All large companies are bad

Timtruck · Dec 4, 2008

jl090507 said: ↑

I am just finding it so #### hard to be local driver. You need a year or more experience to be local driver with anyone. But the only way to get that year experience is to be a "wheel holder" as you call it!
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You only need 6 months experience at our company to be a local driver, and you must have both your doubles and hazmat endorsements. We have terminals in Baltimore and Hagerstown also in Harrisburg, PA all close to you. Home everyday, half way decent pay on both hour and mileage(pay both mileage and hourly is based on what terminal you are based out of) and non-union. I have been here almost 3 years. Central Transport International- yes, the big yellow trucks. If you can handle the company's little problems and get by a lot of the corporate BS, they are really not a bad place to work for. I made $60,000 last year( and will probally do at least that or a little more this year)-not great but not bad, for being home everyday and every weekend.

jl090507 · Dec 4, 2008

Timtruck said: ↑

You only need 6 months experience at our company to be a local driver, and you must have both your doubles and hazmat endorsements. We have terminals in Baltimore and Hagerstown also in Harrisburg, PA all close to you. Home everyday, half way decent pay on both hour and mileage(pay both mileage and hourly is based on what terminal you are based out of) and non-union. I have been here almost 3 years. Central Transport International- yes, the big yellow trucks. If you can handle the company's little problems and get by a lot of the corporate BS, they are really not a bad place to work for. I made $60,000 last year( and will probally do at least that or a little more this year)-not great but not bad, for being home everyday and every weekend.
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I had actually posted that back in... well I can't remember when. May??? April???

Well, anyway i got hired by a local company delivering plywood's and hardwood's. A&M Supply. But right now I am sooooooo tired of being blamed for the :smt068warehouse idiots:smt072 messing up!!!!!

Central Transport, huh? Where at in Bal'mer?

Big Don · Dec 5, 2008

jl090507 said: ↑

I had actually posted that back in... well I can't remember when. May??? April???

Well, anyway i got hired by a local company delivering plywood's and hardwood's. A&M Supply. But right now I am sooooooo tired of being blamed for the :smt068warehouse idiots:smt072 messing up!!!!!

Central Transport, huh? Where at in Bal'mer?
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Unfortunately, this is something that you are just going to have to learn to deal with, if you are going to be any type of delivery driver. Since YOU are the one that the receiver has in front of him, you will be yelled at for every mistake made, or damage to freight. It ain't right, but it is the way it is.

Timtruck · Dec 5, 2008

jl090507 said: ↑

I had actually posted that back in... well I can't remember when. May??? April???

Well, anyway i got hired by a local company delivering plywood's and hardwood's. A&M Supply. But right now I am sooooooo tired of being blamed for the :smt068warehouse idiots:smt072 messing up!!!!!

Central Transport, huh? Where at in Bal'mer?
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Im not sure where it is, but I know the terminal is #212, might call Central and ask them where it is. Check their webpage for the number.

tnccrutcher · Dec 6, 2008

074344 said: ↑

landmine,

Very interesting post. You are right in that most (99%) of large companies are driver mills and go thru drivers like crap thru a goose. That is evident by the many posts on this site. These posts are just a small picture of what happens in the real world. Remember, not all drivers know of this site. All of us had to start somewhere. Unfortunately, most have started at large companies where they are treated like second class citizens. This site is here to educate these people. If they still choose those same companies, it is nobody's fault but their own.

There are a few drivers who enjoy those companies and are successful but for the vast majority, failure prevails for a lot of reasons. These companies are always advertising in magazines. Has anyone ever thought as to why the need to advertise? Do you think it is because they cannot keep up with the freight demand? Or, do you think it is the way they pay their drivers, provide benefits and generaly treat their employees?

I work for a company that has 791 tractors as of this date per FMCSA. Yes, it is a private fleet. Although I cannot speak for other distribution centers, I can speak for mine. We make anywhere from $60k to $80k per year. We are home every night and work Mon-Fri during the day. Our health insurance (medical, dental, optical and prescription) are paid by the company. Retirement is also paid by the company. We also have vacation days, sick days, holidays and jury service that is paid by the company. There is a lot more.

There are good compaies out there if you do your research. All drivers owe it to themselves and their families to find the best company. Yes, they are still out there.

Drive safe
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I looking for a company as you spoke of I live in the bay area you have any suggestion I have been doing my research have not found any yet.

driver4015 · Dec 12, 2008

landmine said: ↑

Please, anyone, show me a good company with more than 100 trucks! 5 trucks? 1 truck? I have been in this business for a long time and have worked for a couple of good companies, they are out of business now, drove out by the larger companies that drive down freight rates and make up the difference in revenue on the drivers backs. Hometime? 2-4 days off a month is NOT home time. Sleeping in a truck with no A/C when it is 85 degrees in the sleeper is not rest or sleep. Pay that has risen by 1/3 while prices have increased by a factor of 4 does not make for a decent living.
There are a few decent companies left, very few and they are small.
I know of good drivers with clean records being let go from their jobs simply because they have topped out in pay and the company wants new drivers so they can pay them less. Safety? Give me a break. Family atmosphere? Right!
If a company wishes to be what they claim respect the drivers that make your paycheck. Allow them to spend time with their family, pay them for what they do, treat them like a human being, and reward them for a job well done. Do not put shareholders first while breaking a drivers back.
Lastely no, I have never and will never drive for those companies of which I speak, and you all know who they are. I have done almost everything in this industry there is to do. Safety, training, accident investigation, owner/operator, and company driver. I have seen it from both sides, some of you may know me. I have worked with thousands of drivers in all aspects and am known as being very pro driver to the point of placing my job on the line when I worked in the office. I quit and went back on the road once the company I worked for was bought out and the new owners expected me to lie to my drivers when they were stealing from them. So take it as you will.
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A&M transport Glendale Oregon, Transtech Carriers Bend Oregon. A&M at the time I was there a little over a year ago had 120 trucks Transtech has 5, smaller is better. I've drove for Swift, Werner, May and others over the last 30 plus years. Big companys are place to start and get your time in till you can get something better. thats what I did and don't regret it. But at the same time, what works for me isn't for everyone. You have to find you own nich in this business. I wish you all alot of luck in finding yours. By the way, you WILL NOT find me bad mouthing ANY company I have ever worked for, nor is there any company I have worked for that I cannot go back to If I so choose.

davan2004 · Dec 13, 2008

074344 said: ↑

landmine,

Very interesting post. You are right in that most (99%) of large companies are driver mills and go thru drivers like crap thru a goose. That is evident by the many posts on this site. These posts are just a small picture of what happens in the real world. Remember, not all drivers know of this site. All of us had to start somewhere. Unfortunately, most have started at large companies where they are treated like second class citizens. This site is here to educate these people. If they still choose those same companies, it is nobody's fault but their own.

There are a few drivers who enjoy those companies and are successful but for the vast majority, failure prevails for a lot of reasons. These companies are always advertising in magazines. Has anyone ever thought as to why the need to advertise? Do you think it is because they cannot keep up with the freight demand? Or, do you think it is the way they pay their drivers, provide benefits and generaly treat their employees?

I work for a company that has 791 tractors as of this date per FMCSA. Yes, it is a private fleet. Although I cannot speak for other distribution centers, I can speak for mine. We make anywhere from $60k to $80k per year. We are home every night and work Mon-Fri during the day. Our health insurance (medical, dental, optical and prescription) are paid by the company. Retirement is also paid by the company. We also have vacation days, sick days, holidays and jury service that is paid by the company. There is a lot more.

There are good compaies out there if you do your research. All drivers owe it to themselves and their families to find the best company. Yes, they are still out there.

Drive safe
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PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE!!! Show Me The Way!!!!

davan2004 · Dec 13, 2008

landmine said: ↑

How do you get that one year experience except for the driver mill employers such as Swift, Crete, USX, etc...

I was not pointing to driver mills as being bad, I was pointing to the general rule companies have adopted that to compete they must ride on the drivers back. The driver mill started around 15 years ago with JB Hunt after the CDL became law. Before that you had to either have family or a friend willing to train you, or find a company willing to train you. You went to the revenue dept paid $11.00 to get a choufure (cant spell) license and were off. When the CDL was put in place companies had to find a way to train driversand so the in-house training sprang up. (This was 1990). At that time alot of small companies started their own and contrary to popular opinion new drivers are pretty safe, for the first year. They do have minor accidents but as I told them (I worked accidents for 5 years) I did not worry about them for 6 months, after that they statred thinking they could drive. The major accidents tended to involve drivers with 5+ years exp. The driver mills are as you stated purly an insurance carrier requirement. The insurance company dictates a companies hiring policy, and the only ones who can afford to pay the rates are the driver mills.
Older drivers had to pay dues also, $100.00 fine for being late on an appointment, drive 600 mile then told to drive another 500 by morning or your fired. Taking speed to stay awake was common, the cb radio was full of dealers. Drivers with a case of beer in a cooler between their seat. Yes there was good things then, DOT didn't hassle as much, fewer weigh stations, you were not looked upon as a revenue source (except in certain towns or counties) but not the unstated policy of an entire state. Drivers helped each other. Courtesy ruled the road (mostly).
I feel sorry for all drivers today new or old hand. The filth of s++t being thrown out, drivers who take 2 parking spots, restrictions on everything, companies who worry more about the stock holder and assume drivers do not need to see their family.
I HATE unions as do most drivers who have delivered to a union plant and have set watching while the last pallet they need to leave sets on a forklift 5 feet from trailer for 30 min as the "worker" is joking with his friend then goes to lunch for an hour. But I think the time is comming where we need to form a new union (I do not trust teamsters).
Good luck, pay attention to what drivers say, research a company, and set down with your wife if you have one or yourself if not and write down all the points you want in a job befaore you take it. Talk to a recruiter armed with your list, walk if the job is not for you and keep looking. If the promise from the recruiter is different than the orentiation, leave before thay hire you.
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wow things were different!

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