Decision,Decisions

Discussion in 'LTL and Local Delivery Trucking Forum' started by TheyCallMeDave, Feb 8, 2018.

  1. TheyCallMeDave

    TheyCallMeDave Heavy Load Member

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    Yes sir I'm pining over it quite extensively, to the point my wife's tired of hearing about it. Pretty much along the lines of what you said "one day your wife will get it" is what I told her. It's no biggie, I'll make the decision in the end that I see fit, as the best bet. I've had a couple buddies that don't drive, ask me what it's like driving a truck for a living becasue they're interested.

    Depending on who asks, and what other options they have, I strongly advise against it unless it's something you've wanted to do for years, and even then, you better be prepared for a real shock when you really get in "the S H I T". As stated a few posts ago, I grew up around trucks, but my grandpa was an O/O so he did things differently and had a different view than a company driver of today. Unfortunately he passed when I was 13, so a lot of the knowledge I could have gained, went with him. I wasn't old enough at the time to grill him and really get the nitty gritty on the industry. I did however get some insight when I drove for a few farmers from 18-24, but even then, they were small time O/O's and I didn't have my CDL, so I wasn't doing much more than hauling grain and running on the farm, and admittedly I wasn't thinking that far into the future to really seize the oppourtunity. So everything I've learned of true value in regards to the way the industry works, has all been learned by being thrown to wolves the last couple of years.

    One thing I have learned, is that you WILL find out real quick how shady this industry can be. There absolutely are great companies out there, but there's a tremendous amount of no good, sketchy outfits, that would have no problem throwing you under the bus whenever necessary. Most will lie, cheat and steal, or all 3, if you give them the opportunity. Local, regional, OTR it doesn't matter they'll do it. It usually comes down to picking the least of the 2 evils for lack of a better term, when picking a company.

    Either way if I had the financial means, I'd just buy my own rig and run for some of the local quarry's hauling stone, as I happened to enjoy doing that for my previous employer, but with the way the industry is, it's just a gamble that I'm not comfortable doing at this particular point in time. If you can't buy the truck for cash, or put down at least half up front, you've got a nice payment coming your way for a while, not including the capital you need as a reserve to pay day to day bills while you get up and running, PLUS enough put back for a maintenance fund, PLUS the typical repairs and up keep you need to do when you initially buy the truck. But in a perfect world, that'd be my ideal situation. Run how I see fit, do what I want while driving, stop and go as I please, no suit and tie guy telling me how to turn, brake and accelerate etc. But the world isn't perfect, so I make do just like the rest of the world. Maybe one day though. (It doesn't hurt to daydream from time to time)

    Either way back on topic, it's a real bummer that Saia has turned into such an overzealous, micromanaging company. I liked what I saw etc at the terminal, and left feeling really positive about the "oppourtunity". But I didn't have time to research until after the process was pretty much done, which left a bad taste in my mouth, not to mention all of the driver scrutiny just seems like a can of worms I'm not real sure I want to open. I'm a pretty nice, laid back guy with a clean record etc, although my "menacing appearance" might not give off that vibe, but man, once a desk jokey started telling me how to drive the truck, or "coaching me" becasue I turned the station on the radio, or hit the "brakes too hard" etc, I'd turn into a pretty mean SOB.

    While I'm not proud of that, I am proud of my driving abilities, and one thing I wont tolerate, is said abilities being called into question over petty nonsense. Now, if I screw the pooch and the situation is justified, by all means, tear into my ### and let me know about it and I'll gladly accept the criticism and learn from it. However, that's not the vibe I'm getting from Saia currently. It sounds like I'd be one mean SOB pretty quick from being pushed over nonsensical coaching, and Monday morning quarterbacking from some desk jockey, who spends half their day giving drivers grief, and the other half of the day updating their "friends" on Facebook every time they pass wind.

    That previous paragraph probably came off snarky or in a douchesque (I made that one up) manner, but this industry can really run me hot at times. On the upside, I'm meeting a fella tomorrow morning about a flatbed job, running stone out of a quarry, percentage of load (ehh) decent equipment (2011 T660) no driver cams, I can run how I want etc, as I have yet to hear from Saia (they were supposed to call today to give me my start date) so I'd like to have a plan B if all goes south with the LTL situation. If I don't feel good about the deal tomorrow, I'll just plan to swing by Estes on Wednesday for my interview and hope for the best. I'll report back tomorrow afternoon. Thanks again to everyone who has been kind enough to offer their insight and opinions. I really appreciate it. If all else fails, maybe I'll try my hand at blogging as I apparently have no problem going off on long winded tangents. I try to keep them entertaining and detailed however, so they atleast keep you captivated as a reader. Stay safe folks and I'll touch base later on today.

    Dave
     
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  3. Hotplate

    Hotplate Medium Load Member

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    No way I'd peddle city freight for Estes. Round here, they run 53' trailers on city routes. No thanks, no way, no how...that's a dealbreaker for me right there. 53' footers for switches or volume loads are ok, but that's about it. Linehaul might be a decent option over there, tho.

    Now one little known fact about SAIA is that you can use your company seniority to transfer ANYWHERE in their system and you will dovetail in. So say you got 5 years in at Indy and you want to transfer to Tampa, FL to get out of the snow. You carry your 5 years with you down to Tampa!!!! This policy is fantastic and almost unheard of in LTL. You can have 20 years in at an outfit like FedEx Freight and if you transfer anywhere, you'll be working the dock and sitting by the phone at the terminal you transfer to. Guys who have 6 months in will have more seniority than you !!!

    SAIA has their issues, but just look at their stock price over the past few years. It's ran-up like a frickin' computer stock, so they are doing alot of things right from a profit standpoint. Rick O'Dell, their CEO has done a fantastic job of running that company.

    And don't sweat the cameras, all of these outfits will have driver-facing cameras in the not-too-distant future. "Oh, but my company told me they'll NEVER install driver-facing cameras" Hahah, want to know when a trucking exec is lying? It's when his lips are moving !!!
     
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  4. TheyCallMeDave

    TheyCallMeDave Heavy Load Member

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    Thanks for the insight from the other side of the fence, as most of the opinions have been against SAIA. As stated in my previous post, I did like what I saw and heard etc. But I just saw so many negatives about the "coaching" over such minuscule things, and like I said as well, people can, and will embellish, but the common trend across the US has to be indicative of some truth.

    I will say this, from my understanding at the Saia terminal in Waco/Hewitt, they had both 48 ft and 53 footers for city routes from my understanding. In regards to the camera issue, I've only ran for an O/O so I'm used to my freedom and running how I want, so this whole deal in general, in terms of the corporate feel of the LTL world will be a new thing for me, and probably overwhelming regardless of where I end up.

    I wasn't so bothered by the DFC until I read so many negatives about people getting grief over petty things at SAIA, although I found it comical that the veteran driver who administered my driving test, said he specifically chose a truck that DIDN'T have a DFC for the driving test becasue he doesn't "like a cam in his face" but as you mentioned, and I do agree, with the way the industry is headed, most outfits at some point will probably have some sort of cam. I see a lot of forward facing cams, but I see a lot of companies following suit with the DFC's, although I found it interesting that SWIFT dropped the DFC's for some reason. I'd assume it was getting them into more trouble than they anticipated.

    Dave
     
  5. Gearjammin' Penguin

    Gearjammin' Penguin "Ride Fast-Truck Safe"

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    And what happens when the Tampa drivers with 4.99 years decide to beat you to death? Sounds like a great deal for a flake that wants to transfer every ten minutes, but the folks who've built up seniority and experience at a given yard might just see it differently.

    Seniority shouldn't be the be-all and end-all of everything, but when you've gained experience and knowledge in a certain geographic area, that shouldn't be eclipsed by some guy who just strolled in yesterday.
     
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  6. TheyCallMeDave

    TheyCallMeDave Heavy Load Member

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    I have zero seniority, so my opinion probably falls on deaf ears in regards to anything LTL related, but it's hard to argue with your point.

    Dave
     
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  7. Gearjammin' Penguin

    Gearjammin' Penguin "Ride Fast-Truck Safe"

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    The thing is, every yard and region has its own way of doing things. Its own customer base. Its own culture. These things take time and effort to acclimate to. A yard deep in the boroughs of NYC is going to be a challenge for someone from Beaver Hollow, AL, just as the guy from San Francisco is going to have a bit of difficulty adjusting to Olive Branch, MS. Folks who've put in a lot of time and effort in their particular domain aren't going to appreciate someone just swooping in and grabbing the spot they've been working towards for years.
     
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  8. TheyCallMeDave

    TheyCallMeDave Heavy Load Member

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    Roger that, I agree.
     
  9. FreightlinerGuy

    FreightlinerGuy Medium Load Member

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    I haven’t finished reading this thread but I really hope you didn’t choose Saia! I just recently left Saia after being at another LTL company before Saia.

    Saia has the same cameras XPO has but XPO uses the cameras appropriately.

    If you get iirc within 4 seconds of the vehicle in front of you at Saia the camera sets off and you get a coaching. Can you imagine dealing with that stupid camera for days and months and years? XPO doesn’t have this crap.

    The trick to not set the camera off is to of course keep your distance but really to make sure whatever is passing and getting in front of you has forward momentum. Even if you get within 4 seconds and the vehicle in front is accelerating away it won’t set the camera off.

    Also, Saia has the lane assist, if you go over the lines on the road twice within a few seconds it sets the camera off as well.

    Not to mention Saia doesn’t allow Bluetooth headsets or cb radios.

    Saia is going to pretty much all autos and they’re big on Volvo’s. They do have some freightliners mixed in too. FYI, most if not all the Internationals don’t have the stupid cameras.

    Saia sucks.. can you make some coin? Yes. But does it suck? Yes.

    Go basically anywhere but Saia.

    I’ve read it on here before and after going to Saia and getting offered a sign-on bonus of $5k.. if a company is offering a hefty SOB. There is a reason.


    I should add. I’m totally out of the LTL game now after almost 4 years at XPO/Con-way and a few weeks at Saia I’m now going to be a home everyday local guy hauling intermodal freight in an old tired truck for less money then I made at either company. I’m in it for less headache and more laid back atmosphere.
     
    Last edited: Feb 10, 2018
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  10. KaoMinerva

    KaoMinerva Transcendent God

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    You got to think, why would Werner pay new drivers 10k to come there?

    Now think, why would SAIA pay experienced drivers 5k to come there?

    Now ask this, why aren't ESTES/ODFL/UPS etc NOT paying experienced drivers to come there?

    Hmm...
     
  11. TheyCallMeDave

    TheyCallMeDave Heavy Load Member

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    Thanks for the insight. So you made just a few weeks at SAIA? Was it that bad? What terminal were you running out of?

    Dave
     
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