Posted: 10 years, 7 months ago
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Beginning new career with PTL. (A diary)
Turns out to be a blessing that this load was run leisurely because I didn't really factor my hours in. PTL advises drivers to take only 1 restart a month during your home time and run off recap. Something to do with the load planning. So we'll get this load there at a medium pace and bank some recap hours so we can run like blind flying mammals out of hades again come Monday. I'd love to just run 1000 miles a day everyday but that durn 70 hr clock just won't let me.
How's going Scott??
Posted: 10 years, 7 months ago
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Beginning new career with PTL. (A diary)
Got a load out of Murray ky going to E. St. Louis. Delivered and getting unloaded now. Have preplan to pick up in St. Louis and relay a load back to Murray destined for Atlanta. Looks like I'm off of the "a-list" for loads I enjoyed with my trainer and on Unproven rookie trainee status. It is what it is I guess. I'll get the crumby loads picked up and delivered on time and safe and see if the mileage improves. Surely it will. 30,000 at 210 a day would take quite some time lol.
So Scott, who are you driving with??
Posted: 10 years, 8 months ago
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Beginning new career with PTL. (A diary)
On a lighter note: my first check from PTL was direct deposited today. North of $650 after all deductions. AS A TRAINEE.
That's for the whole 6k miles or about 2 weeks, right!?
Posted: 10 years, 8 months ago
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What is your in truck entertainment for down times?
I remember when I was with my trainer he had a ps2 and tv set. Too bad we never got to play them though. Never could get a power converter big enough to handle them all. A laptop will work just fine though, I am using one right now even with the truck powered off.
I've been wondering about an Internet service provider. What do you use? Maybe this could be a good topic for a new thread if there isn't one already.
Posted: 10 years, 8 months ago
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Not that I'm in that situation yet or that I will be, but am just curious. When companies extend pre-hires what's the proper way to "not accept" a prep-hire letter, do you call the recruiter and politely thank them for the opportunity but you accepted another offer but would like to keep them in mind for the future (that's what I would do) or do you just do nothing. What's the norm since some of you have been there and done that..
Posted: 10 years, 8 months ago
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Choosing a company when your options are limited..
So far the folks at PTL have been wonderful. When u upgrade here the pay is 33 cpm. There's not a truck in the fleet older than a 2011. The one international prostar I've driven drove real sweet. Granted that was with no load though. One more thing is that PTL is 100% employee owned. Now that's not gonna mean squat to anyone that doesn't stay for quite a long time but ESOP is about the closest thing you're gonna find to a pension in this industry.
When you say upgrade, do you mean go solo??
Posted: 10 years, 8 months ago
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Choosing a company when your options are limited..
Just thought I'd mention that at PTL you will be forced to team for 30k miles as part of your training. You are paid 15 cpm for that period and all miles The truck runs count toward your 30k and both drivers are getting the 15 cpm. Although I too have zero interest in team driving, It's only 30k miles and I didn't see anywhere that was offering the potential to make 1/2 decent money while still in training.
Also, since tuition costs seem to be a big factor you're looking at, PTL Does not Offer tuition reimbursement like most other medium to large carriers.
Are you now in phase of your training as a team??
Posted: 10 years, 8 months ago
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Choosing a company when your options are limited..
What? Really? you think my post warranted this kind of response? You must be having a bad day, maybe it's from being home. Look I didn't "F*ck up" as you put it and yes I am talking about THAT RESEARCH, peopless reviews and opinions about companies have to be taken into account, of course with a grain of salt. Do you of a better way to find out about a company than from the people that have been there? That's why I posted here asking for sincere opinions, as part of MY RESEARCH. It seems you think you have everything and EVERYONE figured out, and am happy for, but let me just let you in on a little secret, all that you you know is far from the truth..have a nice day, maybe you should go fishing..
Lets take this step by step.....
Point 1) You f*cked up cause as you put it...." I have a couple of not so preferred things on my DL" Unless someone else magically made your driving recorded bad i.e. tickets that you had no involvement in, but they applied to YOUR licence then yes you are to blame. Not the companies you are so called "settling for"
Point 2) What other kind of research is there? Do you of a better way to find out about a company than from the people that have been there? Yes. Yes I Do. Talking to current drivers that actually work at the companies you are wanting to be given a chance by for starters. And no those negative reviews DO NOT have to be taken in account. Those are made by drivers that are mad at a company and decide to bad mouth the company all over the internet and all their comments should be discounted for what they are. Trash.
I see your point, but how come you don't that kind of stuff about Roehl, Millis or a bunch of other major carriers?? I guess they are doing something right.
Posted: 10 years, 8 months ago
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Choosing a company when your options are limited..
Ok now that I have went back and re read I think I did come off as having to strong of a response floydborga. For that I apologize. But the post I made "Point by Point" still stands.
I tend to get a bit touchy when it comes to people looking down on companies and the trucking industry as a whole. And "settling" for this company or that company is saying that those companies are not the best but its all I have to work with.
No Problem Guyjax, but you have to understand that the opinion that I have formed is based on what I've read from your peers, people in the industry. Of course I know that there are whiners that have nothing good to say, but when 90% of opinions are bad, you to take that into consideration and put that company into the "least desirable" pot and that all I have done.
When starting out I had certain companies(Roehl, Millis) in mind because I seriously though I credentials to be a good truck driver and be an asset to a good company. I didn't think that my driving history is "****ed up" all, but since companies are putting me in a "least desirable" driver pot with even getting to know who I am, I have to "settle" for what I can get..cheers get out there and enjoy the day, here in NE it's too cold to be outside..
Posted: 10 years, 7 months ago
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Covenant Transport
Hi guys, anyone here drive for Covenant that can give me an overall personal view of the company..TIA