Big G Express Shelbyville, Tn So far........

Are you in a hot air balloon ?

 

10th floor of the Double Tree/Downtown...courtesy of her employer.(like I could afford this place on my paychecks)

 

Why not to double trees not expensive

 

$129/night...for 2 nights is almost as much as some of my paychecks have been under Mike's management

 

Why did you leave Big G?

 

officially, my last days are the end of this week...but, the reason for my leaving is...they are they MOST disorganized and disfunctional group of people I have EVER worked for. If you like doing load swaps all the time, being under paid (short route and low per mile rates) for the same work other companies pay more for and not being able to trip plan because they swap loads all the time, then this is the place to work. The company I am moving to means a little more physical work, but for a 35% increase in my per mile rate (more if I choose to take a load into Canada, which is optional), it was a no brainer for me. Not everyone experienced the same as I did, but when they warn you in orientation to grab a lot of load straps because you'll be leaving them on loads for other drivers...should have been a huge red flag to me. The last 4 months, almost 1/2 of the loads I have written down in my day planner, had a big ? there 1st because they don't tell you what the miles are if you're dropping the load somewhere other than the delivery customer, and I have to wait until payday to see what the loads paid. After a $125 deposit on my prepaid for my weekly road use, a lot of my remainder deposits in my regular account were in the $4-500 range...so $600ish per week takehome average. Hard to pay bills and afford any time off on that. Then, when a hurricane came thru and knocked out power for 5 days, they were constantly on my butt about me leaving my wife at home to fend for herself and wanted me to get rolling. So, when I was on the road, they under utilized me, but wouldn't allow me the time I needed once at home to deal with a rare emergency situation....Driver Focused my ###.

 

Sorry snackbar but those are your experiences.

Not everyone has those issues for some reason.

However, good luck on your new endeavor but like many here i have my popcorn out waiting for the next series of complaints about this new company.

 

Well, it strikes as odd that, in your opinion, I seem to be one of the few having these issues here, but they're managing to fill 2 orientation classes a week from openings created by departing drivers...or are these drivers leaving because they have made so much money at .40 a mile that they are taking early retirement. A week doesn't go by for me without speaking to someone that has either just started or has been here less than a month, and when asked, they all say the same thing...the class they were in was 3/4+ full. Kinda a lot of turnover for a 500ish OTR truck fleet of mostly happy drivers.

As for my next company, at .55/mile(or .65/mi to take a load into Canada and deadhead back out), I will make in one good trip what it takes me all week here. So, my average miles week here will net me there more than I gross here. Sure I might not like some things about it there, but grossing that kind of money, I will smile all the way to the bank, where here I avoid answering the phone anymore because I am actually netting less than when I was leasing a truck from Prime, and we had to defer our last mortgage payment because they have #### near bankrupt us with all their ######## swaps

 

Here is an interesting fact...
Over 63% of drivers at Big G have been here over 1 year.
I think that is good for the trucking industry.

If one could survey that 37% with less time or better yet, those who are constantly being replaced you will find a vast majority are the type who have held nearly as many trucking jobs as they have years of experience.

It's as if every company is playing swap the disgruntled driver with each other knowing they will not stay long with them but hoping they can get some productivity out of them for awhile.

I believe companies identify these types when they hire them and tend to show preferences towards the drivers who are more likely to stay around for some time.

Unfortunately, once you get a work record that identifies you as unreliable you will have to work a lot longer to change that image.

Put yourself in their shoes..
If you have 2 drivers; one who has had 3 jobs in the last 10 years and another who has 4 in the last 5 years.
Which one are you going to give preference to?

Trust me, this happens everywhere in trucking.

 

You set your sights too low. How many years has the driver been doing this and then how many jobs in their total years. This is a 2 way street, respect and reputation works both ways. A company that lives up to or comes close to their promises gains the respect and dedication of the driver...if they fail the driver, they don't get that respect and dedication. Especially now when companies are looking for drivers hot and heavy. Simple rule, take care of the driver and the driver takes care of you. Don't, and you get what you deserve.