Hello everyone. Yet another victim of this lovely economy here, laid off for 5 weeks and counting. First time ever being laid off in my working career and first time ever drawing unemployment benefits. I drove, ever so briefly, for a mickey mouse ltl/hotshot outfit (just a class d endorsement, 24,000 GVWR). All 24' straights, daycabs only but still did some semi long runs. My longest was Memphis to San Antonio. Did several multi drops up thru IL and down thru IN. Circled the entire state of KY on one 6-7 drop run, you get the idea. This outfit told you on the front end "You better master doctoring the logs" because they didn't provide any hotel stays on any runs, expected you to run non-stop full circle. They later (after I left) did start including a hotel stay on a select few of the really long runs. My friend, who talked me into coming to work for these clowns did several Mphs-Laredo loops with no hotel stay, something to the tune of 39hrs behind the wheel stopping for only fuel/food/bathroom breaks. I always figured had I been working for a more reputable outfit things would have been much different, liveable even, but I'm reading a lot of horror stories here in the good/bad forums. Seems it all depends on whose posting, some love some companies while others hate that same company. Seeing that there always seems to be an abundance of driving jobs I'm considering trying again but not hotshotting, the big leagues this go 'round. I'll have to go with someone offering training since my lack of employment and funds won't allow me to get training on my own. Then I read a post like Aftershocks post # 47 in the "Swift is a good company" thread and wonder if I should pursue this field at all. Maybe now isn't the time to be getting into the trucking industry. Something got to give because the non existence of jobs that I'm qualified for is crazy. I'm not opposed to long hauls and being away from the house for extended periods. My wife's mother and stepfather are former long haulers so she's familiar with the lifestyle and is comfortable with it. I'll continue my research and try to weigh all the options, any advice/info is appreciated, especially with regards to companies with good training programs for newbs.
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Trucking isn't a bad job if you don't mind; Driving all day/night in bad weather. Sitting for hours or days (without pay) waiting get loaded/unloaded. Living in a truck 300 days out of the year. Being treated like a tool by "dispatchers" who have never even seen the inside of a truck. Missing most birthdays, anniversaries, graduations....etc,etc. because of, "sorry, we don't have anything going that way right now". This is the short list. The money is ok if you run at least 120,000 miles a year, but that doesn't leave much time for a life other than trucking.
And no one said this was an easy Life... Get over it or get a new job ... I'm cold and heartless so I've been told... But hey that's just me... Hey and Howdy Havenot! Welcome to the forum. All sorts of info here some good some bad. Youjust have to try and figure it out for yourself. Not all companies are a good fit for everyone that's why you find so many conflicting reports. You will have to try and find one that fits what you want and need. And that's hard to do with just one company. You can find out what you need here nd then make your list to see wht company will best suit what yu want. I say it's mostly a personal perferance, sort of like the kind of car you drive. same differance. I wish you all the best, and Good Luck. Again Welcome to this crazy world of trucking.
