Want to stay broke? Work for Conway!

Some drivers just suck. And that's gospel truth and you know that. You're a smart guy. Not every driver is a real professional. Some guys hop and hop and hop because nothing is good enough. There's an old tale "If a company has to advertise"...... Walmart is the creme de la creme when it comes to trucking jobs (everything else about that company sucks) and even they advertise. Maybe trying to find a niche, or lanes that you're happy with would help. Just saying.

 

Seperate yourself from the pack. Make yourself known for good. When I walk into an orientation of just into the HQ, I'm well dressed. I smell great (Drakkar and Axe kilo baby) I look like a million bucks and I've got a smile on my face. I take the loads given to me and push dispatch for more, not in a rude way, but let them know I'm here to work. Make your customers know who you are. They do call when they get stellar service and a great attitude. Humor goes a long way too. I've been out here my entire life. I'm a third generation driver. I've learned how to "play the game". Companies look at every driver as expendable until you make them see that you're not. They can't lose you because you are what makes them look good. Being a driver who companies want takes a little more work. But in the end its worth it.

 

Just saw a couple Wal-Mart Cascadias on I-81 S/B with double 53's. Very cool.

Joseph has taken as his life mission (my 'f' key sticks and it first came out 'lie mission'--oh, my!) to bash all drivers who dislike 100 hour weeks for $400-$600/wk as slackers. Companies like Gordon with 2000 trucks and drivers to keep herd on 24/7 let much and many fall between the cracks. Just think of the mind-boggling logistics to keep 2000 trucks/drivers moving 24/7. The drivers who leave in droves? Gordon hired 'em and they left. Got better jobs elsewhere. But it's okay, they were just slackers...

Of course, your DM controls your loads and your profitability.

My first 13 of 30 loads with Gordon were under $60, under 200 miles and each involved loading, scaling and unloading for no $$ from Gordon. It's not the time Gordon DOES pay you for that gets you; it's the time that Gordon DOESN'T pay you for on short, peewee runs. That gets you in the wallet.

 

Victor you just don't get it. I don't work 100 hours and I certainly don't make $600 paychecks. You've gotta learn how to work kid.

 

I'll bet your commission checks are pretty good, too.

 

You're unreal.

 

This is what CAN happen when drivers think they have to keep the left door shut to make money in trucking:

You can find the story here: http://www.madison-press.com/2013/09/followup-truck-driver-good-condition/

I saw this wreck Thursday, the big green chopper, the truck engine 600 feet up from the wreck, a debris field. Drivers need to be ENCOURAGED to open that left door, get out for a fitness check frequently and often. A miracle he's alive.

 

It can be done though. I work for Freight and 100k is cracked here more and more. Granted, you have to have some seniority to hold a long run at top scale but it isn't hard to pull here now. I made 85 in 2010 running mid 400's per night - same run this year would have had me around 92k at our current pay. Drivers on our two long runs will be around 110k this year.

 

There's a big, big difference between Con-way Freight (LTL) and any mega carrier truckload, including Con-way Truckload. Con-way Freight is right up there with Estes, Old Dominion and other top-flight LTL.

It's going to take federal oversight, IMO, to force the Gordons, the Englands, the Swifts, US Xpress, to disclose their driver turnover rate, average actual pay range, hours, etc., whenever they recruit. We desperately need truth in recruitment. But Con-way Freight?? That's a good ship.

You could retire there just fine.