What's up with companies not hiring from California?

The way truck driver pay is calculated there for locals is the reason.

No such thing as straight mileage. It's some combination of hourly plus bonuses vs mileage to make sure one cannot make less than minimim wage plus overtime.

Sadly Cali residents suffer because of loopholes.

 

Depends on where you live in the state. When I got my license I tried to get on with several Mega companies that were reputable like Schneider and Pride for newbies. They wouldn’t hire me because I lived on the coast. They said they’d hire me if I lived in the Central Valley like Fresno, Bakersfield, Stockton etc. Do you know why??? It’s because they said they wanted to make sure I got home time and they wanted me in a heavy freight lane. The only companies that said yes were Werner and CR England. I don’t think I even need to explain further.

 

WINNER!!!!!

 

Companies are FLOCKING away from the communist state do taxes and regulations. You have to figure the wtf property tax, or lease for a piece of land as well.

Most of the large companies are moving their terminals and distribution to Phoenix.

 

Maybe this has something to do with it.
Southern California Trucker Pay Lawyer | Riverside | Orange

They don't want to pay you more if they don't need to.

 

My guess is that will have everything to do with their customer base. For example, if a trucking company picks up several large accounts near Stockton, they may want to open a terminal in or near Stockton. They will want to hire drivers within an hour's drive of Stockton. That way they can give great service to those customers AND their drivers can easily park their rig at the terminal and drive a short distance to take home time.

Now if you live several hours away, home time becomes an issue. Either you have to take extended home time to account for a half or full day getting to and from home, or you risk driving several hours and immediately going on duty after getting to the terminal and risk being too tired by the end of the shift.

The Walmart driver that plowed into Tracy Morgan's mini bus had a long commute just like that. He drove, what was it ..
10 hours to get to work, went on duty and that accident happened near the end of a 14 hour shift.

That accident was a wake up call to the industry. That's why they want to tighten up hiring areas. It's not that big a deal if you run OTR. You can drive back to the terminal the day before you plan to be available, then take sleep in the sleeper berth to be refreshed and ready to go. That's what I did when I was 1-3 hours away from a SoCal terminal.

 

Right on. I was obviously frustrated because I wanted to start at a decent company but at the same time I saw WHY they were good. They WANTED me to be happy and to give me time off when needed. As for the other two, they could care less. I once worked with a guy that started with England. He even got his license on his own. No idea why he went with them but they wouldn’t allow him to take time off for 6 months! He lived in Salinas and was there constantly picking up produce and STILL couldn’t get home time. He eventually abandoned the truck somewhere in the Midwest.

 

Moose makes a good case without being overly much on the pols side.

Ive had generally a good luck in California and don't have a problem with it generally. However I just as soon stay away from the old 101 scales near the Silicon Valley area. there is a female DOT inspector who had my number too. She knew #### well there was a violation on the log that day but I kept a wrist watch that was 15 minutes off, it's a crappy 4.00 timex kids watch I was given back in 75 and what do you expect of something like that. That timex got me out of many a scrape. But this Lady knew it, I knew that she knew it and finished a big inspection to let me out. I rather endure dental surgery or some other surgery that is major (And have...) than go through that kind of inspection.

I would be less inclined to go to California these days due to the differences in laws passed since 2001, Ive been away too long. Most I would expect would be western Nevada area and would be content with that. In two of the smaller towns relatively far from Vegas but east of the CA border had some good people not too busy and a little bit of everything. And the quiet will be welcome.

With all that said, there is one coffee shop near Barstow in the Mohjave that I know I miss to this day. I cannot tell you how many times Ive pulled up rode hard and wet to get a cup of that stuff, a big cup and two for the thermos... he always had a good pot on even at 3 am. (Especially at 3 am...) with a whole bunch more trucks not too far behind. You would find that the avatar picture is back in 1998 or so with the favorite FLD 120 out of Batesville on the Grapevine loaded southbound past the scales on the first pull halfway up. truck in right lane was around 40 I was still in the upper 60's Governed at 72 in those days with a big detriot. I remember that run because when you came up to the pass, the land was silver and gold under the sun through the clouds. The camera failed under those kinds of lighting, washed it right out. But this shot is the first and best.

 

I owed Arizona about $2200 in taxes for 2018. I was able to donate $2050 of that, dollar for dollar to Christian Schools and food banks. Gave Arizona $150.

California offers that right?

 

What companies have you tried ? I know a crapload of companies in central valley that will hire you fresh out of school ,give you a 100mph brand new freightliner and say "go pickup in Yuma and deliver to NJ"

Of all the states I've lived in (including Cali) ,Florida is by far the worst especially if you're south of I-4 and those locals will work for 20cpm.