Comments By Paul C., Rubber Duckey

I've run a dedicated dry van and now I'm on a refer delivering meat nationally

I sat more in the dry Van waiting to be loaded or unloaded on my back hauls from the grocery dc's and sat around even longer I.e. 24-72hrs for my dedicated loads. In sitting I'm meaning 2-4hrs past my arranged load/unload times on the grocery dc back hauls.

The refer company I'm with now, K&B transportation, almost 97% drop and hook. Zero touch. This was an issue for me at my previous dry Van company

Seriously the Walmart unloads aren't that bad just be the first to hit the guard shack an hour before your appointment time set up the truck and patiently wait in line to check in at the OCR and it goes by faster than the complaints I've heard and read. 2hrs for me on average for unload and check out. But keep in mind I mainly haul packaged meat products. Not so much veggies or fruit. Those are usually a back haul. And they do take a little longer to unload.

Checking temp takes two minutes and fueling still only takes me less than 12 min and that's cleaning front side glass and mirrors.

REFERLoads are year round no slow down like dryvan.

I was in Texas last month in a 65 mph governed rig passing a 62 mph governed rig. I passed made safe return with signal to right lane. Had literally 3 seconds go by and a Schneider truck blasted by doing 80+mph. Blowing his air horn and swerving so violently back and forth I thought he was gonna rollover right in front of me. Funny thing was not 15miles later I hit the love's in Weimar tx for my 10hr reset and there he was backed in a spot sleepin.

I mean gee wiz man. Calm down. 5 min is not worth killin people over...

Hello again everyone been a minute since I updated what's been happening. Last I was here with my own thread I was posting questions about Navajo express and bison logistics. I am happy to say that neither of these two companies worked out.

No fault of their own though I just did a lot of research on this site and on the net and gleaned from my findings an opinion that we would not be the best match.

Let me explain. Navajo express has a decent rep however they pay experienced drivers .245cpm plus .135perdiem on the miles run. Now this may not sound bad but the per diem was not spoken of at all by the recruiter. I read about it on a site that reported reviews of employees. When I brought it up to my recruiter he was surprised I knew about it. Now to put this in perspective the per diem is forced no opt out option is given and nothing would have been said about it to me till I was in orientation. In my view that's kind of like entrapment.

Now I'm an honest man I have made decisions in my life to be honest even if I don't earn as much as those willing to break or bend the rules in this industry.

Having said that. Bison logistics runs paper logs. Now Brett will tell you that's how you will be able to "work" the system and earn a better living. I will agree with that but I personally have worked 24 /7 slept in the back hell even the front seat of my trucks cause I couldn't drive another minute. And working for a company that expects me to take that risk to work their freight and earn a living is not worth it in my opinion.

So I've hooked up with K&B transport a refer company out of Sioux city Iowa and start orientation on Monday the 2nd of November.

I chose these guys cause they offered the best pay I could find. .45cpm + incentive and safe driver bonus. And have an advertised guaranteed weekly pay even if the miles weren't actually run.

Now this might sound too good to be true. The research I've done has not disproved this statement only backed it up.

The complaints I've read have been long hours, night driving and deliveries and the large amount, 2500+, miles a driver is expected to run. Now not to sound too full of myself but man I been dreaming of a driver position like this since I started this adventure in the Big Rig World.

So wish me Luck and say a prayer for me cause here I go.

Now in case you wondering I was at Jacobson transport/XPO logistics. My average week on my HON dedicated route consisted of one HON load 3-8drops per load, 99.9% touch freight I.e. Driver assist on every dispatched load. And a brokered back haul to the state where HON plants where and at least 18-24hr layover till next HON load was ready for pick up. Now that load would say deliver in north Texas 4 days later. However that run usually came from Georgia. It only takes 2 days to get to Texas so yes that's another 18-48hrs standing by to deliver, no layover or detention, just hurry up and wait. During My final HON run I was able to complete 2 34hr resets before first delivery was due...

I must agree with Terry

If you have the opportunity to practice in a truck with little or no cost to yourself this would be the way I would recommend to get a cdl

Now others will say you need the certificate the school gives you to get hired on at a company like prime or Werner but I've been behind the wheel of 10,000lbs trucks to 50ton wreckers since I was 21. I know this isn't tractor trailer driving but the experience I have had on the road helped me master my tractor trailer in a short amount of time.

Now like most of us newer drivers out here 4yrs experience or less I have been experiencing the challenge of finding a company that will have the miles available for me to make the living I.E. Income my family requires.

I recently left Jacobson transport/XPO logistics to try my luck with K&B transportation. Everything I've seen and read online bout the company both good and bad reviews has lead me to the opinion that we will be an excellent fit. Most of the "whining" I read was bout the long hours night driving and deliveries and "all the miles they are expected to run". Now I don't know bout u but that sounds like a job I'd kill to have.

Hmmmm U just let a strung out STRANGER into your truck to perform acts upon u that which you are paying an unfair price and expect a different result than being robbed and shot when you resist.

I remember back in high school the nurse asking us before we gave blood if we had been taking part in any RISKY BEHAVIOR.

Lot lizard - There is nothing in that title that would convey a safe and risk free adventure...

What is it you lookin to know?

Tell me the truth

Pay me what you said you'd pay me.

I want to work. I.e. DRIVE. I'm not a loader/lumper/yardhand/unloader/stacker/racker. No sir none of it. They don't call me DRIVER for no reason.

Sitting idle waiting for days outta the week, NO SIR, see ya cant be wit ya. My three to four weeks away from my wife kids and cats is my time to work and earn a living. I'm not out here to hit the casinos and make friends with the truck stop employees. I'm here to turn the wheel and pay for my kiddos college.

So for me it's the idle time wondering what the heck is goin on when every guy at the flying j in the city of my former companies home terminal are on or picking up loads for the company I work for and I been sitting around with my thumb......you get the idea.

In my opinion there is nothing hotter than a female drivin a big rig every time I see a 110 pounder jumpin down and checkin the load and rig I am extremely impressed.

There is a stigma surrounding truck drivers but I truly believe a female can do ANY job out here that the man standing next to her could do.

Little syster is a shining example of this. Stay tuff, bug the heck outta those recruiters. But be polite. Firm. And above all else be determined to reach your dream in trucking. It's been the best decision I've made in 18 years.

Hmm sounds like a ploy to get some driver referrals especially the mandatory 4 months with averit without even a hint if you could even run the gig.

That said I always did want to be on tour. Seen several bands up close and in person at my cousins venue in Texas.

Just my gut is telling me sounds too good to be true. I mean that's my gut reaction.

Recruiters have said flat out lies to hire me on. Now I regret my decision.

NASCAR style pit stop at the fuel island now that I would definitely pay for especially if the rainexed all the glass and mirrors. man that would be a sight to see.