Are there not any good companies?

someone else messaged me today and said the same thing actually. If you hold out its a decent company to work for.

 

Book miles, top pay is .40 going up to .41 soon (you can go higher than that after working there for a few years). I average some where around 2500 miles a week. Going to private message you with some more specifics.

 

When you first get married you have no idea what you are doing so a lot of marriages end in divorce. Does that mean that your girlfriend is a bad girl? No, it just means that there is a lot to get use to. A lot of disappoints and the reality of have to do what someone else tells you drives you nuts. Most of us who have been married multiple times have found what we want in a woman latter on in life.

That is how trucking is. Any trucking company that is in business is in business because it is doing something right. As previously pointed out, newbies tear up the equipment. The little things that you learn over the years, you don't know. What gear do you start out in if you are bob tailing? Is that the same gear you start out in while under a heavy load? You are going to scratch up a trailer. You might even be dumb enough to call safety and report that you scratched up a trailer. The companies that hire newbies cannot afford to pay newbies as much because they have hire separate cost. Insurance for one. Training cost are another. Everyone who goes to Stevens is temporary. (not everyone) The high turn over rate means that Stevens must keep a training department. You might have to ride with a trainer for a month or so. The money to pay two drivers for a job one could do has to come from some where. Bus tickets down, background checks, drug test, physicals, motel expenses, all of these cost going to hire newbies comes out of profits that could be used to make the improvements that we all want.

The only way for this industry to improve and for wages to get better is for new drivers who come on with a company to become the most professional employees they can become. If the company that hires you right out of the gate is so bad, then it should be easy for you to make it better. Treat problems as a challenge that can be overcome and not as a punishment.

 

I'll second the plug for Old Dominion....I've heard that they are decent. You might pm flying musician on here. I believe he works for them.

 

Well one thing I've learned is that people are way more likely to report a bad experience than a good one. That goes with anything, not just trucking companies. I've been doing research online and in person for a while on truck driving. One of the first things I did was put my address in google maps, search for trucking companies and zoom out. That gives you a picture of who has terminals close by. You'll also discover a lot of small mom and pop companies. I've decided to go with a CDL school rather than have a starter company put me through theirs and hold me to a contract.

The next thing I did is call some companies and just ask if they take people out of school. Some do, most of the local stuff in my area doesn't. But the ones that don't told me to come back when I had the required experience. Before deciding on a school you want to make sure the companies you are looking at will accept graduates from that particular school. That's how I discovered Superior Carriers, which is most likely going to be the company I go with. I also considered Schneider, Millis and Roehl. It turns out Millis doesn't hire in my area so that one's off the list.

There are other options than the JB, Werner and Swift you just have to look. The key is deciding what will work for you. You might think Swift is a good fit for your situation. I do know people that have driven for Swift and didn't really have many complaints. The bigger companies are very much a ymmv type of thing it seems. Good luck to you in whatever you do!

 

Superior carriers does seem like a good company. That's the tanker company correct?

 

Yes tankers.

 

OD only pays .58cpm and pays something like $300 a day for holidays, vacation etc. 100% drop and hook. Motel stays. Excellent health care package with very little out of pocket. Home weekends. That's not what people are looking for. After reading through the threads it appears that everyone wants to work holidays, live in the truck. Park truck at home to show mommy they are a truck driver. Happy with .35 cpm . Glad to just have a job. Get treated like dirt at warehouses. Happy being able to get $100 layover pay. Owner operators are doing cartwheels because they are clearing .50cpm after expenses. Old Dominion must be overkill for the majority

 

How long do you have to be there before getting all those benefits though? No company starts a driver out at .58 a mile. They have no way to contact them on their website other than phone numbers. They don't post any thing about pay, vacations, benefits etc.