What appeals to you in working with a small fleet v. large fleet?

I never really cared one way or another about that. Have worked at 2 companies in over 14 years. The first had 150-180 trucks at any given time and they knew every driver by name but they still had a bunch of aggravating "we wannabe a mega carrier" ways. That said they were still always nimble enough that whenever I had a situation I could call my dispatcher up and things could get worked out fairly easy after a discussion. The best part about smaller carriers is when you have a routine issue with a customer holding up a load or unload at a small company 5 minutes on the phone clears it up whereas with a mega there is so much red tape and so many chiefs in the office you could lose a couple of hours. Now anymore those sort of situations get figured out and dealt with quickly by numero uno, but back in the day when I answered to a dispatcher, well that's just my perspective on smaller companies are better. And not all small companies run junk equipment either.

 

marmonman you have never dealt with mercer I must assume. large fleet with a small fleet atmosphere.

 

I thought we all are known by our social security number!

 

No I never ran for mercer but I was leased to Thomas transportation and worked with Tommy strong and Wes something or other from Mercer.
Then I ran for Ace Doran working with the 2 of them .

 

Some, maybe, depending. Every carrier knows some drivers by name, their best and worst, and those that exhibit good and bad attitudes.

Some drivers are company oriented, and some are absorbed with self. Some will help a terminal manager out w/local work with good cheer, some won't.

It seemed to make significant difference in the amounts of my paychecks, the runs I enjoyed getting, and the way I was treated by staff from top to bottom.

 

Are megas like that or do they have dispatcher turnover as high as driver churn? Agree 100% about your statements with smaller companies. Some people will ask for things but never willing to help when asked. Then think anyone who gets a sweet run once in a while never had to deal with any crap. Attitude will make or break you in this work regardless if you are company driver, o/o, dispatcher, or executive - whether a person thinks about it or not their attitude is on their shirt sleeve and everyone knows it. And life can be as good or as miserable as you make it.