Knight Transportation

Tyler Derden · May 26, 2019

Professional-Trucker said: ↑

PEANUTS?

No sir, not me. I run regional with Knight and make a nice living.

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What do you consider a " nice loving" ? The more we talk about specifics, the more we can increase or pay overall.
You still work Knight? Thanks in advance

Tyler Derden · May 26, 2019

shadowdaddy said: ↑

I'm glad there's so many guys (and ladies) who are doing well, and making what they perceive is decent pay. Power to ya and I wish them safe and long careers. I met plenty of terrific folk when I was out there. But let's remember, it's called making a LIVING. If it's costing someone more to be out there than it's paying, it misses the point entirely. WORK isn't FUN. No one does it cuz it's FUN. Given what one has to deal with out there, it's not unreasonable to expect to make enough for it to be worthwhile. The fact so many just defend what (some) companies do just shows how they can get away with doing it. There's a reason for the critical driver shortage, and it's not just 'regulations', though it is a factor. One should not have to A: break the law, B: go hungry, or C: risk their lives for a check. They're not MARINES or COPS. You're hauling STUFF. Just STUFF. If it's not human organs or food relief, it's not worth it.

It made NO sense that my wife had to send ME money to eat when I was out there. The idea was to MAKE money, not spend it. I worked just as hard as anyone here. You dunno how hard someone else works unless you are in the cab with them. Long as they can find people willing to enable their own abuse, they industry doesn't have to change. Well fine. THEY gotta figure out how to solve the shortage. Soon or late they will run out of willing dupes. THEN WHAT? No one is gonna work for FREE. If that's the plan or the mentality, the industry deserves it's problems. No sympathy. Callousness and indifference is a two-way street....
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Their had never been a driver shortage. It's a retention shortage, masked as a driver shortage by the ATA for 30+years now, to get more Federal WIOA Grant money and more foreign work visas to increase profit margin. Driver pay has decreased 35% since 1980 when adjusted for inflation. Still, theirs supposedly "unicorn" companies you can make $60k+/yes at and be home weekly after 1-2 years clean experience. Im looking for them.

Tyler Derden · May 26, 2019

shadowdaddy said: ↑

This MACHO mentality is what's destroying the industry. You can't treat people like machines and expect them to love you for it. It's the same mentality that keeps abused women with their men. "He hits me cuz he loves me." Right up to the part where he kills her.

You want Marines? Hire Marines. There's plenty who need work. The rest of us are just regular folks. Wouldn't it be easier just to hire combat soldiers, since you have to be one anyways? No? Explain it to me. I'm stupid that way.

Hirepatriots - Solving veteran unemployment nationwide!
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Do you still drive? If so, who for and do your like them?

Tyler Derden · May 26, 2019

Dna Mach said: ↑

That's why Knight works for some and not for others. I don't need a giant paycheck either but I'm going to earn one. By simply quitting Knight I gave myself an $18,000 dollar raise. I performed my job there flawlessly and the people at the Katy terminal were okay people but you just can't make good money there because the 30 terminals are constantly back stabbing each other. From a drivers perspective it's a pi$$ poor company.
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Whoop did

Dna Mach said: ↑

That's why Knight works for some and not for others. I don't need a giant paycheck either but I'm going to earn one. By simply quitting Knight I gave myself an $18,000 dollar raise. I performed my job there flawlessly and the people at the Katy terminal were okay people but you just can't make good money there because the 30 terminals are constantly back stabbing each other. From a drivers perspective it's a pi$$ poor company.
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Who did you move to work for? Did they remain better then Knight after more time spent with them? You still with them?

Tyler Derden · May 26, 2019

Fiddle Sticks said: ↑

What is the process for switching terminals and/or FMs...? Does such a request for change come with retribution and/or other subtle malice?

Is payroll processed at the terminal level, or is it processed at a corporate level?

----------------------------------

I took the half day to read the SMAGGS thread, and now reading this one, I feel like a moth flying to close to the flame by considering going with Squire/Knight.

The thing is--is that I just cannot get an non-bottom feeder company to consider me. Ma & Pa's want experience or I have to drive as a team member.

Been there-done the latter with a twenty-something Cuban that had no problem going down icy mountains in Utah pegging the speedometer a 95 mpg---with doubles!! Yes, it was for a company contracted to haul for FedEx Ground.

LTLs are not hiring in my area until Mid-March--or later, and even then I will likely be on the docks ten of my fourteen hours, if I get full-time hours, and not CDL driving.

I figure three months at Squire to get trained as a TRAINEE and not as a SECOND SEAT team driver, then, I will just have to bite the bullet, put some tobasco sauce on it, ketchup, ice cream, and what ever else to swallow another three months of rancidity.

I then will plead to the warden that with six months of 'hard labor', I will be on 'pardoned' from the 'penal colony' as Trucker Dave so eloquently puts it. Upon release, I will then scour the landscape for a better company, a real means to earn a living, that which is above the poverty level.

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Did you find one?

Tyler Derden · May 26, 2019

Dna Mach said: ↑

I tried several times to transfer terminals. I live in Dallas but Hutchins was just a mud lot when I started. Then they built the terminal and I figured I would transfer but Katy wouldn't let me go.

Payroll, there's about six people in Phoenix that handle it. You will call them three or four times to get reimbursed for a scale or toll. You need to choose daily pay. You can turn your bills in once a week if you want, it doesn't matter. Daily pay gives you greater control but most importantly it enables you to get reimbursed quicker, tomorrow instead of next week.

You will end up at other terminals a lot and Knight is basically 30 different companies backstabbing and competing against each other. Pick up on Monday near your home a 1400 mile load delivering Thursday? Should deliver Wednesday, they might let you t-call it, they might not. Unload and maybe get a 500 mile load delivering Monday.

That's Knight...you can always do better and you'll be hard pressed to find a driver that's been there longer than a few months. They are what they are and I feel they go out of there way to blatantly exploit those that don't know any better.
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Could you name some better companies that have terminals in Arizona please? The more we share, thehigher everyone's pay youw become. Thank you and God bless

Tyler Derden · May 26, 2019

Fajo said: ↑

Ok, So I was browsing the interwebs for the heck of it tonight why I do my 10 hours and came across this thread, so I figured I would add my 2cents.

So, I have worked for Knight now for just over a Year I work for the Refrigerated side of the company. (Basically the red headed stepchild of knight)

I stay here because I like the terminal and my DM is honest, friendly and pass's me miles. Also when I want home time I'm shot that way right away, if I need a day off he has me back there the day before I need to be home. They never complain about my home time or how much time I take off. I cleared last year just over 52k for OTR and that's with me taking sometimes a week + off for home time. Needless to say they are decent to me which is more then I can say for 90% of the company's out here.

I just wanted to add this for people to try to get a balanced view. I would agree with other posters try a different terminal or a new DM It may help out loads. Ill stay here until they quit treating me like a human the money is decent for my needs and my wife and kids see me often.

Also, Just on a mileage here is what I have ran sense Wednesday of this last week.

Boise, ID to Huntley IL. Delivered
Chicago to Phoenix AZ (Current Run - Ill be in Phoenix Yard in the morin) "Drop"
Total Mileage just under 3500 Miles and its only Sat! will be Sunday when I drop this load in the Yard.
Next load will most likely be a Casa Grande load to Salt lake City.

Please don't mislead people on Mileage or loads. If your willing to work the Miles are always there. And if the company knows you will do your job they always seem happy to give them up.
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You still with Knight?

Tyler Derden · May 26, 2019

Dna Mach said: ↑

Not cut out for this job? I disagree, I had nothing but good times at Schneider and have a very positive expieriance the past three years at my current employer. Knight was good for a year or so but as soon as they started training it went downhill fast. Fighting for miles, earned pay, etc...it gets exhausting.
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Who are you driving for now? And what do you mean as soon as night started training it went downhill? You mean they started the Squire training program while you were there?

Tyler Derden · May 26, 2019

Tallman67122 said: ↑

You talked about following the suggested routing. When i get my load assignment I get out my trusty map book and then gps unit and see how it is going to take me. Most of the time my Rand Mcnally Gps will take me close to the same amount of miles as the suggested route usually within 10-20 miles difference. I have noticed that recently my mileage from the gps actually is shorter then the suggested route mileage on quite a few loads but i still get paid the miles they are paying me. The suggested route is only a suggested route. Last time i was told i had to follow my suggested route i told my DM that if the suggested route is a suggested route then it is only a suggestion and not mandatory. If it is mandatory then I will turn in my Mandatory two weeks notice right then and there. Since then i have never had a lecture about my routing. If i do find a shorter and faster route i do help out the company by telling them the route. Same goes for directions to the entrances to the shippers and recievers. We all have had those addresses where it just doesnt show up on the gps and yet there is a different address the company uses. I will shoot off a message with the correct address. Better to help out fellow drivers I say. I have run with Knight now for almost 11 months now and my DM from Carlisle takes care of his drivers. Mileage runs anywhere from 2900 - 3500. when i want to get hometime i schedule it 2-3 weeks in advance so he knows i want to be home at this time. I make up my hometime they do not. Loads, I never turn down a load. Yes i have had some crappy loads but they are far and few. I accept all loads because i know in the end i will make the money i need to support my family. When i came into this trucking industry i was well prepared for it. I did months of research on the internet reading blogs, message boards, live chat, youtubing, talking to drivers just to make sure this is what i wanted. In the end this is what i was meant to do. So Far So Good here at knight. Yes eventually i know i will leave the company for a better company, while i am here i will make the most of it though.

Just to show you i really do drive for knight:

Michael
truck #722200
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Who are you driving for now or since Knight?

kemosabi49 · May 26, 2019

Tyler Derden said: ↑

Who are you driving for now or since Knight?
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You know the thread you are looking for answers from is 6 years old, right.

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