Are big companies really that bad?

I'll concede that new drivers need to pay their dues. But my company hires drivers with 1 year T/T experience, whether OTR or not.

My first year I earned $60K with them. My second and third years I earned $80K+. This year I'm on track for 6 figures.

Oh, and I work M-F 'day' shift (start between 02:15 and 6am), and am home every night but one, by my own choice.

How does that compare with your pay and schedule with the mega?

 

Well said! I have over a million miles now with zero accidents and only 1 ticket. It was a overweight ticket because the load slid forward after I had to hard break because of a car. I still have people try to talk crap to me even though they don't know me at all. Funny part is when I do talk with other drivers and they don't know what company I work for they treat me completely different. After all these years I still find it strange that this type of behavior is "normal" in our industry

 

Well you left out a few details like where you live, what kind of route, how many stops and do you hand unload. Last year I cleared just under 60K, 5 out 2 off. I don't run nights and I stay in the same few states. It's easy work minus traffic. Works out well for me and I'm happy with it.

 

Northeast PA, all intrastate, no more than 6 stops, yes I fingerprint the freight.

The transportation industry has many facets, and there are many factors that make a particular job 'right' for a particular driver. Right now, money is what motivates me. Another driver may place more importance on home time, start time, total miles driven, no slip seating, age of equipment, et. al., than the size of their paycheck.

I just posted about what works for me.

 

Sounds like a great job. I try to stay West of Ohio, personal preference. I agree it's all about what your priorities are and what you enjoy or are willing to do

 

Danged.... and here I thought I finally put up the perfect post!

 

....and isn't it strange that they pull these manipulations just a few months before the bonus is due? Ok...I've said enough trying to reinforce @x1Heavy....

 

Yes but the significant difference is that the majors care ONLY about the bottom line....and a few favorite sons. More often it's smaller companies that at least try to be good to their people. Mega-Corporations are the antichrist of trucking.

 

Lot of positive posts about Swift flat bed division. I am a newbie. Would you recommend Swift over Schneider then? or are they really the same? I'd personally rather go with Schneider but I'm feeling that Swift sunshine injection.

 

Gonna take a hell of a lot more miles than they got to run me into the ground. Hold my beer lol