Folk's, it's really simple!

Well Snowman - how is that training going for ya. You have been awfully quiet since you started training. Update us please.

 

Be nice, poor boy is probably waiting for the wrecker to pull him out a ditch right now.

 

apparently he got banned from this site.

 

There were so many good posts in this thread, I just wanted to highlight some key points:

As a flatbed regional driver, I don't have nearly as many hometime issues that most of the OTR van/reefer drivers do/will have. You do have your 24 hour shippers and receivers, but most steel flatbed is 8-4 m-f and very, very occasional saturdays. But what you say about getting your load there as quickly as possible is key. Now me personally, I never kill myself. My trainer told me you'll never be forced to run illegal at Builders. It's just a matter of what matters more: getting your miles, or running legal. And I'm not afraid to mark "no" in the qualcomm marco block that says "I can make the next stop on-time".

There are some people that trucking is just in their blood and they can do 3500 a week and still pass through the house. (That's including loading and unloading and deadhead). I'm not one of them. If I get 24-2600 mi, I'm ok. I want to start working their scalehouse bonus program, which is anywhere between $100-250 for each passing DOT inspection (I will cover this in a separate thread). Then I can really start working smart and not hard (my trainer said work smart and hard).

This is what you use DriversDailyLog and a printer for. Very easy to edit mistakes and reprint . Those are some of the straightest lines drawn.

This is interesting. Never though about temp agencies for OTR or regional work. Maybe local work? Anyway, another avenue to get into a company of choice, take it.

Not even so much that, but you often need to recoup your initial investment of the tuition! That and they need to start gaining some experience. I did my best to stick with one company for a minimum of 6 months. 3 months if you absolutely hate them. 1 year is ideal. So brand new drivers should try to pick a company that you wouldn't mind putting up with for 6 months. Notice I didn't say "...that you wanted to stay with."

Okay maybe not 5 years. It seems like once you get that 1 year in (maybe 2 years for some specialties), preferably at the same company, with no major preventable accidents and ur driving record is decent, you can go just about anywhere. You could even bail at the 3-6 month mark if you can get something lined up with another company. But I think getting that 6 months to a 1 year in at one company just looks better on your part when u apply to the next company. vs. having to list 10 different trucking companies on your application with only 12 months total driving time under your belt.

And yes, make those mistakes with the starter company especially flatbed. consignees can get real claim-happy if they detect that their load wasn't secured right or was wet or they want something for free or a cheaper price. Add to that your driving skills you may hit something unknowingly. Hopefully on private property or no one was looking .

Emphasis added.

It seems like the union and doubles companies are like this (near 100% legal). And you get paid for the breakdown/docktime/waiting, etc. Also ones where u get paid by the hour and may have to do short haul every now and then. So yeah, no worries about even if they keep you out all weekend (unless u had something planned).

Then there are some companies who "fake legal selectively" (or 'selectively fake legal' may sound better)" to drivers who they want to get rid of. For example, (this is based on a true story now) they may give a driver a load that they know for a fact cannot be done legally. Then the same company will have someone from the safety dept waiting at the scales. Regardless of if you are green-lighted, the company wants u to pull over to get company-inspected. They conclude that your logs do not match up and you are fired or disciplined. Funny thing is, that same company wasn't complaining when the freight mysteriously got to the consignee all those other times when they used to 'like' you.

Another example of faking legal selectively is when they pit the safety dept against the load planner/dispatcher dept. In other words, the dispatcher assigns loads with times they KNOW you couldn't accomplish legally. And then u see the safety dept coming down your throat for not matching up ur logbook with fuel or hos or engine time.

One of the realities of this trucking game is that there is no loyalty from either side, and unless you get with a "good" company, then the advice that you get what you have to and move on is not cold at all, but a wise adage to adhere to. Once you get that paycheck, the company's obligation is pretty much over. And that's just about true of all companies. So you have to also make sure that you got what you wanted as well. Every company is going to offer something that makes it a good company...just depends on what matters to the drivers the most.

Of course we all want all of the flexibility as often as possible. A "better" company would be perceived as having as many perks (great pay, max home time, rider/pet policy, inverters, roomy truck, etc.) with the least amount of headaches (sit-time, low-miles, breakdowns, missed hometime, etc). Those companies usually do not advertise heavily and turnover is usually below industry average. And unless they have a trainer program, most certainly will not hire student drivers right off the bat.

Adding to an earlier quote, there comes a point where u just have to put the time in, regardless of the company, to get the driving experience under your belt.

**The advantage I had mentally is that I came into this industry knowing that I better walk out with my year or so experience, even if it turns out trucking is not for me.

Talk to drivers on the CB and at the truckstop subways and other food chains and also at pickup and delivery points. It's a good way to find out about those unadvertised companies.

Wow, I got this done while still waiting on a load to take to Thomas and Betts. I got here around 130p and it is now 6:30p. There was another guy from Western Express who came after me and has left because his stuff was ready. They are still bundling some more rods as I type.

Looks like they finished. I only got about 230 miles or so. I can do this tonight. Can I request detention pay? sure. Will I get paid it?.................What's bad about it is that builders is one of the "better" flatbed companies.

My pms are not working and i dont know why. maybe a moderator can help on that one.

 

Except some of us figured it out years ago, even more than a decade ago, and have posted much about the subject here.

If they've help wanted ads
In the papers ever' day
Ya don't wanna work fer 'em
Ain't no #### way...

Remember that, dear readers? Sure ya do...from like March 2006.

You're welcome.

 

Then the same company will have someone from the safety dept waiting at the scales. Regardless of if you are green-lighted, the company wants u to pull over to get company-inspected. They conclude that your logs do not match up and you are fired or disciplined. Funny thing is, that same company wasn't complaining when the freight mysteriously got to the consignee all those other times when they used to 'like' you.

I can still remember what my instructor at the Voc tech said in response to my question about logging legal.

My question was what do I do if I am given a load that I can't do legally but the company still wants me to do it? His response? There is no easy answer to your question because all the answers have a potential cost to you as a driver. I can only tell you what the Law is and what can happen if you break those laws. I can not tell you what will happen to the relationship between you and the company. That would only be speculation.

USX tracked the habits of drivers on selected runs. They would have a vehicle follow you around for a couple of days to report on your driving habits. Don't know if they still do it, but my guess is they probably do.

 

It's funny to me. The original poster said that any company that advertises in truckstop magazines are the ones to be avoided. Look at all of the posts since then. Do people not read this. It is really simple. Wake up people.

 

What's funny is I just got an OOS for a logbook violation last month. I got my logbook score today and it was the usual 100%.

ROFLMAO

 

The way I read into this is that drivers should be paid by the hour. I agree. anything less is foolish on the part of the driver. No offense to others. Why don't you people want to be paid for your time. I have no arguments to any of your questions. I don't think there are any drivers out there who would challenge you. Lets give it a week just to make sure. Im not going to hold my breath.