What does experience get you at big carriers?

The main criteria for getting a new truck at Greer when I was at Swift was how many miles you did the year before. Greer was one of the two terminals where they brought and assigned new trucks. Under performers weren't first in line for the new trucks.

Now if you had to get a different truck assignment because of a breakdown and you weren't at your home terminal then you'd get the worst truck on the lot every time. Once the Albuquerque terminal took my new truck because they were out of stock of air conditioning fan belts (seriously!) and tried to give me an old Volvo with different colored body parts and various things missing inside the cab. I had my DM look in the computer and find out what was on the yard and unassigned. She found a relative new Prostar and assigned me to it. I went inside and asked for the permit book and keys. That was one mad little girl at the counter.

 

Well experience for me is more for myself than it is the company I work for. The longer I’m out here, overall the easier the job gets. Places I used to dread going into or even get anxious about are now a piece of cake. I.e. I just came out of New York today. Yeah it’s a little more stressful than other places but it’s no big deal anymore. I used to take me a week to recover mentally after going to New York. Now I put it behind me in a half an hour. Lol
also, I guarantee you my checks are bigger than some rookie because I know how to handle dispatching, I know how to run my hours perfectly, on most routes I have my secret places I can park and park late whereas before I would try and stop early and get less miles, the list goes on and on. So it’s easier for me to get a bigger paycheck each week than it is someone brand new because they’re just not gonna know these little tricks of the trade.

As far as the company side goes, honestly they probably take more advantage in certain situations of an experienced driver then they do a new one. The new guy they’re trying to convince that trucking is a great way of life and keep him happy. The long-term experience guy? He’s already been through that phase and they know he’s likely going to stay in trucking. They don’t have to roll out the red carpet for him. He’s a grind in week in and week out dude. So yeah, hate to say it but sometimes the rookies get treated a little better than the experience drivers in certain circumstances.

 

Anyone care to take a stabe at defining what "Experienced" is ?
I've seen what some members think experienced is and I just shake my head.. because I consider them wet behind the ears

 

As an OTR driver. I don't go by years as much as I go by safe miles. I consider a driver to have some experience once they pass 100,000 safe miles. I consider a driver to be experienced at the 500,000 safe miles mark. I DO NOT consider a driver with 200,000 miles driven and has a bad problem with accidents. I know some old-school drivers that look at one million safe miles.

 

I'am pretty much in agreement with you..... Thanks for your view point
I've knew of guys with 5 years driving and they have a more than minor mishap atleast once a year or twice a year..
And Iam not talking about scrape'n a mirror or taking out a street sign while making a trun

 

What it gets you is knowledge.
Knowing who is the next company you're going to work for.
Knowing with you record and experience you'll be the likely candidate for hire.
That's what experience will get you.
At the mega your experience may get you an extra week of vacation..along w everyone else who gave em 20 years.

 

The guy that has enough miles in all kinds of weather that you can confidently send him out without giving him turn by turn or stop by stop directions. He doesnt need to call dispatch/safety/breakdown to get a flat tire or roasted alternator fixed. He will find his own way around road/weather closures, will fix his own truck on the shoulder if he is able too. He will unload his own truck with a smile even though hes not supposed to have to. He keeps the left door shut, and can put in 11 hrs at an average above 55 mph. He also knows hiw to make a log book work for him, not the other way around. You wont find him in the lounge to plating video games 5 hours after he went off duty... When he should be sleeping. When that off duty clock clicks over 10 hours he will be ready to turn miles. Oh yeah he dont wear flip flops and isnt solar powered...

That sound about right????

 

It sound right .. alot of what you just posted .. most drivers today would not be willing to do half of those things

 

Yeah I know... And it's sad.

 

I should edited my post you quoted and changed it from ...not willing ...to do not have a clue how to do those things