Questliner or Suncoast resources?

Has anyone worked for either one?
Pretty much have offers from both of them. Both offer some sort of sign on bonus and no slip seating. I honestly don’t know which one to lean towards. I am coming from ltl with no tanker experience.

Questliner: Regional, will be home throughout the week and every other weekend off. 40cpm empty & 62cpm loaded. 1500 week minimum guarantee. Extra Pay for loading/unloading, detention, extra hoses, etc. Pick up in Iowa, drop in Texas. Talked to another driver, was told it was pretty standard to hit 100k a year or more.

Suncoast resources: OTR, will be out 3 weeks with 1 week home. All time is paid at 30 an hour with OT after 40. Haven’t been able to talk to a driver but I’ve seen good things online about the terminal I’ll be domiciled out of.

Any info or advice is appreciated thanks.

 

Does the Sun Coast offer, stipulate that your first year you be in Midland for your work?
I left Sun Coast over two years ago, don’t believe the ‘no slip seating’.
Cameras in trucks(both ways), cameras on the yards, they monitor everybody. They will watch you walk across the yard, if you stop and converse with a coworker, or walk too slow, you may get called on it
Decent trucks, mix of company owned, and PacLease, unfortunately all auto-shift now.

 

I was told I’d be out of the Houston yard. Not told that I’d be stuck in midland for work my first year. Still new to Texas. What’s wrong with midland? lol.
If I have to slipseat a sleeper rigged up with cameras then it’s a no go for me. Thanks for replying.

 

@SevynsUp --

If I may ask--what made you bail on the LTL world?

--Lual

 

Sooooooo many reasons. Sorry if this turns into a novel.

1. it was around bid time, bid didn’t come into effect until the following week. I’m hooked up and ready to go when I was told to unhook so that the guy who bidded on truck can use it. Ok whatever not my truck, didn’t b about it.
Next bid, I bidded on a truck. Bid didn’t take effect until the following week. Tried to get my pos truck that I have been driving and also bidded on. And was told it’s not yours yet. Ok sure. Whatever.

2. As a junior/new person why do I get the same amounts of pickups and deliveries when I leave the yard after 11am that a person who comes in at 5 or 6am gets? I get rushed back but guys will only have 6 stops take all day to do them and nothing is said.

3. Having to do my routes and some of my coworkers stops because they are afraid to back into difficult docks. (Kinda don’t blame them, FedEx sent us to some pos places built for box trucks only).

4. Delivering 3000lb skids bigger than the lift gate. Customer doesn’t have forklift and then they get pissy when you say curbside only.

5. After 2 plus years still being on the extra board not knowing if you will work or not.

6. The equipment sucked!

7. Paid OT after 8&40 BUT you’ll be lucky to hit 45 hours.

 

Did linehaul with big E for awhile, very laid back and money was great. Got tired of staying in bed bug infested hotels bc all the good rooms were taken. And playing musical trucks bc not enough trucks and the ones that were there broke down constantly.

 

I haven't worked for either--but I currently do tanker duty.

Since you're on the fence between 2 offers (CONGRATS on that, by the way!!! ), ask yourself these questions:

• What lanes/routes would each have you run? Which would you be happier with?
• Which carrier hauls the more recession-resistant freight?
• Are both carriers ok with you shutting down, if the weather/road conditions get bad? If not--why not?
• Are you ok with $1500/week minimum? If so (& the other answers are ok), then Quest may well be your answer.
• What equipment does each run? Are you ok with what's in both? If the sleepers in one are (too) small--are you still ok with their offerings?

Past that--I think what you will find is that you will make more money with the Sun--but life with Quest will be more laid back.

--Lual

 

Thank you. Been asking myself those questions and honestly still not sure. BUT Quest will have me started by Monday, paid flight to Iowa. Where as with suncoast I would have to find my own way to Houston. I’m thinking I’ll just go with Quest get some experience. Maybe after a year or 2. I’ll find something better if need be.

Just seems like everyone is hiring right now, linde & Sunoco got back to me as well.

 

Keep us posted on how it goes, ok?

--Lual

 

Finished with orientation. Training was pretty bare bones. Any safe driving tips you could give to this rookie? I know some of it is common sense. Slow and steady.