From what I've read on here and other similar sites, I don't have a lot of faith in US Xpress or Schneider either one--it sounds like I'd make around the same kind of money that I did solo. My previous company was a major player too, and they continually decreased my mileage with every raise and passed off the better runs to the lower-paid new hires--they did pay raises pretty frequently, 1-2 cents on a 3, 6, 9, 12, and 18 month schedule or something like that.
I had weeks with them where I made around $200 after tax--I didn't leave them on extremely great terms either. Nothing too bad. Just didn't give a notice.
Yes, I returned the truck to the terminal. They didn't have to do truck recovery or anything like that either.
A facility where trucking companies operate out of, or their "home base" if you will. A lot of major companies have multiple terminals around the country which usually consist of the main office building, a drop lot for trailers, and sometimes a repair shop and wash facilities.
I guess my first question is where you currently reside and where you plan to move? Those 2 things can make a huge difference in opportunities available. What endorsements do you have? Having doubles/triples may allow you to get into the LTL world. Have you considered being a yard hostler? Have you looked into local class B opportunities in your area? I suggest looking at Craigslist and indeed to see what opportunities may be available locally. Have you looked to see what is local in the area you plan to move? Perhaps you can find a local gig where you are planning to move and they may pay you the moving expense. In a situation where you move for business reasons whoever foots the bill gets to claim it on their taxes.
I hope everything works out for you.
Drive Safe and God Speed
Refers to carriers that make a lot of smaller pickups and deliveries for multiple customers as opposed to hauling one big load of freight for one customer. This type of hauling is normally done by companies with terminals scattered throughout the country where freight is sorted before being moved on to its destination.
LTL carriers include:
Refers to pulling two trailers at the same time, otherwise known as "pups" or "pup trailers" because they're only about 28 feet long. However there are some states that allow doubles that are each 48 feet in length.
Reverend C, Welcome to the forum!
I've read everything you said so far, and I don't see how you can be a truck driver right now, at least not as an Over The Road driver. If taking care of your Dad is a priority, then you need to be doing something local, and probably not something with the kind of hours a truck driver keeps, Is there some other sort of work you can do? Surely there is. Not sure why you call yourself "reverend," but it gives me an idea that there may be some other passion of yours that you could possibly pursue to provide some income for you.
I understand the whole issue of taking care of an aging parent, I've been in much the same situation lately, but I had a wife at home that was willing to bear the burden of the job while I'm away. We finally had to make the difficult decision though to find a place for my Mother to stay so that she could have the proper care that she required. That takes money, but often times your parent's Medicare and Social Security will cover it. Perhaps your Dad needs some better care, or more supervision than you can provide - I certainly don't know. You and your Dad may need to consider some different options.
Now, onto other things...
From what I've read on here and other similar sites, I don't have a lot of faith in US Xpress or Schneider either one--it sounds like I'd make around the same kind of money that I did solo. My previous company was a major player too, and they continually decreased my mileage with every raise and passed off the better runs to the lower-paid new hires--they did pay raises pretty frequently, 1-2 cents on a 3, 6, 9, 12, and 18 month schedule or something like that.
I had weeks with them where I made around $200 after tax--I didn't leave them on extremely great terms either. Nothing too bad. Just didn't give a notice.
I don't know where you got the idea that you read stuff on this site that causes you to lose faith in either U.S. Express of Schneider!
Those are two really great companies which we encourage people to look into all the time! Brett, the founder and developer of this web site spent six great years at U.S. Express!
Your first post was intriguing to me because you were just posting your situation and wanted some advice, but then in your next one you took a deep plunge into the truck driver lounge crazy talk that is so prevalent among the Brotherhood of the Malcontents...
they continually decreased my mileage with every raise and passed off the better runs to the lower-paid new hires
This kind of crazy talk doesn't fly in here because we know from our own experiences how things work in this business. Here's the deal, trucking companies make money by moving freight. If you want to know the truth, they make more money by moving freight with experienced drivers who get the job done efficiently, not by using cheap labor! Beginners, or rookies, while being some of the lowest paid drivers also happen to be some of the costliest drivers on the road! I am one of the highest paid drivers in my fleet. I make sure that I am available for the best loads by the way I manage my time and have myself emptied at the proper times of the day and week to get the best loads - that is how the professionals do it. Please don't jump into a forum full of high performing drivers and try to pull off this kind of stuff with us. We can help you understand how it works, and will gladly help you progress in your career, but you have got to ignore all that truck driver lounge lore that you have been exposed to by the wannabes. Any time your miles are dropping off you need to ask yourself what am I doing wrong here? Then if you can't figure it out, start an honest conversation with your dispatcher and be humble and willing to accept some advice from them. All trucking companies want all their drivers to be moving a lot of freight. The more miles you are turning, the more money you are making, the more profitable they are becoming. That is so simple - but most truck drivers can't comprehend it. Think about what I'm saying, and hopefully you can see the clear logic in it.
This job is performance based. Top performers get the top pay, and brother when you are one of those guys they will call on you to do all kind of things. I just finished two weeks straight with right at 3,500 miles each week, in fact the truth is, I seldom have a week with less than 3,000 miles. I had to bust my tail this last week to legally get done what they needed, and the whole reason they handed off those loads to me is because they knew that I knew how to manage it.
Look, I just don't think you are in any kind of a position right now to be a top performer in this business. You have other commitments and concerns. Maybe that is where your problem lies. Anybody who is going to do well at this job needs to be "all in." You will have to consider something else for a while unless you want to go back to making the small checks that you are complaining about.
OTR driving normally means you'll be hauling freight to various customers throughout your company's hauling region. It often entails being gone from home for two to three weeks at a time.
Reverend wrote:
My previous company was a major player too, and they continually decreased my mileage with every raise and passed off the better runs to the lower-paid new hires--they did pay raises pretty frequently, 1-2 cents on a 3, 6, 9, 12, and 18 month schedule or something like that.
I have never experienced anything like that, nor do I know of any other drivers describing a situation like that. Proven, top performers get the mileage. Planners/dispatchers could care less if I make 5cpm more than some other driver. They dispatch based on availability and the ability to deliver the load safely and efficiently
Definitely concur with Old School's reply. Based on your post, caring for your Dad is your priority, everything else must support your ability to focus on his needs.
My assumption, you are a faith based man, perhaps reaching out to your church family is a consideration.
I sincerely wish you the best of luck with this.
Drivers are often paid by the mile and it's given in cents per mile, or cpm.
First off, Old School and G-Town, thanks for replying to my post. I wasn't certain that I'd get any response at all. I appreciate that you guys took your time to reply. I was actually surprised that anyone even took the time to read my post. Thanks, again.
I'm not really a religious guy, actually--it was just a name given to me by the guys at my trucking school. That's another story for another time. And, I actually was one of the top drivers in my fleet at my last company. My fleet manager had told me 2-3 months prior to my departure that I had been averaging almost a thousand miles more than most other drivers on my fleet and that I was one the top performers. I was a dedicated driver there with a mileage guarantee too, so that could've made the difference as well.
At my previous company, I had guys with years of experience with the company complaining that the company had began to start giving all the new hires their miles, so I thought that I was justified in my thoughts there. I did notice a decline with every raise. No joke. But, I know just as well, that my performance improved from the first company to the second company. So, it's possible that maybe my performance was just not as good as the other drivers during my time with the previous job.
I'm not just trying to repeat rumors or anything like that, just relay my experience.
And, I don't really hate the other company as far as the company goes, but I didn't have the same relationship with my fleet manager either. I was encouraged to do quite a few questionable things--mostly, feeling as if I were being forced to drive in violation on weekly (if not daily) basis, driving when deathly ill once (the day of my accident), and even driving in excess of 80,000 once. Of course, those are things that if I faced now, I wouldn't have done at all. I was pretty fresh and new to everything, I just wanted to do a good job for my company. My company insisted they had my back and that it would be fine if something happened--that they'd cover me. Thankfully, I never had to find out if they would have or not. And, I didn't stand up for myself when I should have at all.
I would've said that my relationship with my previous FM was great, if it had not been for my second FM--completely different experience. I've even made the comment before that the FM could potentially be responsible for your experience with a company.
I do understand where you're coming from, the better driver will ensure the load gets from point A to point B in a timely and reliable fashion. It does make a difference. I showed up to work. I was there to work. I ran my ass off with my last company. Getting 3,000 miles was child's play. But, it wasn't like I didn't have the same mindset with the previous company. They just left me sitting a lot. Gone 6-7 days and brought home $200. The management just felt completely different. I was left once sitting in the Port of Tampa within 15-30min of my layover--the port guys were telling me that I needed to move ASAP, my company told me not to move. I had shown up for a load that another driver from my company had picked up two days earlier--not that strange of an occurrence for them, but it was normally that the load had been picked up by another company. Then again, I was in Florida, and I've been told with that company freight could be scarce down there.
As far as US Xpress and Schneider, I really wanted to believe that it was just a lot of posts from the malcontent, but I had been reading a lot of bad reviews. It's nice to hear some positive feedback. I nearly chose Schneider twice before, everything looks good on paper, and they have quite a few different opportunities throughout the states. Also, I would like to state that maybe the worst of it wasn't even from this forum, I've been reading quite a bit for the last three days on multiple forums. I will concede that maybe the negativity hadn't come from here.
Either way, you guys are probably right, I just can't do the job right now. Not with the set of circumstances that I'm faced with, anyway. I considered hiring some outside help, but by the time that I had paid for that, it wouldn't even make any sense to be back in a truck. I'd be out so much that I may as well stay home and do something else for now. The money that I'd save by being able to care for Dad myself, I'd probably be making more money doing just about anything else.
The Substance Abuse Professional (SAP) is a person who evaluates employees who have violated a DOT drug and alcohol program regulation and makes recommendations concerning education, treatment, follow-up testing, and aftercare.
Truck drivers who regularly pick up from or deliver to the shipping ports will often be required to carry a TWIC card.
Your TWIC is a tamper-resistant biometric card which acts as both your identification in secure areas, as well as an indicator of you having passed the necessary security clearance. TWIC cards are valid for five years. The issuance of TWIC cards is overseen by the Transportation Security Administration and the Department of Homeland Security.
Patrick C.,
Somehow, I completely overlooked your post. Thanks for the reply as well, I guess I thought it was one of my follow up posts, haha. Apologies.
I'd be moving from Cincy to ATL, the opportunities should be fairly similar--I have been looking at everything I could find that I could work with. I've got everything other than bus and doubles/triples. I've thought about the yard jockey deal, haven't seen many opportunities posted lately, used to see them all time. I've seen a couple local Class B, but everything that I've seen doesn't look like I'd qualify.
It's not like I'm short of opportunities when it comes to OTR , but everything else seems to be few and far between.
As far as looking into ATL and the surrounding area, it looks like everything there requires you to have your GA license and an address beforehand.
The thought of starting back into a job just to have to quit again, it just really gets to me. I had never planned on quitting Roehl to begin with. I can't say enough good about that company. One of the best experiences in my life, the best job that I've ever had in my life all the way around.
OTR driving normally means you'll be hauling freight to various customers throughout your company's hauling region. It often entails being gone from home for two to three weeks at a time.
Refers to pulling two trailers at the same time, otherwise known as "pups" or "pup trailers" because they're only about 28 feet long. However there are some states that allow doubles that are each 48 feet in length.
My concern...you were with another comonay in Aug 2015...then with Roehl. Then left. That does look like job hopping.
Is there a Roehl terminal.near you? Could you get an in house job with them save up some money then go OTR and pay for your dads care?
My mom is very independent but approaching 80. I intend to do one more.year OTR then get a job at prime in MO. Ive been telling her im moving her there...but she isnt receotive yet. Lol We even have trainers who help get trainees their last miles before going solo...if they had issues with their trainers. Think about it.. OTR could help you work in road assist or dispatch or cargo claims. So in house at Roehl might be a way to go for now. If you are moving anyway. . However, in NJ there are assisted living homes for elderly based on income. My 90 year old grandmother lived there quite happily for years until she needed extensive care. perhaps you need to contact the senior services office in your area and see what is available.
A facility where trucking companies operate out of, or their "home base" if you will. A lot of major companies have multiple terminals around the country which usually consist of the main office building, a drop lot for trailers, and sometimes a repair shop and wash facilities.
OTR driving normally means you'll be hauling freight to various customers throughout your company's hauling region. It often entails being gone from home for two to three weeks at a time.
Rainy D.,
I talked with my FM from Roehl, we looked into everything before I even attempted to change jobs. They have nothing around here. It was sort of my last resort. Dad's been doing a bit better lately, and I just thought 6 more months could give us the boost we need to get south. I guess, in a sense, I was thinking the opposite. Go OTR Team for 6 months, maybe try to pay someone just to run small errands and check in on him, transfer for the move, and then try to move in-house with that company. But, when I got into looking into those jobs down there, everything said I needed to provide an address and GA license.
I talked about transferring with Roehl, but I had to wait on my lease to be up too. Unfortunately, there was one in-house job in ATL, I might could've taken at that time, but we couldn't make the move just yet due to the lease. So, I took the banking job, just to find out that I didn't have a job even after they'd given me a start date.
OTR driving normally means you'll be hauling freight to various customers throughout your company's hauling region. It often entails being gone from home for two to three weeks at a time.
When a violation by either a driver or company is confirmed, an out-of-service order removes either the driver or the vehicle from the roadway until the violation is corrected.
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I'm not sure where to start. The smell of diesel makes me nostalgic? I've been out of work for around 6 months. The reason? I don't have a good reason as far as any company would be concerned--my Dad who lives with me and has no other family (mother divorced him some twenty odd years ago) and solely depends on me on a day-to-day basis. Dad fell and I decided to come off the road to be closer to home. I didn't just up-and-quit, I found another job and I gave my previous company (Roehl, by the way, and I absolutely loved that company and my job) a three-week notice.
The new job gave me a start date, training information, and then decided to not hire me after I had already turned my truck in. Then I was hit with a lawsuit from an old debt, then Dad fell again while I was grocery shopping. I decided to go ahead and file the bankruptcy I was trying to avoid through trucking to begin with.
When it comes down to it, my father is the underlying issue here, and he's the reason any of this is difficult at all--he literally has no one else to watch over him and he can't drive to even get groceries. I moved him in a couple of years ago and we relocated a good distance away from most of the friends I could've depended on from my hometown to swing by to check on him. If it wasn't for Dad, I'd just go back to Roehl--but, I'm afraid to go back to them because I wouldn't want to leave again. I'd never want to burn that bridge, and I'm afraid I couldn't stay. If I were all alone, if something happened to Dad, I'd just live in the truck 100% of the time.
I moved him in before my fiancée left, she and I made the decision to move him in together, and now it's just all became overwhelming since she ran off with another man while I was OTR--mid-process of adopting her younger brother.
Anyway, I guess, some of that is neither here nor there, but I'm all kinds of confused about all of this. I was hoping that someone else had been in a similar situation or could offer some insight. I need to take care of my father, but I'm not getting any younger myself (30s, but time flies). I need to set myself up for my later years now. Not tomorrow. Not after he's gone. Sounds cold, but it's the truth.
I can't make the kind of money that I did previously without going back OTR , or holding down two jobs for 80hrs/week (easier said than done, just getting two companies to work the schedule out in my experience). I need to recover from this bankruptcy. But, we're also planning to relocate again to a more amiable climate for his health in the next 6 months--would've went there to begin with had it not been for my ex and him wanting to remain a bit closer to our old hometown.
I'm between a rock and a hard place here. I need to set myself up. But, I need to take care of him too. I don't have any help, not really. All I'm doing is surviving at the moment.
The main thing I'm asking here, if I know that I'm relocating in 6 months, how do I go about that? Everything that I've read seems to suggest that I'm going to need to have my license transferred and have a new address before I can even apply for a trucking company in that state, and I need the job to help with the move (it's not exactly necessary, but I'll need to do something for the next 6 months or we won't be able to move anyway, and I hate to look even more like a job-hopper, I'm not at heart, but my resume tells a different tale).
I do have a gig that I can claim as "a job." It's worked in the past. I just had to have a couple of friends sign a paper and back me up. I did some freelance work online years ago that I earn royalties on still. I've had to file taxes on it, but probably didn't last year and may not have to this year. I've did this "online thing" continuously since around 2008, amping it up in between jobs and school. I've always told the trucking companies that it's something that I scale up or down on a need basis.
As far as my driving record, I have a B.S. traffic light violation that I can't fight (right turn on red, personal vehicle, probably could've fought it, didn't, Sept 2015); a very minor accident where I grazed the bumper of a tanker truck at a rest stop (I was sick as a dog and shouldn't have been driving, I let my fleet manager push me that day, not Roehl, previous company, Aug 2015); and a preventable from when I had one of my fuel-saving trailer tails malfunction--not even sure if it was written up as my fault.
Me? What do I want? To live in my truck and make the most money possible to buy a house, then maybe come off the road to stay with Dad as his health will continually decline. Probably go back to school to get a 9-5. In the event that something happened to him, I would be likely to just want to stay OTR and live in the truck, even if I did have another career going by then.
Roehl has asked me to come back, contacted me and offered a signing bonus--but, I can't take it. I can't sign back on with them to just leave them, knowing that I would have to. Once I moved to the new state, a 7/7 schedule is possible, but for where I'm currently at, it's not an option.
I've considered going US Xpress or Schneider just to go Team OTR for the next six months, if I could find someone to watch him, then letting Roehl poach me for the 7/7 so that I would be able to at least be around every other week for him--even that feels like a ****-poor plan because if he gets any worse, then I'd still probably have to drop out completely...
OTR:
Over The Road
OTR driving normally means you'll be hauling freight to various customers throughout your company's hauling region. It often entails being gone from home for two to three weeks at a time.
Fleet Manager:
Dispatcher, Fleet Manager, Driver Manager
The primary person a driver communicates with at his/her company. A dispatcher can play many roles, depending on the company's structure. Dispatchers may assign freight, file requests for home time, relay messages between the driver and management, inform customer service of any delays, change appointment times, and report information to the load planners.OWI:
Operating While Intoxicated