Whaaaat???

LTL has only 7% turnover???? Compared to OTR truckload 100%????

Guess those LTL guys just don't know what they're missing, eh?

 

I don't know. I sorta think that these drivers that sit long periods for a load are already done,but they just don't know it yet. A strategy where they company, for reasons lesser what would require immediate termination, are found undesirable and are just being starved out of the truck. Getting a driver to quit can be a lot cheaper than firing them.

 

Artist has already proven himself by sticking with his first starter company job for 1 year. He did what so many advise; stick with your first company for at least 1 year. This second little job he has now is nothing but a mistake, so time to move on; it's not even a blip on the radar. Why should he wait another year to move to a decent job when he's already "paid his dues." He passed the magic number, "one year OTR", so now he's qualified to move on to a decent company with good pay and benefits.

Look at the situation he's in; he's divorced and lives in the truck to save money. Why should he wait another year to add thousands to his pay when he can do it right now. With more money he can do more for his children, which is what he wants. Artist is no slacker & he's asking for advice to reach his goal of providing a good life for his children which he can only see a few days a month.

 

Seems like Artist might have one more hop before he's seriously considered
a job hopper. Lots of good advice even the part of getting all endorsements.
IMO look at Fireballs idea about a company that he could work his way
into the heavy haul division. With all that time at truck stops start asking
questions of the drivers chances are the lies will be less than the recruiters.