Comments By Wile E.

We run all over the lower 48, both dry and refer.

There is a pet policy with a deposit. Under 40 lbs, non-viscous breeds, shot records. Deposit can come out in installments. I can't recall the amount, though, but $400 or less?

Rider policy is any minor relative above age 8, or anyone over 18 non-relative. Insurance for a rider is $8 per day, or $39 for a month. Yeah....do the math on that.

We do have "forced dispatch", but not for NYC Burroughs. The closest I've come to the northeast is NJ and PA. My dispatcher keeps me out of there because I whine, cry, and complain so much it's not worth it to him.

Maintenance is really good, although we only have four terminals. Some shops are better than others. Some stuff I have to stay on them about.

RANDOM THOUGHTS: I had to fight with Operations and Safety to get issued tire chains. I finally won. Driver and outward cameras. Mine rarely activates because I try to drive as a professional. 65 mph pedal/67 mph on cruise. No Blue Beacon account, no fridge, no fuel bonus. I love my APU when it operates correctly (95% of the time). 1800 watt inverter purchased from the company. I got mine used for $50, including installation. We are going to ALL dark blue trucks starting now. Not happy about that. Pay is okay in that I've made more and I've made less. Loads are never paid for the actual miles. It's always from 8 to 15% short. No rhyme or reason to it, but count on 10% of your driving as a donation. I love my truck!

I like it here 90% of the time most weeks.

Thank you for the info! Very much appreciated!

Shoot me specific questions because I'm not going to just randomly type out my company history, experiences, and my thoughts.

Yeah, my prior post was poorly worded, wasn't it? My apologies.

Where are their primary routes? Do they do a good job maintaining their equipment? Do they run NYC? If so, is that forced dispatch? Rider/pet policy?

Thanks!

Mr PackRat drives for Schugel.

Thanks! Hopefully he will see this and share his insights.

Does anyone here have any experience with these carriers?

J&R Schugel

A2B Synchronized Services

Butler Transport

Leonard's Express

Congratulations!

Except for one little issue. I still can't get the truck driving out of my mind. I'm just a sentimental old fool I guess. Who would consider hiring an old guy with zero experience? Would there be any interest out there?

I'm 65, and like you I'm a grandfather. I'm nearing completion of my school training, and have started talking with a few companies. Yes, there is considerable interest. No one has even blinked at my age. The companies look at employment history, driving record, your health (for the DOT physical), and so forth.

I drove for 5 years, but it was a long time ago, and that experience is worthless now. Like you, I never really got it out of my system. So, for me, truck driving is going to be the bookends of my working career, with a few years trying my hand at odds and ends (sales, carpentry), before settling into 30+ years in manufacturing in between.

Best of luck!

My wife and I both had it in January 2021. We had low fever, periodic coughing spasms, I lost taste and smell and got headaches that would last about a half hour then just disappear. At that time, the media was running heavy with their doom and gloom reporting, and for us the worst of it was the unknown of waiting for the hammer to drop. The hammer never dropped, thankfully. Mild case, 2 weeks at home, bored. I devolved into watching foreign movies with subtitles.

First truck I drove was a Sidewinder. The pic isn't the truck I drove, but it looks a lot like the one I drove, right down to the color, for the now-defunct St. Joe Paper Co.

Sorry to hear of your health issues...

One of my best friends has RA. At first, he thought it was just the fact that he was getting older, but it kept getting worse. At the worst point, it would take him an hour each morning to fight through the pain and be able to stand up straight, take a normal looking step, get his fingers to bend and move. He said if he even touched one of the fingers that wouldn't move, it was like someone shoved a red hot needle into it. After the docs figured out the problem, they put him on steroids for a while, I don't remember how long, but it was a few months at least, until the inflammation calmed down, and they slowly reduced the dosage. It was not a fast process. He's been on a few different medications since then, currently on Enbrel (sp?) self injected. That stuff is super expensive, but the drug company has an assistance program, coupled with his work insurance, I think he pays around $50/mo for what would otherwise cost about 3k a month.

He told me later, after the docs had gotten it under control, that he finally understood why some people with chronic severe pain choose to end their life. He said at the worst of it, it was that bad, and he's a pretty tough guy.

But the good thing for him is that now he moves easily, continues to work a full schedule at his job, plays golf, in short he's active and doing well. He said there is still some pain some days, but it's low level and he can live with it. Hope your outcome is the same or even better!

Not a driving experience, but I was out walking my dog in the neighborhood, about to cross the street. Standing briefly on the corner, checking to make sure no cars were coming, I suddenly caught the scent of pipe tobacco. Not just any pipe tobacco, but my Dad's. My Dad had passed more than 10 years before this happened. He smoked a custom blend from a small pipe shop back in SC. I never knew anyone else that smoked it.

I froze, slowly looked around as the scent lingered a few moments. No one outside in sight, no one on their porch or getting out of a car, no car passing by. Nothing. Made the hair on the back of my neck stand up. Still can't explain it to this day.