seeking employment

Good for you. When I was 22 I drove for Roadway hauling ltl locally like you. I didn't like it either and ended up running the road after a year with roadway. wish I had stayed for retirement benifits but my back would be broke if I had. I have over 38 yrs driving,just 10 local and the rest over the road. Its a gret life if you take care of yourself. Best of luck to you.

 

Based on those numbers, you are making a gross of about 1300+ per week, which is better than you are going to find with any of the companies that will hire you at your current experience level. And, that means that financially you should be able to make it until you have more experience and can do better.

It's up to you of course, but at this point, leaving what you have for something that is almost guaranteed to pay worse would be a questionable move. As I said before, moving up is okay, moving sideways is not good.

Just as an exercise here, look around at some of the people you went to school with and see what they are making at this point in time. I'm not suggesting that money is the only thing to consider, but it is a factor and you are probably doing better than a considerable number of your classmates. I know the same thing happened when i was younger. A lot of friends made such a big deal out of the good paying union jobs they took at Whirlpool while I was getting paid a pittance in the Navy. Of course, I am retired and still getting paid, and Whirlpool closed down and they haven't had their good paying jobs for the last 20 years or so.

If you are doing better than the rest of the pack, stick it out and take time to find the right situation to move to. Then, if it is the right move, go ahead and make the change. But don't swap a 1300 a week income for 500 a week just for the thrill of the open road. That's not a good trade.

 

Roommate drove for JB Hunt for about 4 months at the end of last year. He liked it OK -- had a good dispatcher and they liked his work ethic. He ran intermodal -- pick up the trailers at the railyard and deliver them to the receiver. Pay was so-so, got his hometime most of the time and the loads were mostly drop and hook -- he didn't have to unload anything, although there were some live unloads. Problem he had was that the railcars and chassis they put them on were always in bad condition, runs were short and JB policies seemed to be made strictly to cover JB in the event they found it fitting to fire you. Like you seem to have noticed, JB Hunt isn't the worst company, but it isn't the best either -- it's pretty mediocre.

The advice you have received to stick it out a little longer is good advice. Most newbies stick it out driving OTR hoping to get a job like yours someday. I understand you not liking that type of trucking, it's not for everyone, but if you can stand it do so. The extra 2-8 months experience will make a big difference when you do look -- it will also give you an opportunity to put aside a nest egg that will give you a 'cusion' during your transition to a new job. Often, when switching companies, you will have a lag time before the money starts coming in regular -- the time it takes to 'break in' a new dispatcher as my roommate always says. Getting a little more experience under your belt will open up more choices to you with better companies. Use that time to look into the better comanies and make an informed decision about where you want to go based on your research. Between your job and your research, the time will fly by and you'll be ready to move into a good OTR company instead of settling for a mediocre one like JB or Werner. Best of luck to you.

 

Now is the slow season in trucking, so you are correct that the miles will be low. From what I've read, most weeks your miles should be 2000 or better, but there are always 'those' weeks where things happen and you will be lucky to get 1200. The weeks you go home will be lower also, so that is another tradeoff you will make. However, as long as you maintain a good relationship with your dispatcher and keep those tires turning, you shouldn't have any problem bringing home $500 a week or more. Just don't let any company talk you into a lease -- no matter how attractive they make it sound. Most of the leases out there are designed to benefit the company -- not the lessee.

 

You're right keelady about leasing. They take you to the cleaners and give you enough miles to just keep your head above water! They also nickel & dime you for everthing. I've heard too many stories of previous o/o's who had to turn their trucks in. Most of the national carriers would like to be all o/o's so as to minimize their liabilities and maximize their profits...

 

each driver is different and each company is different to each driver. it all depends on you and your attitude when you do it. as everybody here knows who knows me , i worked for jb for 1 year. i made good money with them (bringing home anywhere from $900-$1150 a week). but there is a trick to it. i had a very good DM and that makes a big difference between living and starving to death. here's how i did it, i ran target dedicated (all drop and hook), ran 3 weeks at a time sometimes longer (2 weeks out wasn't money, had to do 3 at least to make money) , i didn't waste time sitting at truck stops, i ate breakfast, drove and ate a good dinner at the end of the day. bottom line i didn't goof off and i know how to get a job done and keep those wheels moving and the drivers door shut. (i got out on the passenger side, lol). the bad about them......my biggest issue with them was log books. they are very strict. your log has to match there computer to the minute. if it doesn't it's a log violation. my only true company i would steer you away from would be swift. too much going on there now. and if you want to see if a driver is happy with the company, don't ask just observe them. if they walk with a pep in the step and seem to be cheerful to other drivers and workers at truck stops then they just might be happy with the company and might worth a check or 2. if they look just down right unhappy and mean then stay away. ever noticed a swift driver after 3-6 months. good luck with your search.