COVENANT -- From a wife's perspective

I understand what you are saying but I have a slightly different opinion. My reward is the pleasure I take living this lifestyle. Yes, the money is important and necessary, but I chose this life/ career and co. knowing very well what I was getting into. I am happy, despite of all sacrifices and hardships, I am happy. I know very well many dispatchers and people in these cos. don't give a rat's rear end about what we go through. But why would they? I chose to live this way. Being a truck driver is not easy, it's stressfull. We all know that. And cos. like Covenant treat us like numbers. They care about their customers not us. You and I know that, right? So, it does not bother me that they don't care how I sleep, or eat, or *hit. I have been self-employed all my life and I don't take any pride in being "employed". As a matter of fact, I don't think I will be employed for the rest of my life. As soon as I get more time under my belt and experience, I will be self-employed again cause that's what I really like. This is just a beginning for me. Well, hope I didn't sound rude here. Just wanted to share my humble opinion. All the best and stay safe and warm out there. I am still sitting in Verona, NY with no load.... but that's fine too. Things could be much worse. BTW, has co. ever charged you for idling trk "too much"?

 

Ok all well here is the update. The saga countinues for me as well! I spoke to Swift yesterday and the earliest they can get me in is sometime in Feb. I was turned down from KLLM, and according to my job placement manager at school it would be a while before i could get into TMC. So I was debating as to what I should do, and while the wife and I are were attempting christmas shopping last night our truck started to have issues. To make matters worse unemployment is giving me the run around on my claim because of school. Long story!! So now I come to terms with the fact that Cov. is my last resort. I know this depresses you all as does it me but... " I am a pitiful man, at the end of his pitiful rope" sorry tried to throw some humor in there. I will be alright, I will make it through. If this is where I have to start so be it. I am sure the ecomomy will get better and just like the ones that are with cov. now I will get some experience and hopefully some money and move on up!! Thank you all and please stay warm out there. Idle them darn trucks cause I tell you here in MICH. it is a dang ice box. And according to weather channel the whole north east quarter of the country is the same. I will keep you all posted on my adventures or misadventures. Happy holidays to all.

 

Newbtrker, why are you limited to these few cos? Have you considered others? Sorry, I haven't read this whole thread, so not sure you have already answered this question.... There's Roehl in Wisconsin, there's Schneider, and others better than Cov. or Swift... I see you are being pressured by time and circunstances, but if you can do some part time work only until you find something a little better, it would pay in the future. I've seen former partners quitting this co. right off "my" trk. Some would go try another co. and others.... I don't know. It's not very easy to get a driving position in another co. with less than six months or a year when you are a newbie (there are exceptions to this rule). Best luck to you and Merry Christmas.

 

hey rocks: they tried to charge me $360 in the summer, i told my DM that i couldn't shut the truck off due to bad batteries....all documented thru breakdown....and i reminded him that we spoke of this situ, so he backed off.
well i del in philly, and came to s nj to sit....so close to the holidays i quess i'll be here for a while....
they are deplorable at times in preplanning....and they do not reward drivers that del
on time and or early.....
personally, they can all choke on their holiday dinners...i hope santa leaves them a lump of coal.
sayonara!

 

Rocks and all else intrested, those are the only companies I applied for, up untill a few days ago I (stupidly of course now) thought cov. was a great starter company. And I liked the sound of their programs and the team training, as a buddy and I were going to sign up for team XL. I don't mind teaming or course I am sure it depends on your parter but I can get along with anyone really. I guess I will see. So thats why I am kinda limited. And time is of the essence. Like i said I am ok with what I have to do right now and when things get better and I become a better driver, then I can look else where. This is just something I have to do for me and my family. My wife is awesome and supports me 110%. As far as other work goes there is not s#!t here. I do really appreciate all the info and knowledge that you all have shared and I will take that with me and use it to benifit me out there.

 

What's the difference betwixt being broke (money wise) on the road, or at home?

Can you live on the road, thousands of miles away, and make payments at home on $200 --> $300 a week (on average)?

If so, Covenant might work for you. But, on the flip-side, you might be workin' for Covenant, for nothin'.

How WELL I know that good payin' jobs ARE hard to find now-a-daze. But I wonder if two or three lower payin' jobs --- local to your home --- might pay the same, or about the same --- maybe even more, than a gig with a truckin' company AT THIS TIME?

What about ALL those hours workin' two, or more, jobs?
Hmmmmmmmmm
ALL those workin' hours near home, until things improve, could be fewer hours than those required and involved in Big truck truckin'.

Those with enough cash on hand to tide themselves over while they're in truckin' training are finding it difficult enough. Those who are strapped for cash, are finding it to be MUCH harder, if not impossible.
And COULD find themselves DEEPER in debt as a result of trying to enter the truckin' industry at, probably, the absolute WORST time in recent history.

Big truck truckin' is NOT the quick-fix, cure-all for financial woes AT THIS TIME.
If ever.

 

Newb.. Schneider isn't hiring students either, i already chked them out, & don't give up on TMC, even if ya have to wait until they start hiring again, find a local job even if its minimum wage bcuz that's all you will make in training at Coven, wait until sumthing good opens up at a better choice .. Go to the TMC website & check out their training & load securement facilities & videos they post there, a company that invests that much for training & facilities has to take a little more interest in their drivers than most of the other companies I have looked into, they also pretty much guarantee hometime since you're a family man & from what the current drivers at TMC say about them confirms it.. they also post pictures of each graduating class for their 2 facilities; how many other trucking companies can you find that will take the time do that today? You'll also have a better chance of making at least $50k flatbedding (if the economy gets better) your 1st year at TMC than any other company out there by taking the % pay for your loads instead of mileage, but you'll have to work to earn it, flatbedding isn't for everyone.

..If you don't have an interest in flats you might also check out Crete Carrier, they do allow exceptions for students if you graduated from an accredited trucking school & they still have freight, its slow but some of their drivers are still getting over 2k miles a week.. From all the posts I have read here Crete seems to be one of the better companies to work for & doesn't treat their drivers like clones.. so do some more reading here & make a better informed decision before u get into something you will regret later, it's bad enough in trucking right now & there's no need to sign on with a company that's gonna make it worse.. that's just my opinion for what it's worth.. good luck to you now in making the best choice you can!

 

why don't you try watkins shepherd they pay a whole heck of alot more than covenant you will be in a 10 unpaid orentation but after that you get put out by yourself No trainer. they should be hiring

 

Mrs RC are you out there? I look for your post almost every day and it has been really quiet from you. I hope you and RC had a blessed Christmas and enjoyed the time together. Check in when you get time and give us an update. You are in my thoughts everyday.

 

she is still here she has been posting on other parts of the forum