When signing on....Go Big or Stay Home.....

Everyone has a "comfort zone" in regards to the environment they prefer to work within. For some, its the small company where the boss can be reached with a phone call or a quick walk through a door. For others, the perceived security of a large, corporate environment.

For myself, I prefer to run for a good midsized company. My carrier has round and about 400 trucks and a bunch of trailers. So I have a solid amount of freight, steady and regular support system while I'm on the road, and a range of solutions when something happens. Plus, there are opportunities for advancement should I decide to get out of the truck without leaving the industry. On the other hand, I'm not treated like a number, and inconvenience, or the most easily replaced part of my truck. I have a friendly relationship with my dispatcher, the load planner I work with the most knows not only my name but has a solid idea of my capabilities, and everyone in the company makes an attempt to get to know the drivers on a personal level.

I've worked for carriers from the biggest (Swift and Werner) to among the smallest (little 5 truck outfits), and I have found my comfort zone to be in the middle. Your preferences and experiences may vary.

 

I agree with the OP on one thing, you know what you are getting into with the big carriers ! Should be no surprises.

 

Big companies go under, too. Arrow had a pretty decent sized fleet and ceased operations RIGHT before Christmas a couple years ago stranding a thousand or so drivers on the road scattered across the country. Lease purchase operators REALLY got the shaft, because Arrow had used those lease purchase trucks as collateral and the banks wouldn't release the titles EVEN THOUGH some of the lease purchase contracts had been completed.

http://m.newson6.com/story.aspx?story=11715460&catId=112042

 

http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/news/2014/08/12/55-year-old-trucking-company-files.html drug transport


http://www.truckinginfo.com/channel.../new-century-transportation-closes-doors.aspx new century

 

OP needs to change his name to DOOM and GLOOM that's all he posts , must have been really done over by some company in the past and only has the negative aspect left

 

I'm leased to one of the O/O only company already mentioned. If your living paycheck to paycheck than yes maybe you belong at one of the big companies driving their truck.

 

all his post make me wonder what in the world has been done to him? Its a tough business and theres plenty of people eager to take advantage of anyone with their guard down.

But he does seem like a bitter little lad.

 

I make the most money I ever made running under a friend's authority. He has 2 or 3 trucks and 2 or 3 contracted trucks incl. me. I waited about 2 years after he started operating to see if he was gonna be successful before I signed on.

Going big you give up too much revenue and too much freedom.

 

many small operations are great, but someone has to be dumb if they don't check them out first,, many big carriers will screw you just as bad or more,, a lot of factors to consider before you hire on to drive or lease on to any outfit.

 

Do you think the 26,000 drivers at YRC are thinking the big company's are better? They have been on the ropes for over 6 years and the union just turned down a new contract with concessions that management labeled as necessary to facilitate "a going concern". For non-auditors... it's an opinion that the business can not sustain itself in the foreseeable future with the foreseeable future usually being 12 months. BK flings are pretty much on the horizon. My guess is they will try to circumvent the union and try to right the ship through a non-asset based model.

It's also interesting that your rant was about owners of small companies co-mingling company funds, but you listed privately held companies, when they are in fact the Jones, the smaller companies are trying to keep up with.

And Swift was less than solvent more than once, not to mention the near disastrous insider trading by Jerry Moyes which lead to his dismissal (and fines) only to later rescue Swift from financial ruins by bring it private, right the ship and then send it back to a publicly traded entity.

What about gainey, ms carriers, JHT, greatwide, Alvan, Parker Motor, Central Transport, or if you care to venture outside of asset based mega's to private carriers, how about Flying J, General Mills, and the likes?