At a crossroads.

No worries TMB. I never really believed the whole "driver shortage" deal anyway. It is, what it is.

Dave

 

Spot on Tom, and greatly appreciated as usual. I think I'm going to hunker down, spend some quality time with the family and wait it out.

Dave

 

Oh I definitely will lol

 

Fantastic post there Veggies. As always the insight is greatly appreciated. Regarding SNI, I'm still strongly considering them. The thing is, as you pointed out in your closing statement, I'm not planning to stay forever at either company. I am in fact keeping that in mind as I ponder the situation, and move closer to making a decision. I do know that with companies like this, there is no "perfect" but there is usually a "better fit." I'll admit, I'm usually not very indecisive, however, I've gotten the raw end of the deal regarding jobs ever since I obtained my CDL, so I guess part of my apprehension when it comes to making a solid decision, regardless of the company, comes from my paranoia of making a "bad decision" again and getting myself in a ####ty situation.

The Coleman/Allied deal is not a concern, and the Universal Freight deal is up in the air but I'll know more in the morning. So I'm really just weighing out the pro's and con's of SNI and McElroy, as they both actually have some strengths in terms of what I'm looking for. Similar home-time, possibly similar pay if SNI has decent short haul pay etc, but with such a difference is CPM between the 2 I'm not sure on that. Neither company has APU's or inverters, not sure about driver facing cameras in SNI trucks, I know McElroy has them. I'm calling tomorrow to see if I could get SNI to approve of me parking at my mom's place of business, as they have a huge parking lot that's empty on the weekends, and it's 5 minutes from my home and the owners have written me an "authorization letter." McElroy doesn't care where I park as long as I get written "permission."

You supposedly can't idle at SNI unless it's over I believe 70-73 or under 50 or something of that nature, I'm not wild about that but according to McElroy they don't have any type of idling policy. At SNI I COULD vouch to go out with a trainer for a week or 2, if I feel I need it, I don't see anything wrong with that, if not I get a truck after orientation. I don't need anyone to teach me how to drive, back, etc but wouldn't mind some hands on with the qualcom and other little situations that I haven't encountered in a regional sense. McElroy will send me through a training phase basically as if I'm back in CDL school, then a week on the yard, then 3-4 weeks with a trainer, then one week back at the yard to test out. I'm not tickled about that, as I really only need some training on the qualcom, and company policy as far as how they want things done, where I can stop for fuel etc, everything else I can manage.

I'm all for going with someone for a week or so to get the feel of things if need be, but I'm not really digging the whole idea of a 7 week long ordeal, when in reality I could absorb what I personally need in a week with someone, if it were to be required. I absolutely DON'T know it all, and most of you guys would probably drive circles around me, and I'd love to sit and have a beer and just pick your brains on different things, so please don't think I'm coming across as arrogant, as I am not that type of guy. But I've had to learn the hard way from the get go since I've gotten out of school. So I'm not shy about getting out there, and just learning on my own. I certainly don't scare easy, and I enjoy a challenge. In my short time driving, I've had to teach myself everything from filling out log books, to learning flatbed securment, to scaling loads, to basic truck maintenance, truck stop "etiquette," navigating different warehouse procedures, backing and bumping docks, learning different transmissions, 9,10,13,18 and super 10, running legal and illegal depending on who my boss was, everything from highways, worn out back roads, congested city streets, the list goes on.

A little common sense, some google searches, and a few youtube videos have been my ONLY way of learning. None of my bosses or co workers seemed to give a rats ### about giving the "noob" any help and that's perfectly fine. I managed. I feel like I've had to learn a multitude of different things on my own, with ZERO direction and so far I've fared decently well, and I'm proud of that, considering I haven't even been driving a full year. Now that I read that back, I feel like I've been setup to fail many times over with the jobs I've had, and I'm just lucky I made it this far, and gained the knowledge that I have, even if it's not a plethora.

The second I obtained my CDL, every job I had was basically just the boss throwing me the keys and saying "good luck" throwing me to wolves for lack of a better term, and I had to make it work, or I was fired. At least that's what I'm used to. But company policy, is company policy and I don't make the rules, so I've go to roll with the punches. It'll workout wherever I end up I assume. It's sink or swim for me, and I don't like holding my breath.

Dave

 

Well fellow drivers, here's an interesting update for those of you who have gone above and beyond, providing me with information and advice. For starters, I'm glad I was able to push back orientation at SNI and McElroy just to make sure nothing else materialized before I made that leap. I got a call back from Universal Freight Express out of Utah. They run manufactured custom trailers out of place in Waco which is about 30 miles from me. I got offered the job a few minutes ago over the phone. A few details are as follows:

1. Day trips are paid hourly at a rate of $18.00
2. Any trip that will be over night will be paid at .37 a mile
3. Blue cross/Blue shield benefits, as well as dental, vision, 401K, life insurance, etc
4. Currently on paper-logs but moving to Elogs soon
5. I'll have an assigned truck which will be a Volvo, equipped with APU,Fridge,CB etc
6. I'm allowed to park the truck at my house so I don't have to drive my personal vehicle back and forth every day to the warehouse. (They'll load me the night before, then I'll leave from my house to make the southbound deliveries.)
7. Usually home daily, and on weekends unless I get an over night run.
8. Mainly delivering to Dallas,Houston,San Antonio,Bay-town, Austin, with a run here and there to Albuquerque, OKC and Baton Rouge.

I'll have orientation week after next in Utah. I'll be running a 1 ton pickup with a few cars loaded on a wedge trailer up to Utah, they provide a hotel on the way, then I'll have orientation there, which of course they'll put me in a hotel in Utah as well, then after a few days I'm assigned my truck, and I head back to Waco. I'll be pulling mainly a step deck, or wedge trailer, so no tarping, etc.

I'm paid .37 cpm up there and back, and 18 bucks an hour for my time in orientation.

I'm feeling pretty good about this, as it's more in line with what I was looking for.

Thoughts?

Dave

 

My thoughts exactly Pablo, I'm looking forward to it.

Dave