Frustrated Driver. Long Layover. No Pay.

hello ladies and gentlemen, I have been doing LTL for 3 months, 8-10 day trips, 3000 miles/trip. Frustrated with 24hr wait times at truck stops between loads with no pay. Dispatch communicates and I like the job and company but cannot come to terms with time wasted. Losing days without pay is unsustainable in a world where we trade time fore money. After training I will be making 45cents per mile which comes out to about 1350 per trip. Still with the amount of time I’m losing and being in a truck 24/7 the math don’t jive. So I guess find a job with layover pay or detention pay would be one thing that I can do anything else you guys can suggest or any other companies that I should apply to now that I have some experience Thank you everybody stay safe out there

Why should you get paid to sit empty, not at a shipper?

3 months ain't quite enough experience to be job hopping, especially with the trucking industry how it is right now. Give it a year, where you are, things could improve there as you gain MORE experience. Won't look as bad to another company after you have a year under your belt.....Consider yourself lucky, you have a job right now, since many companies, have closed up, and 1000's of drivers suddenly lost their jobs. And are having a hard time landing another driving job.

3 months ain't quite enough experience to be job hopping, especially with the trucking industry how it is right now. Give it a year, where you are, things could improve there as you gain MORE experience. Won't look as bad to another company after you have a year under your belt.....Consider yourself lucky, you have a job right now, since many companies, have closed up, and 1000's of drivers suddenly lost their jobs. And are having a hard time landing another driving job.

Next time skip the moral analysis and go straight to the point. I have gratitude for where I’m at. I worked hard to get here.

Why should you get paid to sit empty, not at a shipper?

It’s unsustainable. Let me give you an example.

My current trip. I was unloaded yesterday. Been at a California truck stop for 36 hours. Will pick up a load tomorrow and arrive to drop it off Saturday. But can’t because they are closed Saturday and Sunday. So won’t be able to deliver till Monday Morning. That’s almost 4 days of waiting. No pay. Spending money at truck stops. How is that sustainable? I’m trading my time for donuts. Losing days and days.

3 months ain't quite enough experience to be job hopping, especially with the trucking industry how it is right now. Give it a year, where you are, things could improve there as you gain MORE experience. Won't look as bad to another company after you have a year under your belt.....Consider yourself lucky, you have a job right now, since many companies, have closed up, and 1000's of drivers suddenly lost their jobs. And are having a hard time landing another driving job.

Where do you get your information. That’s not even true. Trucking Jobs in June were down 100 jobs. Why spread false information? Here’s my source

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/minor-decline-in-truck-transportation-jobs-reported-for-june/amp

Honestly... i almost deleted this comment because of the obvious attitude. But I found it a good lesson to be taught, so here it goes.

Dear Tommy,

Since you want straight to the point: Don't come off as a know-it-all punk. And do some research before you call one of us a liar.

Further analysis:

Your one source of one month of information is NOTHING when discussing the overall trucking industry. Your 3 months of experience is NOTHING compared to the 3 dozen decades of experience of those who are reading this now.

We have been dealing with almost 2 years of horrible freight rates, low miles, and soft lanes. Companies have been slow to hire, have tightened their criteria for hiring, and been firing people for things that would have previously been overlooked.

That is the truth. Last year Yellow, the largest carrier, went out of business displacing 30,000 drivers.

In 2023, 88,000 trucking companies closed down as well as over 8,000 brokers.

Trucking in Turmoil

Several of our drivers lost their jobs when their companies went bankrupt. So please do not be so flippant.

I understand you are going through a bad time. We all are. You considered changing jobs. The truth is that 3 months is almost no experience. Insurance companies and many companies want at least 1 full year. You may find a job.. but it will probably pay less and be at a less reputable company with a higher turn over rate. Not absolute, but likely.

If you signed a contract at your first company to get your CDL , the contract may have a non compete clause, preventing other companies from hiring you, lest you buy out the contract balance first.

Alas, companies frown upon job hopping. So much so that many often limit the number of companies drivers can work within a time period. It shows a lack of commitment, and they do not want to invest money in you if you will leave. Also, your first company will treat you as a newbie, meaning they will be more forgiving when you hit something and screw up. Which you will, we all did. Your second company will expect an experienced driver and will treat you as such. They may fire you without giving a second chance.

Therefore it is possible you could screw yourself by having 2 to 3 jobs within 5 years. That could prevent you from getting hired in the future, regardless of any market improvements.

All you can do is talk to your dispatcher about compensation, or take a big risk changing jobs. You could leave the industry all together and try again when the market levels off. But that entails keeping your DOT card /CDL up to date and going through refresher training upon your return.

Choose wisely. And please correct the tone. If you think you have worked really hard in 3 months to get where you are... imagine some of us that have millions of safe miles under our belts. And ask yourself how you would feel if a know-it-all punk called you a liar about your profession?

I bet you wouldn't like it.

Be safe

I agree with Kearsey you are here asking for help and have thus far come across very poorly. We also don’t get into bashing anyone, just try to get factual information and help folks if we can. Not everyone really wants help, but rather validation of their thoughts. There are plenty of those types of sites online.

I am a bit confused how doing LTL your sitting so much. Those folks operate alot differently than regional or otr truckload. They also relay loads between yards.

From what your describing in your example that sounds like regional or otr truckload.

You say you have 3 months experience but are in training. That is how I read your original post. My question is what type of training and by who? Reading your entire posts I don’t get the sense you are with a trainer.

It is important to effictively communicate with your dispatcher. Polite and proffessional conversations always get the best end result. They hold alot of power over you. This is where most folks go wrong.

Keep in mind the dispatcher probably has many drivers depending on company size and many tasks to juggle at any one time. In the grand scheme of their day your issue may be very small to them, but very important to you. A positive working relationship with them is paramount. Could be they are new at their job, like you are at yours. It takes alot of willingness and time to build a good relationship, but well worth it.

Closed customers isn’t much can be done about that, unless your company has a drop yard close by, that load could be dropped there and another driver could deliver it on monday. Again the more specific information is the better advise could be given.

Your proffessional conversations with your dispatcher can make or break your earning potetional. IE: sitting times. If you come across poorly then they will be much less likely to be helpful, just human nature.

I have known 2 people in 11 years that were such a nightmare that dispatchers left them sitting like you describe on purpose hoping they would quit.

In the end, the decision is yours to make. You will be the one that lives with the consequences.

This website is trash truckers report is 100x better. More active and more knowledgeable. I’m outta here.

Honestly... i almost deleted this comment because of the obvious attitude. But I found it a good lesson to be taught, so here it goes.

Dear Tommy,

Since you want straight to the point: Don't come off as a know-it-all punk. And do some research before you call one of us a liar.

Further analysis:

Your one source of one month of information is NOTHING when discussing the overall trucking industry. Your 3 months of experience is NOTHING compared to the 3 dozen decades of experience of those who are reading this now.

We have been dealing with almost 2 years of horrible freight rates, low miles, and soft lanes. Companies have been slow to hire, have tightened their criteria for hiring, and been firing people for things that would have previously been overlooked.

That is the truth. Last year Yellow, the largest carrier, went out of business displacing 30,000 drivers.

In 2023, 88,000 trucking companies closed down as well as over 8,000 brokers.

Trucking in Turmoil

Several of our drivers lost their jobs when their companies went bankrupt. So please do not be so flippant.

I understand you are going through a bad time. We all are. You considered changing jobs. The truth is that 3 months is almost no experience. Insurance companies and many companies want at least 1 full year. You may find a job.. but it will probably pay less and be at a less reputable company with a higher turn over rate. Not absolute, but likely.

If you signed a contract at your first company to get your CDL , the contract may have a non compete clause, preventing other companies from hiring you, lest you buy out the contract balance first.

Alas, companies frown upon job hopping. So much so that many often limit the number of companies drivers can work within a time period. It shows a lack of commitment, and they do not want to invest money in you if you will leave. Also, your first company will treat you as a newbie, meaning they will be more forgiving when you hit something and screw up. Which you will, we all did. Your second company will expect an experienced driver and will treat you as such. They may fire you without giving a second chance.

Therefore it is possible you could screw yourself by having 2 to 3 jobs within 5 years. That could prevent you from getting hired in the future, regardless of any market improvements.

All you can do is talk to your dispatcher about compensation, or take a big risk changing jobs. You could leave the industry all together and try again when the market levels off. But that entails keeping your DOT card /CDL up to date and going through refresher training upon your return.

Choose wisely. And please correct the tone. If you think you have worked really hard in 3 months to get where you are... imagine some of us that have millions of safe miles under our belts. And ask yourself how you would feel if a know-it-all punk called you a liar about your profession?

I bet you wouldn't like it.

Be safe

You come here with what you felt was a problem but yet the company was a good one that was according to you. When you do not receive the answer you where looking for you get whiney and argumentative just like a child. Sorry that you feel the way you but don't let the door hit you in the azz. Bye-bye