Do mega companies put new drivers in challenging situations?

I enjoyed Detroit. If you end up jitting something chances are no one is home and the building condemned. Lol

 

Companies don't put just new drivers in tough situations. They put all drivers in tough situations. I'm almost 9 years in, and I still sometimes have to deal with the scenarios you just described, and I'll go pretty much anywhere

 

Those places have rough traffic, I don't think Memphis is terrible, but as far as tight backing and narrow roads, the east coast and some parts of Chicago definitely win that trophy

 

They send you there because you will go. As for the vets? While some avoid it (omg the freaking horror stories they tell) The rest of us have learned. Its not personal its just trucking. So we have learned the times to go and not go. I run quite a bit of east coast (cause thats where the money is. And i go after money not miles)

 

I'm with a medium (100 truck) company that does northeast regional. They advertise no NYC first 6 months, but Staten Island "isn't NYC".

Once I hit 5 months I've been in Brooklyn/Long Island once a week three weeks in a row. I run skateboards but the company needed a hot load delivered so I took a Van and the return load was a two stop in Long Island.

You didn't think you get paid more with experience so they can make your life EASIER did you? Show a company you're safe and reliable and they'll give you the hard crap other driver's are too scared to run... Just make sure you remind them when you want home time or your miles aren't where they should be.

 

You have had many good replies, with a fair amount of wisdom in them.

Here's my thoughts:

First, you really want to pull flatbed? Don't wait. Just do it. Either switch to Swift's flatbed division or go with a good training company right away.

Second, don't EVER get into the bad habit of POSSIBLY thinking that folks have it in for you. Trucking is a challenging profession. YOUR response to ANY situation is, "Challenge ACCEPTED!" My GO TO response whenever a customer asks me if I can do impossible X is to say, "If a truck can fit, then I'm the driver you want". THAT response just hooked my terminal up with a customer that just might throw over half a million in annual revenue for our owner operators our way. Well, THAT response and a bag full of efficiency tricks for securing a complicated load to the deck in short order.

Running flatbed DOESN'T mean that tight quarter situations go away. It's a COMMON thing for me to be an inch or less from VERY expensive equipment as I get into position in a customer yard or oil rig.

Own it like a boss.

Be proud of your close quarter "chops".

 

New drivers and all other drivers should stay away from mega companies. They are the reason this industry is falling. Automated trannies. Elogs. Nationwide speed limiters next in line. Everything anti trucker, everything that takes away our freedoms of the road little by little, is brought on and is pushed for until pushed through by the ruiner of this thing called trucking. It's not trucking these days. Its thumb twiddling do as your told when your told.
Those that are shaking your head in disagreement - those are the non "real" drivers. Those are the high beam blasters in your mirrors at night. Those are the straight from a ramp to the canter lane the truck passing lane to just sit there as if parked and to hell with all others on the roads it's all about them and that extra ½ penny theyll get by running a little slower.
Money ain't everything girls. Life's too short to drive a slow ugly truck.
Let the air out of that seat stop looking so nerdy.

 

Agreed. I just got off I-80 sourh of Chicago, going to Joliet by the Chicago Road exit, headed south to the Pilot there. The construction barriers tightened down closer than a narrow toll lane. If my trailer had more than 4 inches clearance on either side, I'd be surprised. Definitely a bit of a pucker moment, even though I took it in 5th gear at maybe 15 miles per hour.

 

This is likely the worst advice I have ever seen on this site.

If you refuse to deliver to the big places like dfw and such then you need to find a specific dedicated driving job that goes back and forth between two rural locations. This will limit your choices and pay but they exist.

Do not reject a load because it goes to Dallas or any other big town. That is your job.

If you do that you are going to be wondering why your company has you sitting around all day and complaining about it on the forums here.

 

did you get put onto the walmart because you asked for it, or they just wanted you to do this one trailer load?

i thought if i recall, companies only put drivers on dedicated accounts, if they ask for it?

for the record, i personally WOULD NEVER ask for any retail store delivery account. general freight, general customers only for me.

BUT, i am on a dedicated account, for a warehouse supply company, for the building trades, and we work at night, so no cars in our way.. and if there should be a car, blocking our delivery doors..??

we leave, then thier trucks HAVE TO DELIVER...!!!!!