Dallas noob looking for a local gig

Cement mixers is a bad idea for a rookie driver. Easy to flip over. Had a guy who worked for me leave to go drive em...in less than a month, he flipped one, got fired, I couldn't hire him back as a result of insurance...and really, wasn't too interested when he told me what happened. Anything is possible, you don't know the situation unless you are there. I had my most SENIOR driver flip a semi dump right in front of me. It was more equipment failure than his fault, but, he was on uneven ground and wasn't paying attention as the box was going up...complacency is a disaster ready to happen.

Sometimes being a rookie has it's advantages...you tend to pay more attention!

 

I ran for these guys in Chicago years ago after taking a break from being an Owner Op.

I lasted about 5 months. They claim to have the "newest fleet" in the business...does that truck look new? Doesn't matter how "new" your fleet is, if you don't maintain it. CT definitely nickles and dimes their equip...bald tires, worn brakes, broken trucks that wouldn't start or would leave you stranded on the shoulder. I had a POS Sterling I had to add radiator fluid to all day long.

But, looks like they have bumped up their pay schedule. When I was there, starting pay was $19 hr and promised $23 within 2 years. Shortly after joining, they immediately froze everyone's pay, no increases. Then they started hiring new guys at $16 hr.

There was a LOT of time spent on loading docks loading and unloading. The dock I ran from was right next to a garbage dump...the smell was fierce at times. In the winter, we were the only ones lucky enough to have overhead doors we could close, but, still, it would be below zero on the dock. Our scanners would quit working, it was so cold.

Not that this is going to happen in Dallas often, but, its a testament to the work conditions.

Even though IL Labor law said over 40 hours was OT pay, they managed to get away with not paying OT until you reached 55 hrs...and, guess what, nobody EVER worked over 55 hrs! They's send you home early on Friday...something to do with them being a MI based company. Bunch of bull, you ask me.

Day shift was P&D, night was linehaul. Most didn't want to do linehaul (see the part about trucks breaking down)...one time, me and another driver had to go retrieve trailers in Kalamazoo MI, in the dead of winter. It was Feb...the trailers had been buried in 3 feet of snow, frozen brakes...they were empty, so, no weight. We bobtailed up and drove back...it was supposed to be a day trip. We ended up in a major lake-effect snowstorm...14 hours later, we were still in MI, we had to argue with the dispatcher as to WHY we needed hotel rooms...we were in daycabs.

If you do end up here, just be weary of what they ask you to do, the trucks you end up driving...just know, probably not great equipment.

 

If I was going to buy a used truck, probably get it from TransAm.
TransAm has nice trucks:
"As a company driver, you will have access to great equipment including the Kenworth T680 equipped with the PACCAR MX engine which is fuel efficient, environmentally friendly and very quiet. All trucks have automatic transmissions which mean less fatigue in traffic, a safer, smoother ride, and great fuel mileage. All trucks have condo cabs, dual bunks, refrigerators, CD players, Auxiliary Power Units, inverters and are satellite radio-equipped. At their option, Independent Contractors who wish to lease a tractor through ONE Leasing will have access to this same great equipment."

 

This would be VERY cool!!! And, for sure, it will be all daytime hours, home at night. But, weather conditions will dictate work. Rain, cold or strong winds.

 

Sweet! I'd do it as a company driver.

But...

Just watch out, back to my original advice, be very careful about financing a truck to be an owner op from the same outfit who gives you your work, especially if it is used.

Talk to as many of their other O/O as possible or, just avoid it. The flow of work will be strong to begin with, but over time, they will scale you back, make it so you make enough, but, not enough to pay off the truck or do proper maintenance...you will get into some hefty repair bills, which they will GLADLY finance for you. Just as you are getting out from under the mound of debt, another major repair hits you. They will then offer for you to "trade in" your old truck for something not so old, oh sure, the payments will be more, but, it won't need as much repair...at least at first. They will take your old truck, do the same thing to a new, unsuspecting bright-eyed newbie looking to be an O/O.

Seen it many times over.

 

This is a typical shift for new hire (rookie or not) running fuel. It is probably the hardest time to do it, most traffic. Gas stations are a ##### to get an 18 wheeler in and out. Cars ignore your safety cones, drivers do dumb shi it like smoke near your rig or use cell phones. Yikes. The other possible shift is 12am to 12 pm. Also plan on working weekends and every holiday you are scheduled to work on. Fuel is delivered 365 days a year. You will have to wear flame retardant clothes, sometimes a jump suit at the bulk fuel depot, depending on the rules. I know how hot that gets in Chi...can't imagine it down in TX.

Spills are not tolerated, nor is dropping the wrong fuel into the wrong tank.

Getting onto a day shift (3 AM to 3 PM) takes a while, depending on the company...not working weekends is usually impossible. A lot of companies have as a policy, every driver will work either a Sat or a Sunday, and newbies will work both until they move up in Sr.

Nothing is perfect...except being your own boss!

 

I wouldn't do a lease-purchase from a company either. Greatwide has a pretty good deal to become an owner-operator and I know lots of drivers that were successful there.

 

I wouldn't work for TransAm as an OTR driver, but that one run to Houston is ok.