Questions about companies

Welcome to the forum screenman, look around here and ask questions, you will get some good info from veteran drivers here.

 

I was at Watkins sheparkd and have no complaints about them. You have to be a diplomat and get your way by pointing out how things cost them money. They'll love you for it. Don't get mad, if you do, kick their truck and say, Gee he aint out here, take every load they give you the first year and be ontime or tell them why you cant and keep them posted. Run run run and you can get in 115000 miles. Pretend you love them and youre happy.

 

For all the good posts Watkins Shepard has they sure do a lot of hiring . Something has to be wrong for them to have turnover that high . They aren't that big of a carrier .

 

For all the C.R.A.P. thrown our way, Prime is a pretty good outfit too.

As far as "high turnover" is concerned, there are a couple of things involved that most people don't consider: First, for every potential driver brought into orientation, that is only the beginning of the screening process. Many are eliminated for driving history problems not revealed during the pre-orientation process, medical problems, etc. Many more are eliminated because they are unsafe, or just plain can't drive a CMV. Second, even in what's considered a good, "stable" company, a lot of folks don't stay around because of what I listed above, personal reasons, tickets, can't manage to keep the left door closed (on-time problems,) accidents, etc. It's not necessarily the company producing the high-turnover because of their policies - sometimes its the drivers themselves.

 

Whoever you decide is best for you stay for at least 1 year. To many guys start job hopping 6-8 months and companys do not need more of these type of drivers. I started with Schneider in 1992 and they always got me home and paid the bills. After 4 years I did not have any tickets or accidents and moved on to a better paying job.

In reality all of the companys you named are pretty much the same. this is why there are so many complaints from drivers someone leaves Swift to go work for Werner etc. thinking the grass is greener and it is the same crap different platter.

 

Prime or Crete

Conway seems to be a good one, but i don't think they hire fresh meat

 

screenman, note that although this forum has thousands of members, not all drive truck, not all have much experience, not all are unhappy, etc... Think of all the companies you listed. How many drivers would that total? Are they all on here? I doubt it. Lots of them are out there, just working and trying to make a living. But...any one who does want to itch-bay about the company they are with, or no longer with, have a perfect place here to do just that. And if you've been around for a while, like you said, you know that the complainers are a lot more vocal than the contented ones.

Take Swift, for one example. It and Werner probably gets more negative comments than most others, yet if you read all that's on here, you will find a few who are, if not happy, at least content to work for them. I used Swift because just yesterday, I was bring my mc home from SC., I stopped at the Pilot at exit 63 off I-85 for a pit stop. I parked the bike next to the little grass median that seperates the truck parking from the front area.

When I came out, there were 2 guys checking out the bike. It's a Triumph, and the conversation started as per usual:

1st guy (younger one): Nice bike, what year?
Me:2009
2nd guy (older guy): Really? I thought they didn't make Triumphs any more. I had one years ago.

So we talked bikes for a bit, then as the older guy was wearing a Swift ball cap, I asked him how Swift was to drive for. He basically said that it's just like any other big company, and you can do Ok. He's been with them for 5+ years, ran dedicated for a couple of years, then went back to system wide van.

The other guy was a flatbedder, started with them right out of school early 2008. Said it was the only company hiring grads in his area when at that time. He was satisfied with them, didn't plan on leaving any time soon. He did admit that he almost starved, miles wise, when he 1st started, but so were just about all the flatbed drivers he came across, but it had picked up since the end of last summer. Still not great, but better. I did ask them about some of the forums on the 'net, and all the negatives written about the company. The older guy says he doesn't bother with them at all, the younger guy said he read them a lot before and during his schooling, and was real upset that Swift was the only company he could get on with, after all he had read about them. Now, he reads the forums occasionally, but takes everything with a grain of salt.

Now, these 2 might be the exceptions, but I think there are lots of drivers out there that are like them. They don't have any major issues with the company, so they don't log in a complain. But they also aren't cheerleaders for the company, so aren't going to log in a post sugar coated bs, either.

I do believe the big mega companies are bottom feeders, and do take advantage of their drivers (the whole industry is pretty much that way), but if you go with one, with eyes open and expecting the worst, and stick it out for a year or 2, your possibilities regarding local jobs with better pay, home time, or whatever makes you a bit happier, are greatly increased.

Jim F