What's A Good Company To Start Out With?

Back to the topic at hand. I drive for melton. I am glad I did, as everything I was told was true. I liked the idea of short training where others are long. Some companies make you drive team for awhile. I don't agree with that. But that's me. I was in my own truck in 3 weeks. 1 week orientation. Two weeks with a trainer. Starting pay is .41 cpm. And they have other bonuses. I average 2200 2500 miles a week. Haven't been disappointed yet.

Firemedic suggests:

So you believe EVERYTHING You READ ON GOOGLE?

If I believed "everything" I read on Google, it would be all bad, from companies that treat you like dirt to rats peeing on soda cans.

I believe the stuff I've experienced in over 45 years of adult life.

Firemedic suggests:

So you believe EVERYTHING You READ ON GOOGLE?

If I believed "everything" I read on Google, it would be all bad, from companies that treat you like dirt to rats peeing on soda cans.

I believe the stuff I've experienced in over 45 years of adult life.

Ditto. All the negative trash does not prevent me from earning a consistent healthy paycheck while all the armchair quarterbacks tell us how awful our employees are.

Errol you have a few years on me, but I totally agree with you, I too "believe" the stuff I have experienced, including the bad. I don't have the time or energy to focus on negativity. Plenty of people willing to do that for me.

Jeffery wrote:

While I am in no way knocking companies like Swift, Werner, CRST, CR England, etc., I would be a bit concerned, as a new driver who is transitioning into the trucking industry, as to the on-line reviews about what is posted about the companies referred to as "bottom feeders". With that said, I do not believe that means that a driver has a "bad attitude" or what have you because of those concerns. So, I do think some companies do suck, yes. I wonder myself how far a positive attitude along with being a hard worker at a company such as Swift or C.R. will take you versus Earl Henderson, or Prime (some of the better reviewed companies).

Thanks for moving from the ranks of lurker to contributor; your first post.

The majority of the negative information on the internet is written by former, disgruntled employees ducking personal accountability and responsibility for their own failures. You have been on the TT forum long enough to have read the same thing at least once or twice. Furthermore, the larger the company, the more negative information exists based on the numbers alone. Every one of the major trucking companies have their issues, they all do. They're also all good places to work. Perfect? No, never. Nothing ever is. If you want perfect, try starting your own company. That's about where I am with some of the folks on this thread (not you Jeffrey).

The thing that no one outside the business understands, there is only one or two relationships in this business that really matter to a driver. It's only a small sphere of these huge corporations that we interact with. I don't care what is happening at the executive levels of Swift, or in their board room, not my job and way above my pay grade to worry about. I focus my attention on my DM (driver manager) and to a lessor extent the planner on-duty when I am driving. Much of your success and/or failure depends on that relationship. You and your DM are a team with the same exact goal; move the freight as safely and efficiently as possible. Work with them, document conversations, keep them informed on what is happening.

If you search on the following criteria: DM, driver manager , dispatcher , and/or planner you will see a consistent and repeatable theme. Other than operating your truck, that relationship is within your direct control to influence in a positive or negative way. Once you "get this", your income and happiness will move in an upward direction. Use the search bar in the upper let hand corner to find these threads.

I can only, directly speak about Swift. My experience with Swift has been very positive, beginning over 4 years ago while in school. I still work for them, and do so by choice. There have been problems, all of which were worked out by approaching it professionally and respectfully, void of emotionally charged anger and hostility. Juvenile and unprofessional behavior is usually never met with a positive response. The relationship with my assigned DMs and the supporting cast is very professional and effective. It takes work and understanding to get it to that point and work to keep it there. I make very good money working in the industry and with the equipment that I love. There are other examples of happy Swift drivers on here. Same for Schneider, Werner, Prime, Roehl, Knight, and many more.

Goes back to the same basic theme, contrary to what some of our recent negative "ranters" would have you believe, good drivers can be successful and happy working for any of the companies frequently discussed in this forum. I have 30+ years of corporate experience, have seen it all, the good the bad and the ugly. I am not in that fray any more and for good reason. Far happier doing this. Truck driving is the only career I know of that elevates a person above and away from all of that nonsense.

Good luck.

Jeffrey wonders about low hiring standards:

on-line reviews about what is posted about the companies referred to as "bottom feeders

(Good post, Jeff! How'd I miss this one?)

The gates are wide open at many companies. Yes they are several companies that require OTR experience before they'll talk to you. But with a clean work record (don't need hospital clean, just no real junk in you're past.), a DOT physical and the CDL-A permit, you all but have a job.

The real problem, is OTR trucking had its special qualities:
* Work on your own but directed by your DM
* 24/7 operating schedule
* Appointment time constraints
* Away from home for who knows how long
* Dangerous equipment that must be operated safely.

Going in, some people don't realize this, and I fault the companies for not making this clear at the get-go. Those are the IRS G-Town describes, who drop out and are the ones who want to flame away on forums, blaming anyone but themselves for failure.

Truck driving is the only career I know of that elevates a person above and away from all of that nonsense.

That is so true, and Blue Hotel, if you will read that entire post of G-Town's it is masterfully put. You had to resort to calling us names like "Horatio Alger" or "Shia Labeouf," because you just don't even have an argument about the problems in this career, because you have zero experience.

What you do have is your worthless research from the internet, and then you try to use your life's experiences to back up your argument, which I would argue are terribly flawed by your own prevalent attitudes. Do you even realize how your attitude creates an environment that works against your success?

Let me give you an example, and I'm doing it at the risk of giving you some more ammo against me, but I'll take that risk in the hope that we might help you just a little. For thirty years I was probably one of the guys you despise as mean and incompetent - I was the boss over my own employees in a small custom manufacturing business - I owned the business. I would often times get rid of employees who took your approach and outlook on life - that's right I would find a reason to fire them as quickly as I could. Why, you may well wonder? I found that every time I had someone with such a negative approach to life interacting and working with my other employees, they became like a cancer that infected the whole atmosphere of the work place. Quality would drop, productivity would slow, and I would start getting complaints from my customers about their interactions with my employees out on the job sites. People who carry such a burden of negativity around with them always want to unload some of the weight of it onto others because it is just too burdensome for any one individual to carry it alone.

You seem to me to be a very intelligent individual, but bound by things that you think are beyond your control. As a professional truck driver you get to be in control of your situation - you set the tone - you set the pace - you will determine your own success or failure. G-Town said it beautifully and truthfully when he said this:

The thing that no one outside the business understands, there is only one or two relationships in this business that really matter to a driver. It's only a small sphere of these huge corporations that we interact with. I don't care what is happening at the executive levels of Swift, or in their board room, not my job and way above my pay grade to worry about. I focus my attention on my DM (driver manager) and to a lessor extent the planner on-duty when I am driving. Much of your success and/or failure depends on that relationship.

That right there may be your saving grace, If you can manage to have a positive relationship with one person you could turn things around for yourself and find some success as a driver. I hope you can focus on that truth, because it will save you from one more of you life experiences that you describe as "cold, and hard." Here's the kicker - it is going to depend on you and how you think and how you react to problems - it will not depend on your dispatcher. There are literally millions of miserable truck drivers out there, so you will find good company at the terminals and the truck stops. If you would rather find success you will need to separate yourself from the average truck driver and set yourself up for success by focusing on having a good relationship with your dispatcher.

Contrary to what you may think about us having a small herd of unicorns in our backyard, and a swimming pool filled with happy dolphins cavorting about, we face just as many problems in life as you do. Life is not defined by your circumstances, but, much rather, in how you react to those circumstances.

I realize this whole thread has gone off the rails from what the OP asked for, but it has been an interesting conversation that delves into the false premises about trucking companies and what it takes to succeed at this career. Blue, I hold no animosity against you at all, and I don't think you do against me either, but I have seen enough of your personality types out here in this field making themselves miserable that I'm hoping we can help you get yourself off to a good start. You have the potential to be a great success at this, but not if you persist in your present course of trajectory.

I think you guys are only telling half of the truth. You're obviously trying to sell people the dream.

To be accurate we're not selling anything. We're sharing our experiences because for us trucking has been 'the dream' and we've lived it successfully for many years. And one of the mottos we live by is pretty simple - we'll tell you what we know, you do with it what you like. If you'd like to disagree with us and take a different path we wish you the best of luck. If you believe us and want to follow our suggestions we wish you the best of luck. To be honest it makes no difference to us if you believe us or not because we've lived it and we know exactly what we're doing. If you want to throw your life in the trash because you're drudging through with a poor attitude it won't affect us in the least. Your successes and failures are yours alone to enjoy or endure.

I'll also add this - one of the great parts about trucking is that drivers are paid by the mile or as a percentage of the revenues. The beauty is that it aligns the interests of everyone in the company. Trucking companies as a whole, including the managers that manage them, the office personnel that make it all happen behind the scenes, the mechanics that keep the trucks rolling, and the drivers themselves all make money the same way - by moving as much freight as possible. When freight is moving strong the entire company moves forward together. When trucks are sitting idly by then the entire company is going to suffer.

So you can say anything you like about management but in the end they want the same thing the workers want - to move as much freight as possible. That's why we know from our experience that great drivers can do well at any of the major companies out there. The major companies have been successful for decades. They're "best in class" and they've proven they know what it takes to be successful in this industry. If you can move freight safely and efficiently then you're going to be one of the pillars the company relies upon to continue their success. They're going to load the miles on you hard and heavy, they'll trust you with the freight of their most important customers, and they'll do anything they can within reason to keep you around and keep you happy.

And because trucking is such a gruelling profession, very few people can handle it. That makes finding those top tier drivers an extremely difficult task. Only a small percentage of the population can handle being a trucker at all, and of those that are doing it only a fairly small percentage are truly able to thrive in this industry. So the top tier drivers are in high demand because they're rare but critical for any company's success.

If you don't have the wherewithal to figure out the logic behind what we're saying then take a different approach and see how it goes. We won't mind at all. We won't be offended in the least because we won't be affected in the least. We're enjoying our successes and we enjoy passing on the knowledge to help others find that same level of success. Some people get it, most don't. It's a shame to see someone squander their potential but it's not at all uncommon I'm afraid.

Carry on as you will.

WOW! What a read!! And I agree with Old School, G-Town and Brett on attitude and relationships.I know a good relationship can go a long way with management! I am not qualified to comment on the trucking side of their replies but I bet they are correct. I hope I didn't **** anyone off! I shouldn't have it's like only my 3rd reply on this forum!

Here is some more food for thought... If two people buy a car at the same dealership and one person gets a lemon. That person is going to tell a bunch of people that the dealership he bought his car from sucks! That person may even stand outside the dealership telling customers or potential customers that this dealership sucks! While the other person will more then likely only tell 2-3 people that they bought a "Good" car from so and so dealership!

Just my 2 cents

HDHP

Welcome to the site HDHP...! You added this to the fray:

WOW! What a read!! And I agree with Old School, G-Town and Brett on attitude and relationships.I know a good relationship can go a long way with management! I am not qualified to comment on the trucking side of their replies but I bet they are correct. I hope I didn't **** anyone off! I shouldn't have it's like only my 3rd reply on this forum!

HDHP offers up some mind food on the subject:

Here is some more food for thought... If two people buy a car at the same dealership and one person gets a lemon. That person is going to tell a bunch of people that the dealership he bought his car from sucks! That person may even stand outside the dealership telling customers or potential customers that this dealership sucks! While the other person will more then likely only tell 2-3 people that they bought a "Good" car from so and so dealership!

Just my 2 cents

HDHP

Yes, quite a read considering you haven't been on the site for very long. And yes positive attitude, professional relationships, and patience are some of the critical success factors for a driver, new or experienced.

I appreciate and understand your analogy, but not sure if it completely applies to the root cause for the offending complainers. It's almost always about lack of personal accountability for failure, not taking responsibility for one's mistakes, and blaming the path of least resistance; the big & bad employers. These same people will likely move on, fail again and eventually quit the industry blaming anything, everything and everyone but themselves. Lack of knowledge, lack of individual character, or basic false expectations are counter to the successful rookie paradigm.

We preach the concept of "good drivers can be successful no matter where they work". I have yet to see an example contrary to that.

Considering your current state, if you haven't already you might want to take some time to review the below links. This information will go a long way in preparing you mentally and with information that will enable an easier time with the permit exams. Good Luck!

• Truck Driver's Career Guide
• Brett's Book: The Raw Truth About Trucking (free online version)
• High Road Training Program

Thanks G-Town! I will read the links you sugested. I will start my own post and see if what I am looking for even exist. Thanks Again

HDHP