Can A Trucker Wife Dote On Her Husband's Company For A Moment?

K & B Transportation

So, My name is Shari and I am a trucker's wife. Also yes I did take the picture in this post, that is my husbands truck. I also grew up around trucking. My dad got his CDL through MS Carriers when I was a young kid, and I used to go out on the truck with him sometimes because I love traveling in the big rigs!

This is now something me and my 3 year old son share, and though I knew how hard a life it was being apart from a trucker, I ended up falling for my best friend, whose life dream was to get that CDL of his own, and turn those big ol diesel wheels.

Why I am here though is to share about his company. See, I know many men and women alike who struggle to find a company they enjoy driving for, that pay them well, and there are even fewer companies that treat their drivers like more than a number on the side of a tractor trailer.

You are more than the load you drive and the truck you sleep in, and my husband's company damn well acts like it, and they take good care of our family too. They have never let him be late for hometime in the year and a half he has been with them, and even gave him extra time off for our wedding without a second thought. They worked with us during a time where I was in the ICU because of Lupus and Kidney disease as well. His dispatcher and even the recruiters know me and our son by name. I am even on the truck with him as we speak (my sister has our son for a visit with his cousins).

If you want to work for a company that ACTUALLY cares about their drivers, here you are. K&B Transportation. They are based out of Dakota City, Nebraska. (Also listed as South Sioux City) The pay is .45 cpm to start, but on weeks that you are available for dispatch from Monday to Monday you are guaranteed a minimum of 2500 miles a week at a flat rate of $1125. My husband rarely needs this because he so often goes over 2500 miles. They have things like insurance after 60 days, paid vacation at a year, as well as a pay raise at six months and a year. Detention and layover pay, as well as safety bonuses every 6 months.

The equipment is mostly freightliners with some western stars, internationals, and a few volvos. The trucks are 2012 or newer, they have APU's and refrigerators inside. The trailers in fleet are 2011 and newer with most being newer model. Each truck gets a new mattress upon issuance to a new driver.

They offer both a Midwest and National fleet, Midwest is 2 weeks minimum, and National is 3 weeks minimum. Hometime is 1 day for each week, so Midwest is two days min. And National is 3.

Typically you need a year of experience to apply but with a referral from a current driver they will consider applications from drivers with 6-7 months OTR experience and a clean record (accidents are the big stick point). They have also been running a $900 sign on bonus with referral, which, if they still are, is paid part on the first check and part on the second. You are paid weekly. You can find most of this information here on trucking truth and see that it is just what I say.

If anyone has ANY questions at all, please feel free to ask and I am happy to provide answers as is he.

We couldn't ask for a better place for him to be. I have seen first hand that the stability and attitude at this company can make a difference in families. After helping other drivers start on with them I just felt I had to share this, especially since early on it is so hard to get a good job (prior to a year of experience)

Happy hunting everyone and we look forward to any questions!

CDL:

Commercial Driver's License (CDL)

A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:

• Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
• Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
• Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
• Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.

OTR:

Over The Road

OTR driving normally means you'll be hauling freight to various customers throughout your company's hauling region. It often entails being gone from home for two to three weeks at a time.

Dispatcher:

Dispatcher, Fleet Manager, Driver Manager

The primary person a driver communicates with at his/her company. A dispatcher can play many roles, depending on the company's structure. Dispatchers may assign freight, file requests for home time, relay messages between the driver and management, inform customer service of any delays, change appointment times, and report information to the load planners.

CPM:

Cents Per Mile

Drivers are often paid by the mile and it's given in cents per mile, or cpm.

HOS:

Hours Of Service

HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.

APU:

Auxiliary Power Unit

On tractor trailers, and APU is a small diesel engine that powers a heat and air conditioning unit while charging the truck's main batteries at the same time. This allows the driver to remain comfortable in the cab and have access to electric power without running the main truck engine.

Having an APU helps save money in fuel costs and saves wear and tear on the main engine, though they tend to be expensive to install and maintain. Therefore only a very small percentage of the trucks on the road today come equipped with an APU.

APU's:

Auxiliary Power Unit

On tractor trailers, and APU is a small diesel engine that powers a heat and air conditioning unit while charging the truck's main batteries at the same time. This allows the driver to remain comfortable in the cab and have access to electric power without running the main truck engine.

Having an APU helps save money in fuel costs and saves wear and tear on the main engine, though they tend to be expensive to install and maintain. Therefore only a very small percentage of the trucks on the road today come equipped with an APU.