COVENANT -- From a wife's perspective

Ok Stranger, Aftershock and MCR. I may not have convayed my thoughts clearly. I do understand and appreiciate all the info you have provided here. What I meant was that I know it will be a long and sucky road cause I have to start somewhere. It sounds to me that the whole industry is kinda sucky right now. That is why i am thinking of going with cov. It seems you have a better potential to make more money with them through your training. I mentioned the other companies to see if anyone had more insight to those companies and how much you can make there. Cause with what I hear and read from their websites is that you only make about 300-400 a week flat rate. I am sure you still have taxes and other decuctions come out of that. Also cov. seems to have less out of pocket expenses then others. I am like most of the newbees i just want to get out there, gain experiance and then move to the greener side of things. Not only is this a "cant find nuttin else" solution but I really think I will enjoy it and be great at it.

 

newbtrker

What these other drivers are saying Covenant is not the best or close of being a good choice. To much problems and they are slow freight as well. They are charging the drivers for any little thing, adn that can add to a negative income. From what I been reading I would choose CRE over them, and CRE has a bad rep also. Swift has a good training program, and I have been chatting with a guy who going to Willie Shaw first of the year as a trainee. You have choices, much better choices. These others are just saying Look before you leap.

 

You came through loud and clear. Perhaps it is I who didn't.

I realize you may "appreciate" the info, but I'm not so sure that you "understand".

Because you have to start somewhere is NOT the reason it's "sucky".

BINGO!

Here's what I'm readin' from you, ---
I realize the truckin' industry is kinda sucky right now, and some truckin' companies are suckier than others. But I've made up my mind to go with one of the suckiest companies because I believe their lies over some of the others.

Does that about sum it up?

That may be what Conenant is tellin' you, but it's NOT what most of us HERE are sayin'.

Of the other companies you listed, I tend to agree with those who suggested Swift, --- for whatever that advice is worth to you.

The FACT is, at this time in the truckin' industry, NObody can ACCURATELY predict how much you can "make" at ANY of the trainin' companies. Freight is unpredictable now-a-daze, and I doubt even the companies themselves can accurately predict how much you MIGHT make, or NOT make, as the case might be.
Fact; even the companies don't really know, because things change day by day.

IF that's true, and it may well be DURING training, aren't you concerned what you'll be receiving AFTER training?

It may seem like you're in training forEVER, but it's really only weeks. Afterwards WILL be MUCH longer than training, and that's when the drivers presently at Covenant are TRYING to tell you that the pay ISN'T all that good compared to other companies. Not to mention what seems to be constant grief from Covenant's front office and breakdowns of their shabby equipment.

Now, that right thar you CAN depend on.

Pick-pockets are clever that way. They're so good, you almost never feel their hand in your pocket. And payroll departments have it down to a science.

While you're in training, who do you have like Mrs. Redcoat to make SURE Covenant is actually PAYING you for EVERYthing you do and SHOULD be compensated for? :smt102
Especially while you're in training, tryin' to concentrate on learin'.

With thousands of drivers, if payroll can get away with shorting only 10% of them, it could add up to millions of dollars a year savings for Covenant. Or any other company, for that matter.

Exactly what KIND of "experience" are you seeking to "gain"?

Before you can move on to the "greener side" FIRST you have to get through the first company you choose. What we're TRYIN' to tell you is that Covenant, although they CLAIM better pay, may NOT be the better choice. I would think a newBee would be seeking the best bang for their buck, --- training wise, --- and immediately thereafter. Sitting in truck stops waiting on loads isn't the best training.

If a truckin' company pays a little less, but manages to keep the wheels rollin' more, you'd be getting DRIVING training, not sittin' training.
The object of ANY company's training SHOULD be for their trainees to LEARN at least SOMEthing other than what a shabby company is like.

If some big dude gave you two choices -----
1. Hit you in the head with a hammer
or
2. NOT hit you in the head with a hammer
Which would you choose?

I don't doubt for a minute that had you attempted to enter the truckin' industry several years ago, you WOULD enjoy it. But times, they are a-changein'--- or, more accurately, HAVE changed.

Many truckin' companies are in panic mode now. THEY don't know what tomorrow will bring. Their customer bases are changing by the day as manufacturing companies are slowing their production, or stopping production all together. No product, no need to ship it.

Freight lanes are based on customers that get their drivers re-loaded and moving. With those companies not shipping, it results in drivers sitting, where in the past there was a shipper, now there isn't.

Some companies have their shippers and receivers set up better to prevent their drivers from sitting, some don't.
From what I've been readin', Covenant isn't one of the better companies for being able to keep their driver's wheels turnin'.

Could be mismanagement.
Could be poor management.
Could be a lack of concern for their drivers.
Could be most ANY reason.
Could be a good company to AVOID.
All depends,
on YOU.

If, after readin' what drivers currently driving and/or sitting for/with Covenant are saying --- tryin' to tell you, and you still prefer to believe Covenant's website and/or what Covenant (a company that depends on new hires to survive) tells you, ..... what more can we/they say?

Nobody can tell anybody what the best company to go with actually is. Everyone's needs and desires are not the same.
You're doing the right thing by researching and asking questions. But have you noticed the number of folks who are recommending that you DO go with Covenant at this time?
Now, contrast that with the number who are telling you NOT to go with Covenant at this time.
Crunch the numbers.
What do they add up to?

If that figure satisfies your curiosity, make your decision.
If that decision is Covenant, so be it.
Let the learnin' process begin.

And I hope you'll do us, and all the wannaBess and newBess who come here to learn, --- a favor by keeping us all up to date on your progress.
Or, lack thereof.

 

Thks aftershock, i have taken in all that all say on here and i am also reading other threads. I was just making a few points, i do know that a few of the companies I have mentioned are in a freeze right now and that I already have a date set with cov. i prolly will wish i found this site earlier as it may have help me get a date with some one else. I might make some phone calls but don't want to delay to much as i do want to get out there and start "trucking" or sitting which will suck but at least i am out there trying to make it. I may have to just suck it up a deal with the choice i have made. May have been a bad choice but I didn't have all you to help me in that decission when I mad it. I did pay attention to the lack of training but as a lot of you have said is the best training comes from geting out there and figuring it out. And don't worry what every my choice is i will keep you all updated. I may even post a general thread out side this to maybe get some more outside thoughts from others that don't follow this thread. I know i have been long winded and SORRY MRS. RC for tearing up your thread. and I don't mean I don't appreciate al your feedback but yet to hear good or other facts about my other choices. Other then swift. Thanks and I hope this all makes sense and mean no disrespect.

 

I think you might be surprised who reads this thread on a daily basis! My Fiance works for Central and we read this thread all the time.

 

you can probaly make more money at micky d's than at covenant.

 

You're welcome.

That's an excellent idea.

Well, I didn't exactly say that.

What I AM sayin' is, NOW is NOT the best time to receive the BEST training with most ANY truckin' company, due to the economy and lack of freight at this time.

Training SHOULD consist of driving, not sitting. And AFTER training, the sitting seems to increase because the training companies tend to keep their trainers rollin' more than their other drivers.

Just because you run miles during training is no guarantee that those miles will continue after your training is completed.

Thanx!

That's what I'd recommend that you do.

Whether or not it makes sense to us doesn't really matter. What really matters is, does it make sense to YOU?

If you want my gol-danged BEST advice, it would be to wait to attempt to enter the truckin' industry. The failure rate for those who try now is sky-high.

I realize that good jobs are few and far between these days, and hard to land if and when they're found, --- as many are out of work and seeking the same jobs you may be interested in.

Right now, Big truck truckin' is NOT the cure-all for those with finincial woes, and can easily exacerbate those woes, --- making them worse than they were.

Many have discovered that by working two or three minimum wage jobs that they actually do better, money wise.
But what about all those hours I'd be working?, is a common question.
Now, consider how many hours you'll be working as a Big truck truck driver, and away from home to boot.

Fact; I, Shakey AfterShock, am interested in getting BACK into the truckin' industry. But I flat refuse to attempt to do that under the current conditions. I well KNOW what to expect, and it ain't pretty. Ergo, I'm electing to wait, rather than go through what others are reporting that THEY'RE goin' through at this time. I think I'd be foolish to even think it would be ANY different for me, --- even with my years of truckin' experience with around a million milemarkers in my back pocket and blemish free driving record.
I CAN read road signs, and what I'm readin' now-a-daze is
DO NOT ENTER
And/Or
ENTER AT YOUR OWN RISK.
And THAT'S a risk I'm not willing to take,
at THIS time.
It just ain't worth it ----
in the long run.

When it comes to sitting, I'm already an expert, ..... well illustrated by the number of posts here to my credit, or discredit, as the case may be perceived.
I'd prefer to be sitting behind a Big truck's steering wheel, rollin' down the highways and byways. But NOT in or at Big truck truck stops, or wherever.
Been there, done that.
But NOwhere NEAR as much as drivers seem to be now-a-daze.
The LONGEST I've ever had to sit in my drivin' career was for three days, in Three Forks, Montana, --- and I LOVED every minute of it, ...... there.

Other than that, I think I sat, waiting for a load for about a day, and I can count those times on one hand.
It's twue!
It's twue!

Now-a-daze, it seems it takes BOTH hands just to count the number of days sitting in one WEEK, instead of 10+ years.
Does that sound inviting?
Especially considering that many of the companies have figured out a way NOT to pay their drivers lay-over pay when they're required to sit and wait for a load.

Meanwhile, drivers have to eat, which can easily cost them $20 --> $30 a DAY at truck stops and/or restaurants.
How many meals of peanutbutter and jelly sandwiches, washed down with tap water, can you handle?
How many days can you go without a shower?
Showers are usually free with the purchase of diesel fuel, but if the wheels ain't turnin, and the company forbids idling, in their attempt to save THEIR money --- at YOUR expense --- y'all won't be burnin' much fuel to receive that free shower.

I recommend that you bring a VERY warm sleeping bag for those sub-zero nights, sleepin' in you new home-home on the highway, --- AWAY from your home with roots, that you'll probably seldom see. And when you DO see it, it'll be more like a short visit.
If you have kids, they MIGHT remember who you are. Or not.
And IF they do, be prepared to answer them when they ask daddy ----
Where WERE you on my birthday, Christmas, Thanksgiving, Little League game, graduation, wedding ....... ?
See where I'm goin' with this?

Now, if you're NOT married, with or without children, I wouldn't plan on meeting ANYone.
The road IS a lonely place, and certainly NOT the best place to meet potential mates.
If you see a family in your future, it'll probably be just a dream you had. "Had" being the key word here.
If you already have a family, be aware of the HIGH divorce rate among the ranks of Big truck truck drivers.
If that doesn't AfterShock you, you just might be trucker material.

 

I recently did a trip within florida and counted no less than 5 convenant trucks. Whats up with that?

Hunter

 

RCW glad to see he is back home, is he staying through christmas? I hope so but understands if he doesn't. To let you all know I am going to Call swift, KLLM, and TMC tomorrow and see what is the soonest i could get into orientaion or accepted. I have not totally decided on covenant yet. but may have to deal with it if no one else is hiring students!! I am one who can deal with anything as long as i am at least moving forward to my goals. I should have looked into things before I chose cov. and maybe I would be better off. good luck and thanks for the support!!