Are big companies really that bad?

You won't get much really other then a pay check from them and they won't usually do any extra for the driver. Like some will say one day off for every week working. What they fail to also say is they have like a 3 day limit of truck sitting at home. So if you go out 6 week you may still only get 3 days off.

I had one of the big carries tell me if I was sick enough to go hospital. That what they think being sick and not able to drive the truck.

 

I think this is true to a large extent. The "megas" have earned a reputation for being bad places to work. Some of that reputation is perhaps rightfully deserved due to some of the business and employee relations practices but a lot of too, is many new drivers go into employment with these large training companies with unrealistic expectations.

It's about your attitude and being able to think longer term. These places should be considered as a beginning phase of a new career. Nothing more nothing less.

But all of the places have more than a few who have worked there 5+ years and are happy. Prove yourself. Be in position to take new bigger and better opportunities within the company and who knows what it may lead to.

 

You can't believe everything you read on the internet. Usually those with the loudest voice do the most talking and the least listening.

I work for a mega. I started hometime on tuesday at 2am and go back on monday 5am.

I also work my butt off and try not to complain. I have a good working relationship with my driver manager. I study the system and learn to work it to my advantage. Is it extra work? Yes, but it pays dividends.

Will you be sucessful? Its really up to you. We all drive the same model trucks, on the same roads, fuel in the same truckstops, pull the same trailers, and haul the same freight from the exact same customers. It is really up to you.

Oh wait, the masses do not want to hear that. Stay away from those big evil companies.

 

It is human nature to post when things go wrong, or you don't like a policy, or get a bad Manager. It is also human nature to think it wasn't bad, post nothing, and just move on.

 

In Baltimore by the Ocean, we have crews talk about Hellships. and also good lucky ships that are literally happy ships.

Your position in life you can be happy or choose to be mean and nasty, infecting everyone you meet. How do you like your morning drink? Happy and full or miserable and empty?

I don't troll and don't have any other way of exhibting the concept that wherever you go, there you are. Do you like it there now? I sure hope so. Wherever that might be.

 

And furthermore it doesn't help that many current and ex-drivers seem to thrive on putting down large training companies and lumping ALL of their drivers as being a hazard and somehow "second or third class" individuals. It's sad. Anybody who will try and provide better for themselves and their family, and try such a thankless career has my respect. But if they can't hack it after a year, they need to do something else.

I see drivers from all ranks of carriers do stupid things. At least a new driver at a mega carrier has an plausible excuse. Not sure what the excuse is for the dumb things "experienced" drivers do.

 

IMO, yes, the larger companies, like most businesses, you are just a warm body in a seat and you can be replaced at any time, so there is no loyalty to you. The staff usually sticks together, such as the dispatchers, driver managers, safety and higher ups. They give way too much authority to the driver managers. Most have never been in a truck before. So you are kind of just on your own and if you speak up to make a point or suggest or to speak up for yourself, some will retaliate and make your job miserable. And on top of that may try to ruin your driving record with ridiculous claims. Everything is claimed as a "preventable" accident. No ####, everything in life is preventable. I find that the smaller companies are usually loyal, friendly, want to know you and want to work with you. Learned our lesson, the bigger companies are just that, too big. When it gets like that, you have to realize it is only about the money and nothing else.

 

Here is another example I remember when working g for CR England. Couple week before Christmas they were looking for driver to work the holiday and they would pay you $200 extra. I wanted to go home. They did not get me home but I said OK I'll take the $200 holiday pay. They said to late they would not give out anymore this late. They did have cut off date of when driver could volunteer to work the holiday. So that was their way out. I was their several years at that point they could care less.

That's why I would say don't expect anything more then the miles pay. That why people need to like driving and the adventure of going to new places

 

I have worked for large companies, and small. I prefer small. The entire staff at my current carrier, counting the shop Personal is 9. We have about 100 tricks but it's power only so we are leased to other carriers.

The biggest differences to me are my ability to pick up the phone and call the owner, and he know who I am. I can call his cell phone. When I walk in the office it's Hi _(insert name______ how are ya?

In addition I am not micromanaged. Big Companies tend to threat everyone at the level the need to treat the least qualified.

It really comes down to personal preference. Some drivers I guess like the daily interaction with a driver manager. Me I like to get my dispatch and I'll call you the day before I deliver so you can get a pre plan lined up.