Fly ash?

I appreciate the insight Heavy.

I appreciate the no bull response, as you don't get that much anymore. However, my MVR,CSA,PSP, are all clean, I have all of my endorsements, no criminal record, nothing. I will correct you on one point. I did not just pass up several career line haul gigs, I passed up a "combo driver" position at Estes, because the TM couldn't ever give me a straight answer on what kind of hours I could actually bank on, OR how long one typically stays in the on call position before moving to either city, or line haul. I'm just not interested in playing the seniority game at the LTL carriers. The only other LTL things I passed up were a "on call" spot at YRC for the same reasons, and the fact the yard was almost an hour away, and Saia becasue I wasn't going to be one of the guys fired over the ridiculous micromanagement, and crazy enforcement of the driver facing cameras and have marks on my record for bs just becasue the lady in charge of safety is a nut. I prefer to avoid a company where the morale is terrible and the workers are fleeing in droves.

There are virtually no legitimate companies that are actively hiring in my area that I know of. I've applied to several local companies hoping a spot would open up but no dice as of yet. I also just got back from orientation for Elite Nationwide services which is based out of Weatherford Tx. I was hired for the home DAILY flatbed gig running from round rock to surrounding cities delivering to home depot, lowes etc. I, as well as another member on this forum both signed up with them. I went to orientation, stayed in a hotel for a few nights, then was sent home becasue my truck wasn't ready. The day before I was supposed to get my truck, I get a text saying that I'm "not within the acceptable mileage range to park my truck at home, and all I can do is go regional" I declined because their idea of regional, was running you out to California etc. I dodged a bullet there, and the other member from this forum is on his way out the door as well, becasue he has now been out 3 weeks, after being hired for a guaranteed home on the weekend gig. I don't know what the deal is with companies, but that's the way it is I guess.

Regarding the companies being ran by old men, I do think you are accurate but in my scenario, the fly ash outfit is owned by a woman, who started the business herself with one truck, and the step deck operation is ran by a cat in his late 30's. Apparently he grew up around the industry becasue his dad is a driver. He drove for a year then went in the brokerage side of things. I touched base with him about the inconsistencies in the application at about 4 this afternoon, and I have yet to hear back. I don't go actively looking for sketchy outfits, and can 9 times out of 10 spot those just from reading their ads online. However, there are several who can sell a good story at first, until you start inquiring, digging, and pushing for further details.

As far as what I'm looking for, it's pretty simple. Decent equipment (not new) W2 preferably, I'm not expecting to make a ridiculous amount per year, no micromanagement, and the ability to be home at least decently often. If I can't be home everyday, that's ok, but I'm not looking to be gone for weeks on end. I'd prefer a "smaller" outfit as the mega fleet deal just isn't my cup of tea. I also inquired with the company you mentioned a while back and haven't heard back.

 

I'm about 30 miles south of Crawford.

 

There's certainly many many more driving opportunities in the Austin area, than there are around here.

 

Oh yea there's quite a industrial complex in Temple. I've contacted most, and have either been told "We'll contact you back" or that they're "not hiring." I tend to stay away from the likes of TMC,Cypress,P&S because that whole corporate OTR/Regional thing drives me nuts. On top of that, I'm trying to stay closer to the house right now as I've got some family things going on that I'd like to be near for, or atleast withing a few hours of the house.

There's some concrete plants in my area as well, but none are hiring, at least none that I spoke with. About the only things I've come across where people are actually wanting to put me to work and not dick me around, are a 1099 gig running a step deck for what seems to be a "ok" company after I finally got answers back, to some questions I asked that seemed to contradict what he told me, vs what the application stated, with a 1500 per wk minimum, home every night "supposedly" or "every other night" as well as off on the weekends, and the other is also 1099 but it's for end dump locally. The guy who owns the truck bought it as a "side income" becasue he owns 3 other businesses. Landscaping, concrete staining and something else I can't remember. Anyway, 1099, 23% (a little low right?), average pay of 800 a week, which is really 600 week after you hold out taxes, but said he'd bump me up to 1000 a week and that he plans on buying a flatbed very soon to run stone out of a local quarry. Home everyday, and I can park the truck at home, but man the weekly pay will HURT for a while, if I do that based off what most hold out for taxes each week when running 1099.