No trucking Company's left to work for??

Most of the problems I see on here are from drivers who are not matched up with the right company. The new guy needs to get his experience and that may mean making some sacrifices as to earnings, hometime, etc., but you have to "pay your dues" to get into the trade. If that means spending a year or so with Swift, Schneider, Covenant or one like them, just bear up and get thru it.

IMO, all that road work sucks especially if you have a family. Back in 80's I ran regional, out maybe a 2 or 3 days at a time and it wasn't bad. Then I ended up in a road operation for a NY metro supermarket chain. We would run teams out west, but they were geared to pick up there own loads of meat, produce, etc., so at least you always found yourself heading back to New Jersey. Turning Ca in a week or so and spend a couple of days at home was cool, I'd be ###### if some company is gonna keep me out for a month, but hey that's just me.

Almost every trucking job has cycles, where the earnings vary, one week you're busy as hell, next week you die. The old saying, "sometimes you bite the bear, sometimes he bites you".

Bottm line, get your experience and find a good local job, the best ones for me were in tankers and, believe it or not....dump truck & trailer.

 

it's not a horrible job, just made that way by companies like COVENANT that turn you into a number, remember that without us there is no them.
and i am here for a reason, but i post what i experience and see and hear from other drivers.
i have other skills i can use but i have been driving 20+ years, and it's what i do best.
and they do make money,look at the way they spend it,large oversized terminals that border on the gaudy,buying out other companies when freight and the economy are in bad shape. why not invest that money into better equipment and some cash for the drivers to retain them?
you see it your way, i see it the way it really is....and none of you drivers that put up posts like that one are ready to stand together and fight for our rights, just tuck tail and run.take what they give you and wag your tail.good doggie.
as far as becoming an owner op, the way the economy is, and freight that is not a solution and i have been looking at that also. plus there may be laws and restrictions coming to the industry soon that will further make being an owner op as pleasant as becoming a kamakazi pilot.
best wishes to all.............
the big sausage:mcr6468.
ps this has nothing to do with trucking sitcoms/movies. it has to do with the way we are paid and treated.less and less rights everyday,just as a human let alone a driver.
no one influences me to do what i do.....or say what i say.

 

Ah, yes, another "know-it-all" expert. We see it our way but YOU are the only one that knows the right facts. If that ain't funny. But then you prove your knowledge is limited becaue of your statement about being an o/o. any industry consultants, one of them Kevin Rutherford, said that now is the best time to get into trucking as an o/o if you are willing to do the job right. Problem is many want to become o/o's to have all the chrome, lights and fast-running trucks. Actually, YOU are with the group that is the problem in this industry. Rather than working hard without griping and earning the right to make suggestions for change, you just gripe and complain and that almost always translates into less-than-stellar job performance. Employers and business owners re more apt to listen to those who are doing a great job at work then those who complain. Why? Because they see an attitude of wanting to help the company succeed and so they are more open to suggestions.

As for being a number, I have recently worked at Dominos (waiting for a driving job to open). Our operation employs about 20 people. Guess how we are known to the system? By a number. I drove for what many consider to be a small company and was known by my truck number and driver code. Now in both places there were people who knew my name but for the system I was just a number. When I drove for Swift, I was known by a number by the system, but there were still several who knew me by name. Recently I contacted my former terminal manager after 2.5 years and guess what? He still knew my name and talked with me like old friends. In fact, most every company, trucking and non-trucking, givespeople an employee number by which they are known in the system. It is the way of the computer age.

You can attack my principles all you want and say I would tuck tail and run or take whatever is dished out. I choose to be a man of principle. If I choose to work in a profession, whatever it is, I am going to work to be the best employee I can be. I am going to do my job well and give 110% to my employer, even if that employer doesn't treat me the way I should. If I decide I cannot handle what is going on in that job, I will go somewhere else, BUT I will leave on good terms, burning no bridges, because you never know when that bridge might be needed. You can go ahead and hate what trucking companies do to you and stay at it and complain. It is all a part of the "me first" attitude that has ruined many people and is ruining America. Polls now show that the main reason people elected the people they elected this year was the voters wen for those who promised THEM the most goodies. Oh that people would remember the words of John F. Kennedy, "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country." That principle, when applied to anything be it the nation or my employer or my family, would get this nation and this world back where it should be. Actually, Mr. Kennedy was just rephrasing an ideal known for centuries as the Golden Rule.

 

I agree, Im starting CDL A school this monday. I have no expectations of what to expect. Maybe If I expect the worst it wont be so bad, i wont be dissapointed. I like the "3 sides to every story", how true is that. Im looking foward to driving. A buddy of mine drives for Millis, he told me "Buster, some days are great, the sun is shinning, every song on the radio is perfect, you feel great, other days, nothing is good". But isint that the way it is on any job. As for "big brother", I dont care where you work, he's watching. If one dose the right thing, dose his job the best he or she can, be honest, truthfull and trustworthy, they would have anything to worry about for the most part. Ah, thats just my .2cents.

 

Great post, Buster. You have a good attitude and that is important. If one does their best everyday, regardless of how they are treated, they can go to sleep at night knowing they are a better person than most. Good luck in your career choice.

 

Tried the B J & THE BEAR life style but the Monkey kept messing up the truck, the SMOKEY and the BANDIT phase only lasted until we out grew the TRANS AM , MOVIN ON was just what I did when the guy that owned the truck wanted to go 500 miles out of route to help some bum he met at a carnival.

Like others have noted its a job that like all jobs you have to work at , some can do it and others cannot.

 

Flatbed- what about the movie Convoy? LOL
It's got Kris Kristofferson (sp?) and I saw it on cable on-demand.
It was cinematic kitsch at it's best!

 

no i don't know it all....just what i have experienced and seen. come work here, lets see what you say then.
been here 5 months, that says alot about stamina....

 

Forgot about CONVOY , I had both a MACK COE but no waterbed or PINK paint job , also had a RED R MACK big 40" bunk,

 

Fella once told me "The best job I ever had is the one I'm leaving and the one I'm going to". Makes alot of sense.

Maverick