Fired on day 2 of a new job?!?!?

No, they get passed over due to falling short on insurance qualifications.

Don't be too hard on yourself. The biggest problem a small fleet has is that the average driver thinks it's outlaw time. Then you're the dick when it's not. This guy just managed to keep it real long enough to get out of arms reach.

Only twice? LOL

 

When I started in this industry 9 years ago my entry pay was .30 a mile. I was desperate for a job after the economy (housing market) crashed.

I was out over 300 nights a year the first 2 years...

It was hard. I cried a couple of times out there because I was so lonely. But I did my job, worked my arse off for the company, represented them well and treated their equipment like it was my own.

It would of never occurred to me to abandon one the company loads in lieu of getting home on the weekend.

What this guy did was despicable and cowardly.

 

I get it. That was more of a flame toward those that think you aren't paying enough.

 

Bull!!! I can't disagree more.
We are paid as a common laborer, not a s a professional. If we get treated and paid like a common laborer, why is it shocking the bulk of drivers act like common laborers?
If we were paid and treated as professionals a lot more would act like a professional.

 

I got to admit, I have seen the industry get worse and worse every day. I started in 84 making .09 a mile and 20 bucks a drop (Win Dixie / Food Lion - 8 hours taking it off my pallets and putting it on theirs, for 20 bucks). Had to pay your dues for 2 years before you had a chance to get into a decent company.

Now the ######## cant even dim their lights as they come up behind you. Too much trouble I guess.

A month ago a big truck was on the side, flashers on, driver on the road side messing with his pig tail. I moved over to the left about 3/8th a mile before I got to him. Super trucker behind me about a half mile when I moved over passes me on the right just as we are passing the breakdown. If I had a gun I would have shot the retard.

Im glad I only have to do this 3 or 4 more years. I couldnt stand being out there much longer...

 

My point is if the pay was higher in the industry you would attract some better people to The industry ,and they would have a good job to protect,and show it more respect.. With #### pay comes #### workers for the most part. And good people will work for experience and move on.Anyone getting into this industry on a small scale with a couple of trucks is nuts.
Usuallly its big shot syndrome ,"My Trucks ,My drivers" etc,etc ,big business man until reality hits home that the drama and low returns for the amount of ######## hits home. When you can't even pay yourself you should not be in business.Period.
The costs and liable are too high,and returns on investment too low. Either be an owner operator and work hard or find a good job. I've seen very,few people with "a couple " trucks do well long term ,very few and I've been doing this for 31 years Good drivers are usually looking for greener pastures and you have to sift through the jerk offs To find someone decent.
I have owned restaurants and service businesses in the past,and recently just bought a diner.yeah the restaurant business is tough,but I usually buy them and sell them for much more,I also liquidate businesses,mostly restaurants of people who misjudge that business.That being said, I would never be able to sleep at night with trucks on the road with drivers and knowing all the things that could happen to watch most of the money come in one hand and out the other. I've had many opportunities to put trucks on work and hire drivers,no way not in a million years . Never mind wrecks,DOT audits,blown engines,abandoned equipment under a load etc.I wasn't
Attacking your business until you started taking what I said personally. It wasn't really meant that way

 

Amen!

 

It' tough getting a business started. Even harder growing it. A lot of sacrifices are made professionally and personally.

We can hope at the end of the journey the reward is worth the time spent.

Just remember. Family needs to come first.
Good luck.

 

Yes it is,and I respect anyone who works hard and sacrifices everything to make a better life for themselves
and their families. I've spent my whole life doing it in one form or another.ive had businesses go under due to lost contracts etc,poor planning ,lack of capital . All my own fault ,and have learned some very hard lessons. The biggest lesson I've ever learned was to try to be the best at what you do with a positive attitude. That goes far.Find lucrative niches that everybody is not exploiting ,and try and have direct work without middlemen ,and develop an excellent relationship with that work and over deliver.
I've also learned to never put all my eggs in one basket and diversify your income,Real estate etc. Trucking is a
Necessary,but tough business with a pretty easy ,ease of entry.Just stroll around a truck stop at night and you know what I mean. There's definitely some professional good drivers out there,but a fair amount of clueless goofballs,trained by some clueless goofball who some mega carrier deemed a "trainer".