Is there a such thing as too many jobs?

5 jobs in two years does NOT look good! However, if you were an owner operator getting your freight from 5 diff. companies in two years, then you technically only have one job, right? Just a thought.

 

I may be going on 4th company job since May 2009,,, I too am thinking that maybe I have moved too many times. Stayed with 1st one for 3 yrs, 2nd one for 3 mo's (due to unrelated work injury) and than wife got cdl so we went with a team company. Now, we have an oppertunity to get hired by a fedex contractor.....hmmmm?

 

If you have had more than 3 jobs in the last 2 years it is too much. In fact, that is marginal with some carriers.

 

I've been with 2 carriers in 12 years. Never really planned on leaving the first carrier but I never initially planned on buying a truck either or I would still be there. Been through many ups and downs with that company. I've always been the sort of person who could find a silver lining in anything,control my conspiracy theory thoughts as to why certain things happened as they did with the company that seemingly messed me over,and have always been willing to accept blame for my own screwups. I'll likely be 10 years or more with my current carrier. It's called attitude. You make lemonade out of lemons. The grass ain't always greener. Etc..

 

with all the crap down here in miami its hard to stick with one carrier for more then a couple months , they are always adjusting rates against the drivers. thus needing you to search for a better optty, so now its my fault cuase the company can live up to there end of the bargain they offered. im not going to stay stuck for years with a CO. thats obviously not doing well so why not look for a better oppty.

Snap if it was like that ive worked for 7 different carriers in the past 6 years lol.

 

I would consider it as one job and getting your freight from different sources. Your self employed as a contractor and business is business so if you werent meeting your business needs then you moved on. Tell that to the next company you look to lease on with and let them know the reasons you left. Being loyal is no consolation if you go broke and lose your truck because of it. And before anyone jumps on loyalty , I worked for the same company for close to 12 years before I started trucking so I do understand a thing or two about sticking with a company through the good and bad times.

 

You don't need to stick with a bad company, but you may need to make better decisions before you either lease on to a carrier or take a company driving job. I think that I posted this either on this forum or another, but it bears repeating. Some years ago I received a call from a guy looking for a job. When I asked him how many jobs he had the last couple of years he told me that he has been with 20 companies......IN TWO YEARS!!! He made a lot of excuses and tried to blame owner operators who had poorly maintained equipment. I didn't have anything for him. I don't need someone who changes companies every month. It costs carriers a lot of money to check out applicants. Paying for pre drug testing, motels, orientation and other recruitmen costs can mount up. Turnover in recent years has been as high as 136%. I think it is less of late. Carriers do what they can to reduce costs. One thing they can do is to seek out those drivers who best match their career model and tend to work out problems rather than walk out the door the first time something doesn't go their way. Past history is a good indicator of future behavior. If a driver has a history of moving to the next carrier every few months, then there is a very good chance that he won't stay with you long either.