It must be bad!

But O/O's must constantly adapt, so that kind of "Change" is no big deal....

 

I'll throw my 2 cents worth in. I work for a medium size carrier, we are strong had a record year. We are not hiring now unless we get a really good quality person. I have a strong customer base and since about dec 1st things have died. Average miles have not dropped significantly but the effort to get those miles has increased at least ten fold. My expectations are that 2009 is going to be a very tough year, I also expect it to open things up for the well managed company, as unfortunately many will fall away. Because as a company we manage our fuel costs very very well the higher price of fuel helped us to generate more revenue as well as more profitability. Good wishes to all drivers in the new year.

 

the hiring freeze and the recession were in is what trucking has needed for a few years just maybe alot of the people who have no business in a truck or dont know what there getting into well get weeded out!!! so you have a better group of people to choose from or maybe get rid of some of these training companys that just chew you up and spit you out

 

Can't argue with that logic. Sad for some, but true.

Mike

 

I understand your reasoning, less drivers means more work for you!
However, you must be happy the hiring freeze didn't happen two years ago when you were looking for a job...
If someone gets laid-off from a job paying $900-$1000 a week and gets $250-$300 a week on un-employment,he or she probably doesn't feel they are better off.
Could be the reason your miles are dropping is the company you drive for is giving the miles to the drivers that have been there the longest, not because a new guy starting driving a truck.
I don't think you were born with a CDL/A in your diaper, you had to start somewhere. If someone else wants to try it, give them a chance. If they think going into trucking will help them, they should go for it.
Maverick

 

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Just wanted to say thanks for mentioning Schneider. Hubby is looking at his options outside of Transport America and Schneider might just be a good fit - the items on the O/O information area are right in line or better than a lot of other companies he's looked at. He's been driving for 15 years now and has a flawless criminal and DMV record (only one speeding ticket for his lifetime, cause they only caught him once and it was prior to CDL).

Unfortunately, I think the biggest companies are going to be the ones to survive the best through the coming year or so. He hates to "company hop" as he calls it, but the past two years and T/A really haven't done us any favors. He'll be better off back in a Landstar/Schneider environment. Yes, more work for the driver as far as doing your own thing to book your load, but a lot less BS and more money to be made, too. That's not a bad thing.

So... thanks!

 

Alabama teachers are on strike til pay gets lots more better. Oh, you said obama

 

A lot of the companies seem to prefer to give more miles to the rookies because they are making less and the company isn't having to match 401k contributions.