Is there any Good ones Left??

I entered the transportation business in 1963 and then I cannot recall any of the trucking companies advertising for drivers as they do today, know why?? Because at that time, driving a truck was one of the better paying profession for a "blue collar working person". I could continue to run through the years and point out what I believe has happened to this "once proud profession", but anyone who has grown up in a trucking family or one who knows his history of trucking know as well as I do what happened.

Fast forward to today. Honestly, I do not know a single truckload mega carrier that I would even consider and very few "mom and pop" outfits, but there are a few small carriers that still consider their drivers as #1 employees. As far as becoming an o/o today, I would not even think about it and I do have 10 years under my belt as an o/o, before and after "De-regulation". If I was a young person trying to break into trucking there are only a few companies that I would even be looking at.

Being a pro-union person, I guess that I am prejudiced when I look around and think about who I would drive for today. #1 would be UPS, it is a struggle until you get a few years of seniority, but it is worth it.
#2 would be ABF and again, seniority means everything. If I was looking at a non-union driving job, Walmart would be on top and then the LTL carriers, such as UPS Freight, Fedex Freight, Southeastern and the list goes on. Most of even the non-union LTL carriers are paying fairly good money with decent benefits and you are probably going to be home very day with them, not like the mega carriers that will keep you living on the road.

These are just my thoughts and I am sure that there are a thousand out there that will disagree with what I have just posted, but with having almost 51 years in this business I think that I have learned a few things and I will admit that I have formed some bias opinions.

 

You know that there is an saying - you make it as you want it. What I mean is that many people have great expectations to what this is all about, even if they have dad, brother or even sister in the business, they don't get that it is their attitude towards what they want and what they expect only matters.

You may only hear the negatives because not many people think to be positive when talking about their jobs today, many seem to have a protective nature about their jobs, money and so on now than before because of society has changed so I don't expect too many positive posts on any forum (it is the forum thing which attracts people who want to have someone to complain too). Does it matter if someone knows how much you make or what you drive? In some cases it does.

There are many with alleged mega-carriers seem to be doing well making money and enjoying life, they learned how to be company drivers and not try to make something out of the company's system that it is not. I continue to be amazed at those who seem to jump into this as a job, get pissed off when things don't work as they want it to (that is ignoring what the customer needs or company wants) and then complain about it.

Times have changed since the 60's, now just to get a job you have to be cleared, the regulations are in a few areas more stringent that flying a commercial plane and many of the problems we face are our of our own cause.

 

You're from Atlanta...have you looked into Millis Transfer? Very few complaints. Check 'em out here.

http://www.thetruckersreport.com/truckingindustryforum/millis/

 

There's many good driving jobs for new CDL grads. Atlanta is an excellent location for high paying trucking jobs. There's also many average paying jobs ($40K - $50K) with very good companies. $60K - $65K for hazmat tanker new CDL grads.

Superior Carriers
CTL Transportation
Schneider Bulk
SVTN
Millis Transfer
Decker Truck Line
Melton Truck Lines
Howard Transportation
Keim TS
Watkins & Shepard

There's a few to research; there's more also.

 

You can't go wrong with Millis....I am biased because that's where I started...but there are hundreds if not thousands of happy current/former Millis drivers. They are well respected.

 

No there isn't. After deregulation in 1980, it went downhill. Now there are too many trucks for the amount of freight available. Too many companies chasing the same nickle.

 

I got my start there,
stayed right at 3 years.
They were pretty selective,
make sure you have a very clean
record so as not to waste anyone's time.

 

The absolute "gospel"

"it went downhill" -----rates went down, costs went up.

I wonder if someone might remember Malone Freight years ago had a slogan painted on their trailers and it went something like this: "HAULING FREIGHT SINCE '28" We always added, "FOR THE SAME RATES"

 

Im just speculating but I think your father saw the #### storm coming and that's why he opened up shop and got off the road. As for you there really isnt much of an alternative but to do your time with one of these bigger companies and get the year of experience. This will probably make you want to go out and purchase your own truck after being treated like a farm animal. I agree with Grouch, the union companies are where its at these days for company drivers as far as pay and benefits and even those jobs aren't what they use to be. There is a pretty sour environment amongst the UPS guys that I know as the unions have been weakening. All in all its what you make of it.