Would you take a job as a new driver that wants you to pay for APU and/or Inverter?

I wanted to do OTR but wound up doing a dedicated regional job because that was what was available. I think it has turned out to be a good thing. I guess the region makes a difference but we basically stay between I29 & I25 and I70 & I94. I feel like it has been a great way to get my feet wet.

 

Any company that ask u to pay for these things is bs. I learned myself

 

I didn't say I payed. I learned

 

NAME THE COMPANY SO OTHERS CAN AVOID IT.

NO EXCUSE FOR THIS CHEAPNESS.

 

Western Express doesn't have APU's or Inverters but offers the ability for the driver to add an Inverter at drivers expense. It kind of surprises me for how much conversation on this site WE has, even currently running a thread, nobody has brought it up.

LEM Trucking which currently has a job running on Indeed gives drivers the option to add APU or Inverter to truck at drivers expense.

 

No APU? Idle their truck and burn their fuel.

No inverter? Buy a plug-in cooler. I’ve only had two different Koolatron models, over the last 20yrs. I just replace the fan motors, as needed. If you have a CPAP, the small, plug-in inverters can easily handle that. The larger models of inverters need connected to the battery bank, in some manner, and their shop will need to do that. If you should quit, it’s easy enough to access the connectors and take everything with you. If you need to be quick about it, disconnect the cables from the inverter, tape up the connectors so they don’t short out, and be gone.

 

Where are you located and do you want to do otr or would you rather do regional or local? Someone local may be able to give suggestions

 

No inverter means no microwave or other electronic devices such as air fryers, warmers, etc... on the truck. This drastically reduces your ability to cook comfort foods for yourself and makes you more dependent on outside sources. For those of us that would care about such a thing, it's a big deal. Also means no monitors.

There are a lot more things that can go wrong with 12v coolers and will cost you more money in the long run to keep items cool with shelf life on those things and upfront costs opposed to a minifridge.

No APU's and burning gas on their dime means not being conscious of all the problems we have with our environment and more emission problems. There are also a lot of companies out there that say they don't care about idling time and actually do when you get into things as new drivers down the road. Not a fan of hypocrisy or overselling a job because some lying recruiter told you anything up front to get you to sign that wasn't totally true.

 

I am in Denver Colorado currently looking for local work, but would do regional or OTR if the conditions were right. I would like to move to Northern Colorado like Fort Collins if given the chance. I don't have family or commitments, older, and have the ability to move around but would like my home base to stay in Colorado if given a real choice on the matter or a similar community like Oregon.

I am currently working and make about what I would as a newer driver in my current position, maybe even a little more, so I have been more picky about selecting a job. I won't take just anything to get my one or two years in and why I am struggling to find a job. I have been offered a few jobs in the last couple of months, but always found something wrong with them or was mislead about the job or position somewhere along the way and then ultimately turned it down. I have all my endorsements plus a TWIC card. I am leaning towards flatbed work since I did that for a couple of months, but open to other stuff minus Reefer. I know that I don't want to do Reefer or touch freight on dry van like working for a Sysco or US Foods kind of job where you are up and down ramps or using hand trucks to unload trucks.

 

You don't need to work for that company. Me personally, I'm one to look the other way on many things but the company should provide that. It's also a good idea to tell which company it is on this forum. That way you'll help a lot of prospective drivers. There isn't a need to protect companies like that.