Profile For Daniel Sage

If trucking is about moving the most freight like you say, then why shouldn't I pass you on the interstate going as fast as possible? I'll get to the receiver before you, and you'll be sitting there talking to your DM about detention pay. Miles equals money, so why shouldn't I pass you? That creates accidents, can't you see that? How often do you see people hauling ass through truck stop parking lots?

Good grief dude, you really do eat your own dog food. Being paid by way of CPM does not cause accidents. Most of the trucks operated by the largest of carriers are all governed at or between 60-67 mph. Unsafe, irresponsible, and/or unskilled drivers cause accidents.

So yes unsafe/unskilled drivers cause accidents. I agree. What do you think CAUSES drivers to be unsafe and unskilled? You think that their behavior is random? Why is everyone in a rush? Because the more miles I crank out, the more money goes in my paycheck. Why are trucks governed? Many reasons, but one is because the incentive is to go a many miles as possible before my 11 hour clock runs out. It's actually pretty simple Gong-town. Now you are calling me a dog? This just keeps getting better.

Your point is like saying alcohol causes accidents...no people who drink alcohol and choose to drive cause accidents.

If I said that trucks caused accidents I could see you making that comparison, but I am not saying that. Something happens when you don't do your job in the hourly world. It's called getting fired. Notice that almost never happens to drivers who complain, hang around the truck stop all day and don't do their job. I wonder why. You guys seem to have this idea that if we went to hourly pay like 99% of the world, nothing would get done and the good drivers wouldn't get rewarded! That's ridiculous and backwards. Do local drivers sit around and not work and keep their job long? Truckers would start getting fired. Which would lower the amount of people in the profession. Which would raise wages. So basically you are arguing for a system that works against most OTR drivers. What I would love to see is a combination. Hourly plus a lower CPM. What's so terrible about being paid for your time?

Good luck Daniel Sage...I am done with you.

Come back!

Daniel wrote:

Trucking is a skilled profession. It isn't classified that way, but we know it is. It can take years to master just backing, let alone everything else. So let's put this in perspective here. Americans tend to work on average wayyyyy more than most countries. If you went to any other country and told them you worked 70 hours a week at a skilled profession and made less than a living wage (17 or 18 an hour on average, depends on your state) with minimal benefits, they would think you were crazy. The reason truckers get paid by the mile is because that looks better to someone who doesn't know the industry. Do you think people would be so excited to pay thousands of dollars to work a 10 an hour job if they knew that's what it was? We'd have much less people going to CDL school, and driver pay would go up. Once you have your CDL, your in the pond so to speak, so you swim. CPM puts incentive on speed too. Bad idea in the winter time. (the faster your mph; the more miles; the more $); quite unsafe. Of course none of this will change until a protest or strike happens, which is unlikely since most drivers are used to cpm and unfortunately aren't the best at math. 70 hours a week at $20 an hr WITH overtime (why do we NOT deserve overtime?) equals $$$$$$1700$$$$$$. Did you make that last week?

Daniel aren't you the same person trying to get back into a driver's job (quit, been out of trucking for 3 months)? I am trying to understand if you actually believe what you wrote, why on earth would you want to re-enter the trucking industry? Just curious, cause I sense a significant level of negativity in the above reply.

I am sure you will try, but you really can't formulate a logical argument against what Old School wrote. it's spot on. And trust me I am old enough to remember the last time there were widespread trucker strikes during the fuel crises of the 70's. Be careful what you wish for...

Yes I'm the same human being who did this for 6 months and have spent the last 4 months doing other things. If there is anything else you'd like to know, just ask! Just FYI I'm leaning toward NOT getting back in the trucking industry. I guess I just like debating. I'm sure I'll get torched for what I'm about to say, but that's what makes this place somewhat interesting? Why would you assume I can't formulate a logical argument? Here is some research/media coverage to support what I said: http://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=93364&page=1 http://money.cnn.com/2015/07/09/news/economy/americans-work-bush/

Dear Old School,

How in the world can you even begin to compare China to the US? Of course we have it GOOD here. But shouldn't we strive to be BETTER? Our governments are just totally different. All you said was "look at these apples and rotten oranges, see here sonny, we have it good!" So sorry, your "friend of a friend" story doesn't cut it.

America is a great country in a lot of ways, so if you'd like me to sing the star spangled banner for you; let me know.

How many countries have YOU been to? It's just funny that you have a bunch of second hand stories and didn't provide that information is all. I've been to Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Netherlands, United Kingdom, Spain, France, Lithuania, Belgium, Switzerland, Austria, Mexico, Canada, and Russia. I've stayed with locals in all those countries, so I have a decent idea of what their work week looks like. If you clicked on some of the links above by now, you'd see you might actually be mistaken.

Here is a living wage calculator: http://livingwage.mit.edu/ I agree that truckers can do basic math, sorry I shouldn't have said that. Part of life is admitting where you were wrong and learning from that.

Driving trucks is FUN and Interesting, the adventure lures a lot of people in. That's why I got my CDL, not because I thought this would be a good career or I'd make good money. I had a great time seeing the US and have no regrets. "The reason truckers get paid by the mile is because that looks better to someone who doesn't know the industry." was my own original thought. No insider told me that; and I don't know it's true, but it sure makes a lot of sense when you think about it. I'm not talking about you, because you KNOW the industry very well. But for someone who doesn't know trucking; it is hard to nail down how many miles they will drive. It varies widely, but not hourly.

If trucking is about moving the most freight like you say, then why shouldn't I pass you on the interstate going as fast as possible? I'll get to the receiver before you, and you'll be sitting there talking to your DM about detention pay. Miles equals money, so why shouldn't I pass you? That creates accidents, can't you see that? How often do you see people hauling ass through truck stop parking lots?

Instead of dismissing everything I say, try beating me with logic. Because I heard a lot of "While I find it difficult to follow all of your various statements, this one really confuses me." in your post.

Trucking is a skilled profession. It isn't classified that way, but we know it is. It can take years to master just backing, let alone everything else. So let's put this in perspective here. Americans tend to work on average wayyyyy more than most countries. If you went to any other country and told them you worked 70 hours a week at a skilled profession and made less than a living wage (17 or 18 an hour on average, depends on your state) with minimal benefits, they would think you were crazy. The reason truckers get paid by the mile is because that looks better to someone who doesn't know the industry. Do you think people would be so excited to pay thousands of dollars to work a 10 an hour job if they knew that's what it was? We'd have much less people going to CDL school, and driver pay would go up. Once you have your CDL, your in the pond so to speak, so you swim. CPM puts incentive on speed too. Bad idea in the winter time. (the faster your mph; the more miles; the more $); quite unsafe. Of course none of this will change until a protest or strike happens, which is unlikely since most drivers are used to cpm and unfortunately aren't the best at math. 70 hours a week at $20 an hr WITH overtime (why do we NOT deserve overtime?) equals $$$$$$1700$$$$$$. Did you make that last week?

Thanks, I'll check BTC out. Let me reiterate that I wasn't fired, I quit with 3 weeks notice. I had one overweight ticket and one minor preventable which was getting stuck in the mud in WA, no damage to the truck. I had a good OTD record and they said they'd take me back. I have a clean 36 month MVR and decent employment history. I went through some personal/family stuff is all. So far the list is:

National Carriers Navajo SRT BTC Melton Celadon

What's so funny about having 6 months of experience and wanting suggestions on companies? I don't get you guys. The whole point of this thread was to LIST COMPANIES that hire people with 6 months of experience. If we listed all the "newbie" companies too then it would be a super long list. Y'all are right, I'm a newbie. Let me know when that changes and I get my trophy. Thanks for standing up for me Kurt G. I know companies normally want that 1 year of experience, that's why this thread is relevant; because not everyone wants to stick out a year with a lousy company. Sorry veteran truckers; I'm rebelling against the magical 1 year mark. I'm sorry. Seeing as I can't take my resume with me when I die and don't plan driving trucks for forever; y'all can just regurgitate the values of job stability on some other thread. Thanks

List:

Marten Navajo Crete? Celadon

Exactly. Most starter companies don't have good detention/stop/layover pay, because most of the fresh bodies aren't aware that plays a big role in your final pay. It really took that whole six months before I was really comfortable out there, and I made lots of mistakes like getting stuck, missing and grinding gears, knocking over pallets....Little stuff, but it adds up, and costed the company money. Companies that DON'T train have much less to worry about. In theory that means more money on the table for drivers. Plus reefer kind of sucked lol

Have you tried Craigslist? I found a lot of companies (usually smaller) that may hire with little experience. Though I do live near Chicago and their is a good amount of transport companies in my area.

Yea, I check CL frequently, also, Indeed, Monster, careerbuilder. Just trying to find some of those smaller companies that aren't necessarily blasting themselves out there because they don't NEED too. Catch my drift?

Can you guys think of companies out there that are hiring people with AT LEAST 6 months of experience? Smaller the better. Just exploring my options, so far my main candidates are Marten, SRT, Navajo, and STS. I'm shying away from the companies that are also accepting recent grad's, but not ruling them out. I've only been off the throne for a few months and don't have any major accidents or tickets. Thanks!

Some people are like tree's, nice and smooth on the outside, hard as a rock on the inside. I'm more like a cactus, tough and dangerous on the outside, inside I'm a softee. Southwest.

There's nothing like getting the green light at a shipper, going in to the office, finding out it's going to be at least another hour; going BACK to the truck, turning your amp all the way up and letting all that energy/frustration out though your guitar. I was able to fit a small 10 watt amp, two electrics and an acoustic under the bunk of a freightliner. Before I got into this, I lived off income from live shows and CD sales. It was even rougher than trucking in a lot of ways.

People told me stories of some Vlogger who did sessions at truck stops (in his truck); recording other trucker musicians. I never found it, maybe someone knows who I'm talking about? Great idea anyways. Punk, Country and Metal seem very much at home in a big rig.