Is it just me or does this company really suck?

You might apply at TMC and Maverick. They might be willing to hire you now that you have a few months experience. Saw 3 Arrow rigs in Boyd the other day. 1st one was new and looked really sharp. A 1/2 mile behind were 2 real dogs clunking along trying to keep up. Sounded like yours. More oil on cab then in engine and rears. Good luck.

 

I have been driving for Arrow for 10 months now. I have nothing but positives to say about the company excepting what I say in all my posts that you are treated like a number. I will offer you my advice based on what you stated above.

Regional was your choice and you are not going to make anywhere near what linehaul does. I only take home $900 a week on average as a linehaul driver. I would set your expectations to 500-700 a week takehome as a regional driver. Thats about 31K a year on average. I average 3000K miles a week and stay out 4-6 weeks at a time for that pay with a week off at a time.

As for having 2 days off a week (weekends?), nobody told you that was going to be the case. Its clear that regional is 7 days on 2 days off and those 2 days may be Mon-Tue.

In my opinion, regional is not what a new driver should be doing if you want to make money for your family. You need to bite the bullet and run linehaul for a year or two (preferably) and then go find yourself a local/regional job that pays well. Small sacrifice to pay in my opinion.

As for layovers, you are paid $50 a day for that (not getting rich but better than nothing. Detention is paid by arrow after 4 hours from your scheduled delivery time. You need to tell your DM and make sure shipper/receiver signs the detention at bottom of your trip sheet.

As for truck condition, it sound like you didnt check your oil regularly from how you stated the problem above. I highly recommend that every day you check your oil, tire pressure, depth, and look at your brakes for oil or dusty/oil buildup, look at engine and see if belts tight and any signs of leaks. This takes me less than 5 minutes and I do it every day. Also, whenever your in the TA for repairs have them do a courtesy check of the truck (this alerts you to any problems that may pop up) and they usually will just adjust your breaks for no charge if they are not correct. If your in the shop all day call your dm and ask for breakdown pay ($50 a day).

Well, hope that helps you. Like I said I am very happy with Arrow and the only real complaints I hear are from regional drivers. I believe that they just had unrealistic expectations. Also, when I get to a yard, I see regional drivers hiding from dispatchers to avoid loads. To me it seems like there are a lot of regional drivers that prefer to hang out in the lounge, have BBQ's and BS instead of run.

 

Sorry to hear about your lack of loads running regional. I would recommend you talk to your DM's supervisor if your not gettin loads and communication is lacking with your DM. I forget her name but just call operator and ask for your DM's supervisor. Have u considered running linehaul for a year or two and then move to a good paying local or regional job? You will definitely take home $900 a week if u run 4-6 weeks at a time. Anyway, good luck to you.

 

Well here is what I do but thats just me. I would kick back in the motel and watch the tube, relax, and enjoy my days off. You will get $50 a day for sitting there and take the van for at least one meal at the training center. I look forward to a little time to relax because the times dont come to often. Usually your running your ### off. If during my 4-6 weeks out I get a couple days waiting for a load I just roll with it and enjoy the time not running. I think you need to RELAX because once your truck is fixed you should be fine. If not, call your DM's supervisor. One thing I have realized in this business is to relax and look at the big picture. I know from history that I am going to average take home $900 a week, so even if I were to sit for a week waiting for a truck repair, over the long run its going to average out. Getting pissed off is only affecting you and if you let those feelings out on others in the company you will really not be doing yourself any favors. Arrow is no different than the Corporate world (believe me I left it), you do your job and keep your mouth shut and you will be surprised how far you get. Or, at a minimum, how much more enjoyable it is. Anyway, I hope that helps you calm down a bit. I assure you Arrow is a good company but your going to be treated like a number (again, in every post I say this). In my opinioin there are no better companies out there to work for than Arrow for a driver with less than 2 years experience. Put in your two years and cash in on the high paying local job. Hell, after a year you might be able to find one, but with 2 years you can write your own ticket basically. Again, good luck to you and if there are any questions I can help answer just post here or send me a message.

 

Aaaahhhh, Southwest Regional. That is EXACTLY why I left. (Well, that and their beat the hell out of antique equipment) No freight at all in that region and what little freight they had was cheap as hell. I hear the OTR folks get paid better, but I don't know for sure.

 

All you guys with arrow need to see the light its a ###### company ran by idiots i worked there for 1 week and went straight back to my old job i've been in the industry for 10 years and arrow is in the top 3 of the worst companies to work for look at the polls on the other sites when you get ready to leave arrow they will keep all money's owed to you for this or that or what ever they can come up with and probably report you on dac they've done it to numerous drivers and will continue to do so just look at how many people are at orientation every week they have a huge driver turn over rate