Profile For Steve L.

Brian, I started OTR with Schneider. They were great, but I wasn’t home every week.

After two years, I came to a southeast regional company and get home at least weekly. I love it.

I could’ve done regional with Schneider, but was told I’d probably average 1500-1800 miles per week. Where I am. I average 2,500+ per week.

I hope this helps.

Talk to the Safety person at your OC. They can also tell you how Schneider views it.

1. How much time is left on that agreement? If less than a year, plan to stick it out, but go to question #2.

2. Can you make it, financially, on his current pay until the contract is satisfied? If yes, stick it out, make a list of your (as a family) preferences, have him concentrate on becoming a top tier driver, research companies so that he can make a move AFTER contract period is up.

If you cannot make it on his current pay, he needs to concentrate on being top tier and getting guidance from his company on how to improve his pay.

I started with Schneider and some people say they’re lousy. They were great to me, I did two years there and for the past 3+ years I’ve been with a southeast regional company, getting home weekly, or more, with good pay.

The two best jobs he’ll have are his last job and next job. Let that sink in.

If he becomes a top tier driver at his current job, think how happy y’all will be when he lands a position getting him better pay and home time.

I hope this helps.

We had a great 4th at our home. I cooked a huge pot of seafood gumbo, and a couple of our grandkids got to be with us. Here's one of them in a 4th of July photo shoot we did.

Love the picture! That child certainly has a good backing; The 🇺🇸😎. God bless you and thanks for ALL you do!

“ who obtained their CDL on their own?”

That statement could be in reference to someone who went to private school, which you don’t want to do.

Please forgive me, but when you start throwing around words like misrepresenting, it sounds like you’re more interested in legal aspects than truck driving.

You started off with what you WON’T do. That’s not good in ANY job search.

What you’re asking for might be found by talking to drivers at a local construction site, while they’re dumping dirt or gravel. Or the local paper mill scale scale line. For OTR, Professional Truck Driving careers, The education materials and advice here at Trucking Truth is second to none.

Good luck.

Jason, nothing to be ashamed of here.

Most people are not driving a truck because they’re independently wealthy.

This is a career where you CAN have financial stability. AND you can achieve that, starting out at a company-paid training where they put you up in a hotel AND feed you.

Take in as much advice as you can here, choose a company/training that meets your needs, do the High Road Training Program, develop a positive outlook and you may be surprised at how bright your future can be.

👍

Jason, your statement doesn’t make sense.

What do you mean you have to be careful? Are you saying you can’t afford a hotel if you must pay? Or are you saying there’s some reason you don’t want to stay in a hotel or eat free meals (you said “and gives meals”)?

There will ALWAYS be a “better” deal. Your two best jobs are always your last one and your next one.

240 hours (in the trucking business) is what, 3-4 weeks? And that was too much to ask?

Your quick exit is exactly why companies make those non-compete agreements. They are in business to make money, not cater to the whims of undecided hopefuls.

Ask Western Express if you can go back. Give it your all and you WILL come out better. Maybe like Old School.

Keep that positive attitude! It makes a world of difference. 😎

I’m with Curmudgeon. With your APU allowance, better to have that extra weight on the drives.

Have you asked Western Express? I had the same issue when I started at Schneider. One day I walked into a terminal and asked a Trainer. He said run the truck and told me how. He said; “we don’t expect you to roast at night.”

Turn around if you can. Keep moving, don’t stop. Use common sense as much as possible to avoid situations. Communicate with the office.

That’s what we were told.

At 17 years old, I watched (unknowingly) a fellow soldier die. In Boot Camp. He’d just qualified with his rifle. *******s ran him to death. Yep. He was more brave than most of the Drill Sergeants of my company. They were relieved and investigated, but I don’t know the outcome.

Sometimes we don’t realize the enemy may be within.

🇺🇸

I’m as busy as can be. 3,192 miles this week. Left Sunday, home today. I’m averaging 2,600 miles per week this year.

Thanks Old School!

Traffic, ESPECIALLY around Orlando, is much easier to deal with.

That, and I never thought I’d live long enough to see We, The People, WILLINGLY give up our Rights out of fear.

Otherwise, I’m as busy as I’ve been and grateful to serve!

😎🇺🇸

😆 Old School, YOU ARE a memorable guy! And my world is better for your wisdom!

I love this story! Have a GREAT week!

Roger asked; “ Totally unrelated to the rest of this, I just want to know what it is you do that causes you to out earn your coworkers so dramatically.”

Read the article Old School provided the link for.

I recommend you make a list of what you want in a company. Then look for ones that most closely meet that criteria. E.g. when I started, I wanted a national company with multiple types of freight and decent pay. This way, if I wanted to switch to tanker, hazmat or move my family, I could stay with the company. Two years in, my priorities changed and I was seeking better home time. So, I moved to a southeast regional company. Better pay, better home time. Three years after that move, I’m pretty sure I’ll stay put.

The two years I was with Schneider (they are ANTI-union), I was treated extremely well. I’m a former business owner also and Schneider was a very corporate environment (which was a good fit for me).

Many states are “right to work” states and that may affect the availability of union jobs.

Bottom line; please consider listing your desires, then start calling companies and asking them what they offer. What has worked for me might not suit you. Or, you might find something I could only dream of finding.

With your years of self-employment, you likely have the critical thinking skills to see the blooms among the weeds.

Good luck, I hope this helps.

Any reason you can’t go back to May? They have a location in Pensacola.

This statement: “ I admit that I have smoked pot here and there since my dad died to deal with the stress but I have been clean for about 35 days now.”

How will you deal with stress out here?

I’m sorry for your loss. I hope you never have that much pain again. But there are days you’re gonna be really stressed out.

What if you have a rough, I mean REALLY rough, week or two and you get home for three days of...DE-stressing?

I just bring this up because your use was pretty recent. You, and your employer, need to be certain pot won’t be your recreation of choice in the future.

Good luck and I agree with the others. Wait.

”Thats why I want to get in even though money is bad right now”

My money isn’t bad. I’m a company driver, dry van, southeast regional. Probably what many consider the lowest paid type of OTR driving. I’m still averaging 2,400-2,600 miles per week and getting home each week.

Some things are frustrating, like last week thinking I’d have to go home early. Then, voila! I get an 860 mile load, followed up by a 592 mile load.

Right now I’m waiting for my next assignment. But, as a company driver, someone else is stressing over finding & assigning loads. If I was an Owner/Op, I’d be the one stressed out.

Enjoy the ride!