SWIFT, CRST, SUPER SERVICE, JB HUNT.. my experience with

I actually love driving big trucks. I trully do. I feel like it was meant to be and in my blood for life. Just being away from the truck for a few days, I can't wait to get back in and start 'er up. BUT, after a couple weeks, I'm almost jumping out before I stop to get out. Gotta' have breaks. My earlier points, which I trully believe in, was mostly because I read so much negative bs and listen to even more by other drivers. I've often found out, after the fact, that the fellow employee complaining left out all the dumb stuff they did. That's very common. I don't mean just what the company tells me.. other drivers that know the guy tell me.

As far as Swift, they are a big company and there is an inherent problem with large co's 'cause that makes you more of a number. Naturally, you will be effected by this. As far as home time, they were actually better at giving me my time than CRST and Super Service combined. BUT, I lived within 2 hours of the Richmond terminal and could drop the truck and wasn't stuck with a "load through home" deal. But I want to add something.. after leaving Swift there are 3 major things I then missed. Drop n hooks which IS a plus with them, wasn't forced to drive illegal and home time I actually did get. Also, I could tell them what time I'd be ready for dispatch the next morning and if i couldn't do a load they dropped the preplan. Try those at any other co and see how they act. Honestly, if their trucks did 68mph+ I'd probably go back to work for them.

As far as J.B. Hunt they are also a big company and same rules apply. I'm overall just a number. I'm doing a dedicated and that helps, but there are definitely things I wish were different. I go home each day but only to sleep and they push us to drive on saturdays although they hire saying monday through friday only. Sometimes I think I'd be happier sticking to OTR and seeing different routes. I can say that I hate their slow trucks and I'm out so much I might as well be OTR with a faster truck with a smaller company that actually knows me by a name and not a number.

Like I said before in a different message, each co s going to have pro's and con's, and those will be better or worse for different drivers. Some would be alot happier than me at JB with what I started recently, but honestly, I'm happier on the road traveling far and less stops. Also I'm not married or tied down any longer and have that luxury. I've spent most of my OTR without even having an apartment and was fine. Bought alot of stuff and low bills. Saving and alot of money, which makes me feel like going back to it also. What makes me happy will be different from others.

Personally, some negatives or con's can be, in my view, used in a positive way. For example: a bigger company treats you like a number. Oh well, but the good side is you get lost in the numbers and not bugged as much by safety department, or upper administration, like you definitely do at smaller places. A large company has more drivers and you can more easily get out of loads that suck or low miles (if you're slick like me) and less hassle over saying you can't because there's drivers always around where you are. If i needed a little break, I'd wait for the evening skeleton crew to come on (works with even medium sized co's) and change things or set availability and they had no clue with all the drivers.

There is also a luxury in knowing you can quit any company and always have a job somewhere else. That's one reason why many co's have high turn over rates. Also part of the reason why many dispatchers and administration act the way they do. They resent we make more than alot of them and also we can quit and leave for greener pastures.. they can't. So, keep that in mind when you hound or argue with your low paid dispatcher. lol..

All have a good one, and hope you all find what you want and deserve!