us exspress

The comments about training bring up a good point. After reading the posts about the horror stories (and I've heard more outside of these forums than I care to know), it's no wonder that we sit around waiting for trainers.

I would never become one. I applaud those that can as it certainly cannot be a good job to have. Is it the money that attracts trainers? Is it that company trainers want to improve the company by getting good solid professionals on the road? Could it be a combination of both?

For those of us that aren't lunatics in one way or another - why can't the recruiters zero in on good employees rather than sending out whatever walks through the door? Is there no screening process once the orientation is done? If that's the case, then there is a serious breakdown of the system.

I used to manage offices and handled my share of human resource duties. I never put anyone out there that I didn't meet face to face. While it was bad enough in a legal office setting, it seems to me that potential trucking trainers put their lives on the line, depending on someone else to send them someone other than an ax murderer. Does anyone know if there is any type of safeguard from putting these defined nutcases out on a truck?

 

Billy,

Most of the time it is the money - of course... The actual income for truckers is actually much less now than it was in the 70's - when trucking still was a good job - and truckers were in general considered "Knights of the Road"..

There simply was a different attitude, the drivers were still treated with respect - and made decent money - and drivers had time to stop and help others - and they - we - did... The major reason for this was simply due to the majority of the drivers were union drivers - and had both protection from abusive companies and a decent income and schedules. And I think the percentage of OO's were larger as well..

Today with the often harsh "On Time Delivery" schedules drivers simply do not have the time - or are even allowed - to stop and help other drivers.. And the recording equipment in the trucks and GPS will often give you away if you do stop - with perhaps a negative comment or at worst dismissal...

As for recruiters, they are paid by bodies walking thru the door - and to be honest with you - only pressing money problems are now often the only reason someone will consider - or get into trucking. And the conditions - not being able to park in many cities, not being able to run the engine so you can stay cool or warm, many companies - like USX - using over the road drivers/teams as local drivers for a day or two every time they finish a long haul with the resulting loss of miles and income - is enough to stop many from staying in the job or with the company - and add to this the prevailing attitude that you are simply a number - of many - or perhaps not so many but still a number - with the resulting treatment - and you have all the ingredients for a huge industry turnover...

Add to this the recent change in service hours - 11 hours instead of 10 - and you should have no problem understanding why trucking is no longer an attractive profession.

And as someone else mentioned - that some of these companies get an incentive from the government for every driver they put thru school - in addition to what they suck out of the driver - in fees or low, low cents/mile rates - and you see why they are not really inclined to change...

And, no, there really are NO safe guards - the driving rule for the companies is THE BOTTOM LINE..

HM

 

HighMiler and Badger: You both speak intelligently of the respect that any employee, trucker or not, deserves and no longer gets as they once did. If you go back and read the posts, even from this thread alone, you are right when you say there are so many negatives being brought to the table. And to top it all off, we are writing back and forth under the heading "Good Trucking Companies." I'd hate to see what is being said under the "Bad Trucking Companies" threads!

Just out of curiosity, what would happen if one of us went into the administrative side of the business and brought some genuine lessons of respect to be taught to those already there? An infiltration if you will.

Let's say for example that after one of the inside trainers or other office employee got off the phone with a driver and then made fun of them (like we've heard about here), a sensible co-worker interjected his or her displeasure with their attitude? Might shake some things up, wouldn't you think? Nothing is impossible - I've seen it done.

How about brainstorming some ways that we might be able to re-secure that respect that once was? While I understand that the Company calls the shots (in general) and sets the tone and direction, it occurs to me that we at least have the opportunity to raise the standards to a better degree. I read one of the earlier posts where it has been suggested that attacks on one another will get us nowhere.

What about attitude, appearance, and a sense that we are professionals and not whatever it is that some others may think of us? Each time I come here to make a post, I start at the beginning - every time - and read every post first before responding. This thread has steadily gotten more mature and adult in nature. Of course there will always be a few that have to add something that doesn't fit this mold, but there is now a sense of attitude that could be utilized industry wide. Should we ever be lucky enough to achieve the goal of treating each other with respect, then the companies would have no choice but to stand up and take notice. After all, if we are bickering amongst ourselves, why would any company look at us any different?

These comments are made in and of a general nature. I don't know whether the negatives are said because the writer can't think of anything better to contribute or the writer simply doesn't understand. Constructive criticism, however, is healthy.

 

Billy - that is exactly it. Every since Ronald Reagan started attacking and killing the unions and the subsequent de-regulation of the trucking industry, it has gotten worse and worse - not only for drivers but for employees in general.. The checks and balances that exist in general in Europe for example is totally absent in the US..

Nothing.. You do not seem to understand - it is a deliberate choice these companies have done. They have decided there is more profit for them by mistreating drivers and deal with the huge turnover. This way they manage to pay the drivers basically minimum pay as few stay for more than a year..

Not in the trucking industry you haven't. These guys have fixed rules on how to deal with the drivers. What will happen more likely is that this employee will find him/herself looking for another job...

Yes, of course attacks on each other will get us nowhere - but the way the US has slipped back to what is in effect the 1920's with no unions and laws that force the drivers to drive longer and work harder - should tell you that there is exactly ZERO chance of this...

Compare the attitude and reaction with the Spanish drivers in the last couple of years - how they deal with the high prices of fuel...

One of the reasons for the inability here is that there are few oo's (owner operators) left in the US which translate directly to less power for the drivers...

Of course they would have to take notice - but for this to happen there would have to be more or less a union that had some clout - and there isn't. And drivers being able to afford to shut down for several weeks - and most now are living right on the edge - or under it.

You need to recognize that the US has changed. There is no more the cohesiveness that kept the country together - the respect between the employer and employee. There is no longer a feel that we all have to work together and together we will make this country better and in the meantime we will all have a decent life - employees as well as the employed..

What has ruled since Reagan is quick profits, outsourcing and if that means fire thousands of workers - that's fine. Workers (drivers) are 13 to the dozen and have no value. Just look at what Ford announced last week. Shutting down factories in the US and building a new one in Mexico..

How long do you think it will be before the Mexican drivers will do the major part of the work in the US?

The trucking companies are not interested in constructive criticism - what they are interested in is the BOTTOM LINE - the profit - ONLY - and if they think they make more profit mistreating and churning drivers, fine..

Where the EU have actually improved the driving environment and hours for commercial drivers, the US has done exactly the opposite.

HM

 

I once said this as a joke, but now I think it might be good advice "I think they should road test all new trainees in a car first.This would weed out alot."

 

Even though that's funny about road testing in a car first, it's true. There does seem to be some drivers that somehow made it to a company that can't even shift or back up.

Here's an update as I promised on U.S. Xpress: They left me hanging out to dry. After orientation, I was sent home because of no available trainers and that was pretty much the end of that. I am attempting to sign on with Roehl Transport, but am having snags there as well.

I don't see myself going with the horrible ones that take anybody, but what companies would be worth checking out?

 

Hey Big Rigger finished orientation last Wed. sitting at home waiting 2-3 weeks for trainer....looking at other companies i know US will show I worked for them

 

Are you telling me that they could not come up with a trainer at all? In how long time? Is - was - there any other reason why "at was pretty much the end of that"? If they sent you home, did they pay for that?

Well, Billy, this is the ten thousand dollar question - that sum is at least the difference between a good, decent company that will pay a driver commensurate to what he/she is worth...

HM

 

Good evening, HighMiler.

I was assigned to a Training Supervisor that was in charge of setting up the drivers with a trainer (at least I think that is what he is called). I was warned repeatedly at orientation that if I ended up with this guy that nothing would happen. Well guess what? Nothing happened. I don't wish to reveal his name, but I am told that the other supervisors are far superior in their handling of the training issues. (And no, I am not being paid while at home.)

As a veteran, I have to try and work any medical appointments around the truck schedule. Since my supervisor did not find me a trainer, I made an appointment with a VA doctor. The trainer called me while I was sitting in the waiting room at the VA and asked me how soon I could get to Orlando (about an hour away). He said he had a trainer sitting there that was getting ready to load and asked if I could go RIGHT NOW! Of course I said I couldn't.

The only thing that was accomplished during that transaction was that the supervisor could now gloat that he tried to get me a trainer but I wasn't available. At the end of our conversation, he said he would put me back on the list and try again. I've since called and said thanks but no thanks.

I graduated from driving school in April 2008. There is no reason that I should still be sitting at my house. Once I decided to start looking at other companies, I decided to try Roehl Transport. The snags, to the best of my knowledge, have been worked out. But that's what I thought about U.S. Xpress. While I have been negotiating with Roehl, I have been applying for positions back in my original field - insurance and the legal arena. In my opinion, if two companies do the same thing, they must all be doing that and I don't think it's wise to waste my time any longer on this venture.

Some good lessons here, though. I'm out $6,000.00 from a school that I didn't need in the first place and toward an industry that both have turned out to be nothing more than a scam, red tape, and misinformation. There are no decent jobs and the ones that one must take for the first six months before finding a reputable company, if one exists, does not even come close to paying the bills. Lucky for me that I am not in debt for this fiasco, just that much short from my personal bank account that needs to be replaced.

While I will definitely agree that virtually all of the posts from everyone over these past two months have been relatively accurate, I believe that the only reason that I held out so long was by the way the ideas were presented. I recall suggesting in one of my last posts that adult conversations can be had without these constant slams against one another. I think that the frustration level must be so high among the drivers that they feel they have no one else to vent their anger toward except one another. I have most certainly enjoyed the latter part of the dialogue between you and a few others.

Should Roehl accept my application, I will go with them. If for any reason they do not, I will move on to other areas in which I have experience. I will keep you posted! Again, though, this has been an enlightening journey and one that I'll simply chalk up to experience.

 

Good Morning, Billy...

I am truly sorry you have had this experience. And the sad part is that you are by no means alone. I can pretty much guarantee this happens hundreds of times every day in this country...

I posted another thread you may be interested in reading. It concerns driving and working conditions in England and when you read it you'll realize that truckers there work much less, have union power and make much more money than the average trucker in the US - while having much more paid vacation and benefits..

The thing is that ever since the Republicans and Reagan managed to de-regulate the business it has gotten worse and worse for the average driver - and for the average American as well. The only ones better off are the 5% of the higher paid population who are steadily getting better off.

Back to you. I think you should write a letter to the president of US Xpress, let him know your experience with the company and also send him a link to this site - you never know - maybe he'll have an epiphany...

Something to think about - check with the local gravel haulers in your area. They might be open to take you on and you'll be home every night - and make overtime if you drive more than 40 hours...

Yes, the industry is ripe and full of scams - and the driving schools are some of the worst. But many trucking companies are in this racket as well. There must be tens of thousands of women and men who went thru the driving schools, signed a contract to work for a year in order to get the contract paid off - and quite due to the working conditions - and are as you saddled with a big bill, which I am sure is tied to a hefty interest rate - and in the end they end up with destroyed credit..

Good luck to you - and keep us informed..


here is the link to the post about working conditions in England:

http://www.thetruckersreport.com/tr...are-working-salary-and-conditions-europe.html


HM