What would you do?

I've been working with a company for the past six months as an OTR company driver, and I'm in my third truck. First truck had a head gasket problem. Moved to a new truck. Was in it for half a day and the transmission went. Moved to a new truck. Now the fuel pump on this one is done.

Is this normal? I really like this company, they have a great safety record and treat employees well, but three trucks in six months!?

Opinions?

 

If you like the company, and they have trucks for you to drive and continue working, what's the problem? Go to another company with "new" trucks and get treated and/or paid like crap? Sure, you might find another good company...but are you 6-months into this job in a longer career? Or are you 6-months into your career still at your first job? If you've been around a while, you probably know what you've got now compared to what's out there...as well as the potential issues "job hopping" creates. I'd still recommend hanging in there, but wouldn't necessarily say "DON'T" explore other options. If you're only 6-months into your career, stay where you're at.

 

When you say "new truck" do you mean new as in just off the factory line or do you mean "another truck" (new to you)? I'm asking because if these are older trucks being shuffled around, then it sounds like they either don't properly maintain their equipment and/or don't reinvest and keep their fleet at least somewhat current. If this is the case, there are lot of problems a fleet full of old, poorly maintained trucks [and probably trailers, too] can cause for a driver, and I'd go elsewhere because it's not going to get any better.

 

how are you paid when it breaks down?

You sure you know how to drive them?

If they are good and getting you into another truck, as long it is NOT YOU, keep trucking.

 

For an OTR driver, it takes a lot of time and sweat and aggravation to swap all your belongings once a week or even once a month. That's not a task anyone looks forward to, especially if they're moving from one wore out truck to another wore out truck. Lost time due to breakdown and/or transferring belongings is rarely paid for or made up for, especially if (when) it happens far from home and involves towing, and days waiting [for another lemon]. He's OTR, so how often can he expect these issues to crop up on the yard terminal or near the terminal, [especially if we're talking about working in a fleet of wore out and poorly maintained trucks]?

If these are truly factory new trucks, then that's different. At some point, sooner rather then later, probably, he'll get into one that is typically reliable from the factory, and he's just been "temporarily unlucky", and this is unusual and will go way soon.

 

Normal. Trucks break. A lot. And as a new driver, they give you the older stuff. Less risk for them and teaches you truck maintenance. Went through three my first year. Stick it out, I got a brand new one with 20 miles on it my second year. And then that broke. Teething problems. But once you get them dialed in, they run for bit.

 

I am amazed these trucks run as well as they do. I like my cascadia. It seem to take a licking and keep on ticking.

 

I've been through more trucks than that in one day. Lol.

 

Stick it out. Equipment breaks. Even well maintained equipment. Sounds like you have strung together a run of bad luck. Now if you start loosing money due to breakdowns, that is different.

 

If there was breakdown pay, it wouldn't be that big a deal, but then I don't think I have that much stuff.