Want to get back into the saddle!

Need a few questions asked. First off im 24 years old I have a little under three years of reefer experience (Produce, Meat, Chemicals) And I recently got out of it cause I moved and I was working for my dad be he was forced to sell the truck due to financial problems. I live in mid Missouri I now I have a job as a dispatcher, and I hate it. First is my boss yells at me constantly because I help the drivers to much...??? and that BS with them on my lunch. And that he wants me to work overtime with out pay. I think he wants some idiot that doesn't know a thing about trucking and to get heavy, cheap, and very bad routes(All my O/O make over 4.5k a week while the other two dispatchers drivers make if theyre lucky over 3k). Anyways im not made for sitting behind a desk and looking at a screen allday I need to be outside and moving. I have a good mvr but and not so great CSA record. I would like to be home every weekend but id be willing to stay out 2 weeks if the money is right and the company is good. I consider this a lifestyle and its one that im willing to be apart of. I don't have a million miles under my belt but I do have and understanding of how to make sure I don't get screwed. Another question I have is I would like to work for somebody that is willing to deal with me being in the reserves (I already went to meps but im waiting on an open position as a 88november logistics officer)

Any help would be greatly appreciated
Anthony S.

 

Let me make sure I am understanding your situation:

1. Your MVA is OK, but your CSA is bad.
2. You want to be home every weekend.
3. You'll stay out for 2 weeks if the pay is high.
4. You're gonna make sure that you "don't get screwed".
5. The employer will be required to watch you walk out the door heading to boot camp / AIT for who knows how long, after having spent several thousand dollars in HR costs to employ you, meanwhile the equipment sits in the yard depreciating while he tries to find a fill-in until you come back from the Army.

Correct me if I'm wrong on those bullet points. As for answering your questions- I see no questions posted yet. Perhaps you would just like opinions / input in general?

I commend you for taking care of your drivers. As a dispatcher, why would the boss be upset that they are making more? You're not brokering the loads, right? So it's out of your control, yes?

 

Maverick (refrigerated division)
Roehl (refrigerated division)
Greatwide (food service divisions)

Maverick & McElroy flatbed has weekends at home.

Here's a fantastic job; check if these terminals are near you. Foodliner is the company.

Missouri Aurora Kansas City Neosho St. Louis

 

You sure you want to work in the trucking indutsry? Weekends off, home at night, thats a normal job. Trucking keeps America moving so the nine to fivers can live their normal hours. That why truckers don't work normal hours, we are too busy keeping America moving.

 

Vision logistics I guess what I mean is what company should I be looking at with what I have to offer, sorry for not making it clearer. Most companys would rather hire military because of the fact that they are harder workers, and they portray themselves in a professional matter. I probably will have to wait till after AIT (10 weeks). My boss doesn't want me to be friends with any other the drivers, he says I need to show a more "professional manner" i.e. be more pushy so the drivers can do more(even though my driver are happier an making more...)

Maverick im just a little reluctant because they still are fairly new to reefer and I don't know if they have the customer base to keep me moving
Roehl I tried but they say they don't hire company drivers in my area (Mind you Missouri is the heart of CARGILL)
Greatwide I though was an only O/O company

roadt yes this is what I want. I understand that truck driver are the ones giving me this job and for that matter everything else. I remember when my grandpop use to tell me stories back in the 60s and 70s and Im still hung on his words, I know those days are long gone but I still can live it if I really worked hard at it. Its in my blood, its my soul, I feel at home behind the wheel of a truck and this is what I want to do. I never want to own 50 trucks or even 10 trucks. My goal is just one truck on my own authority and that's it. And that another reason Im getting into transportation in the army (the most hated MOS in the army from what im told) But I have to wait because they need to get everything situated for my college degree to be an officer

Thank you everybody for your response
Anthony S.

 

Cool. Now I know that when I see a truck rolling down the road with a military sticker on the window that the driver is a harder worker than me. And they're professional.

 

I know right what BS.

 

Why are you going to be a 88N if you want to be a truck driver, become a 88M to gain more experience

 

In my experience as a shift supervisor, the military types, always seemed to be better than the college grads I would get. I think what is said is that us military types seem to make a better employee than a lot of your average kids coming off the block these days. Kids that have had everything handed to them and think they should start at the top instead of the bottom. I think in this industry though, for those that can handle it, because it does take a special breed, just like the military, to handle this type of work. In trucking you make a lot of sacrifices, and accept a lot of responsibility just like the military. In the Military, we keep the country safe. Truckers keep this country moving. Both jobs are dangerous and you have to make a lot of sacrifices that the average citizens do not have to make.

 

Yes, this is a fair statement in my opinion. Also, however, while in the military I met some really lazy and stupid people, too. As for the guys getting bent about the comment, I'm pretty sure it wasn't said as a blanket generalization to illustrate all non-service people as lazy or stupid.

Hotshot, if you can find an employer whom will hire you knowing you're going off to boot soon, more power to you. In this industry I fear that you're going to have a tough time finding anyone to commit to such agreement, though. I say this because 1.) The industry has had a recent influx of new drivers to the pool; over 12 thousand new drivers coming into the industry just last month, compared to an average +/- 5,000 per month, historically. The American job market is crumbling, and people are swarming to the last standing opportunities. This is especially true for the folks that think they'll rent a storage unit and live in their truck (and slam the freight rates even lower). 2.) The cost of the hiring process is not cheap. It can cost several thousand dollars sometimes, and as an employer I want to place my bets on high-probability of success new-hires.

With my imaginary employer hat on, I look at what you want in terms of high pay, frequent home-time, etc. and it worries me. Then tell me that you're planning on leaving soon, and well, that pretty much seals your fate as a possible new hire with me. Not that I wouldn't like to give you the chance, but like everyone else, I'm struggling to keep the lights on and paychecks going out to my employees. In a better economy maybe, but not now, when it's a brutal competition for every customer, and every cent to be earned.

Maybe you could find a short-term or apprenticeship position with a carrier in a different capacity. Such as working in the office (since you have experience) or yard driver, shuttle driver, etc. with the agreement being that you can come back after the Army, and transition into an OTR driving position. That might be seen as mutually favorable by both you and the employer.

I wish you luck in your future.