When considering working for a trucking company what factors are deal breakers?

Then that is you. I had a job (till they got sold out) that was union. We had benefits up the kazoo. When you work for someone, and there are perks, I want them in truck driving as well as say a factory job. And why not?

I have had non-union jobs, that had all that I mentioned as well, and I liked them, why not?

If you never asked for paid time off, then you lost out on that, not me, or the many thousands of truckers that worked for companies that had it all.

Are you an o/o? If so, that would explain you''re not asking for time off, as you'd have to pay yourself for that off time. But as any company driver, that is offered such "fringe benefits", why refuse them?

Glad you saw the cupcake bar as a "nice thing", at least.

 

what I like best at my little company
is dispatcher says "when you want to leave again"
sometimes it is next day sometimes 5 days
the 2 month old truck aint bad
the trailer is newer thou

 

All I'm saying is that everything that takes money out of your bosses pocket (paid vacations, sick days, personal days, etc.) actually comes out of your regular wages. Think of it as an escrow account that accumulates until you withdraw by taking the time off. If, rather than setting that money aside to pay me NOT to work, pay it to me when I AM working. If I choose to take the time off, it works out the same. If I don't take time off? I make a heck of a lot more.

Bottom line, if the boss ain't making money off the work you are doing, you won't have a job very long...and if you ain't doing work, you aren't making a profit for the boss.

 

Ok, so it is in an escrow account, so when i want it, it is there, simple enough. of course if you do not take time off, you earn that money, as you are working.

so let me put it to you in this way.

Keep working each and every day, take no vacation time, take no sick time.

Get old, then older.

Then in,oh say, 20 years from now, let me know how broken down your body is, how is your health and how good you really feel about taking no time off to enjoy the life that you let flash by you.

Only then, as you had continued to ply yourself to your job, and forsake your time off for some R&R, and continued to "make a profit for the boss", let me know THEN, as you whither away, how much he really appreciated your work, while HE and all others took time off to refresh themselves.

That's all I'm saying.

Do as you wish, you obviously will, as I will as well myself, and I really gotta believe, nearly every one else here.

No need to debate this.

 

The biggest deal breaker... Wanting to pay on a 1099.

-Steven

 

Wage, equipment, shift (local work only)

 

I've been spoiled by pulling tanks since I started driving. If a company offers little or no accessorial pay, I'm not interested. High mileage pay means nothing when you're laying over for $20 a day or spending 6 hours getting loaded or unloaded for free.

I've also been spoiled by having jobs with excellent benefits. If the health plan is ridiculously expensive or has a huge deductible, or the company doesn't offer paid holidays and vacation, I'm not interested.

 

A lot depends on your radius expectations to meet your family needs that may or may not exist. Family first, then the rest can be looked at later. If you don't have any or a lot of family demands, then you're well ahead of the game and can look for the other perks.

What I mean is, if you're expecting to run regional and be home 2+ nights weeks, most weeks, to have some family time, then this should be your first and chief concern. Some companies will promise you "lot's of home time" if they think that's what you want/need, but it doesn't pan out, or rarely pans out, so be careful and don't let them "tell you what they think you want to hear".

Let them (recruiters) sell you, don't tell them what you're looking for up front, because many are almost guaranteed to say they can meet all your expectations, once they know what you're looking for. Don't let them BS you, and don't make their job (to get you signed on) easy by telegraphing what you're looking for too early into the interview. Once you're locked in, they don't care if they lied like a dog to get you there. Just take anything they say with a grain of salt.

 

In light of Obama's requirement for everyone to have an acceptable health insurance plan, else get fined by the IRS at tax time, I'm glad my employer offers a good plan as part of the deal... but it sounds like that's not the case for lots of drivers.

 

Hi david, the health plan is a huge plus. Years ago, we never even cared about the health plan, but now, it is indeed a deal breaker. Many companies "offer" plans, but are not included. I have a friend that their health plan has such a ridiculously high deductible, they've put off certain health issues, because they can't afford the deductible.