How's this for a job offer for a new driver?

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by Goldenfan, Mar 30, 2022.

  1. Goldenfan

    Goldenfan Heavy Load Member

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    I'll start off by saying I'm not going to name the company in this thread but it's a smaller place around 100 trucks. They have mostly regional runs and some home daily but I'm not near a metro area so that isn't going to be me. I've had my class A CDL for almost 30 years just haven't driven T/T. I found a smaller company a couple hours away that trains new drivers, applied and was offered to come in and go through their training program.
    I'd be at their yard for a couple weeks then on the road training for 2 or 3 weeks.

    Training pay is hourly at $19.00 while training.
    After getting my own truck it's .41 cents a mile. If I get over 2500 miles it's .44 over 2700 it's .45.5. Per diem is .06 cents per mile. Raises are annually from what I understand. The mileage pay seems a little low from what I've seen posted here but I am new with no experience.
    I have my hazmat so add .01 cent a mile on all miles and if it's a HM load it's .07 cents a mile.
    Trucks are newer with APU's, inverters and a fridge is furnished. That's a plus.
    Camera's are outward facing not inward. That's a plus.
    Detention pay question was not answered but when I went up in person they told me they have a lot of drop n hooks. What I understand they have over 3 trailers per truck. Seems like a lot of DnH.
    Trucks are about 90% auto. I don't have a restriction on my license so that doesn't matter. I just haven't driven much for 10 speeds. They have a few around but the older guys have them.

    Here's my question is this a good deal for someone starting out? My only hang up is the pay. This is a small company that evidently is very busy with some contracts they have. They do get out west (AZ, Utah) and down south (TX) some of course they have some upstate NY freight and a customer or 2 in NJ. Primarily they run a lot of Indiana and Ohio from WI. They say they're flexible on hometime which is what I want/need and I'd be willing to be out longer if I can get more days off when needed. They say average 75,000 a year but with what the pay is I question that.

    The head of driver training was very cordial and showed me a few things on their operation side when I went there in person. There's a large US map on a screen and it shows all the trucks and where they're at. It looks like decent lanes but I'm also new. What do you guys think??
     
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  3. sbaumann14

    sbaumann14 Road Train Member

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    ask them for 5 phone numbers of drivers you can talk to. 2 or 3 that have been there over 3 years, 1 or 2 newbie’s. If they can’t/won’t…..run. Usually you can get some good info from the other drivers.
     
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  4. Goldenfan

    Goldenfan Heavy Load Member

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    I did talk to 1 driver there and he seemed to like it. The manager guy wasn't right there either so it seemed like a good sign.
     
  5. Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

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    Just go for it.
    You've had your CDL for 30 years and still haven't driven a tractor-trailer.
     
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  6. tscottme

    tscottme Road Train Member

    You are the expert about what is reasonable for you. There is no way on earth I would decide about working at the company you describe until after I talked to current working drivers doing the job you are being told you will do, if hired. That is the only way to know what the pay and conditions are like at a company. Either go to the yard for this company and find drivers to talk to. Or, have the company give your contact info to a driver and talk to him. If the company provides the driver, they are going to give you a driver that is in management or happy to work there. When you speak to a driver provided by the company, have him pass you on to a newer driver at the company and an experienced driver at the company. All the claims from the company, all the "averages", all the everything is just words. You can't pay your bills with words and any difficulties you will have because you cannot get home enough will not be fixed by anyone saying the right words. The pay you mention seems low, but I don't have to live on your future paychecks. If the pay and conditions at the unnamed company work for you, nobody else's opinion matters.

    When talking to drivers about the company ask open-ended question, not yes & no questions. Don't ask "is this a good company?" Ask "how many miles/hours do you work each week?" "What's your lowest paycheck?" "How much do benefts cost?" "What fuel stops does the company use?" "What do you not like about the company?" Ask whatever you need to know, and ask different drivers and compare the answers. Don't lead them into the answers you want to hear. This might be where you work for years, if you have to know what it's like to work there make sure you put in the effort to get the answers, not just hope for the best. You will not change the company or argue them into better pay and conditions.
     
  7. Goldenfan

    Goldenfan Heavy Load Member

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    CT I was grandfathered in back in the early 90s when the CDL came out. I drove different smaller straight trucks for a farm co-op sometimes pulling fertilizer spreaders or other trailers. We never had T/T but the trucks and trailers GVW was class A rated. I also drove some propane bobtail as well. My primary job was hauling bulk feed and fertilizer. I've been working a non driving job for 27 years now. I just never let my CDL, hazmat or medical card lapse. I did drive a little a few years ago for a different coop in the fall hauling fertilizer.
     
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  8. Capacity

    Capacity Road Train Member

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    I see your from wisconsin, Essity paper mill in neenah needs a yard driver pay starts at 35$ per hour with ot after 40.
    Its a 3rd party gig at the mill call beneficial reuse in Chicago ask for travis.
     
    LtlAnonymous, bryan21384 and dwells40 Thank this.
  9. Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

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    Henderson, NV & Orient
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    I have 2 nephews that drove for CO-OP for a few years; fertilizer spreaders, etc. One went back to coaching and the other moved into management for CO-OP. He drives a mail truck tractor trailer on weekends.
     
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  10. Magoo1968

    Magoo1968 Road Train Member

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    With the per diem it’s really not a bad offer considering every company will treat you as a new driver ..
     
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  11. Goldenfan

    Goldenfan Heavy Load Member

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    Capacity I'm on the opposite side of the state in the SW corner along the Mississippi River. Moving's not an option as my wife has a job she's not going to leave. (State). Thank you for the suggestion though. I live in a rural area where the city folk all come to on vacation or weekends. They say they want to get away from where they live and relax. Unfortunately some decide to retire here and bring their dumb ideas with them.o_O :mad::(
     
    Magoo1968, LoneRanger and dwells40 Thank this.
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