Job offer from O/O.

[Steel Horse Cowboy]

Well Im not really encouraged, due to the fact that everyone I talk to says the same thing. Sir your record is great, your dac is clean, no dui or drug/alcohol issues, and your previous employer said if they weren't closing the doors they couldn't ask for a better employee...ect. BUT we require 6 month OTR in the past 36 months.

So let me understand, I had 3 years continuous employment with the same employer that raves about me, and thats a bad thing?

It's not so much the company, as it is their insurance. Most trucking companies require this due to the fact their INSURANCE company requires it. Kinda bull**** in my opinion for a guy in your situation

[GMAN]

It's not so much the company, as it is their insurance. Most trucking companies require this due to the fact their INSURANCE company requires it. Kinda bull**** in my opinion for a guy in your situation

In a way it doesn't make any sense that someone who has 3 years driving experience is not considered to have any driving experience when it comes to OTR. It is primarily the insurance companies who make the guidelines concerning hiring. At one time I would check out a driver and then send an approved application to the insurance company. All too often the insurance company would find something in the applicant's record that would cause them to not approve them. I now send a new applicant to the insurance company first, and if they approve them I start checking references. It is a shame that we have allowed insurance companies to get so much power over our businesses. But, we cannot hire a driver whom the insurance company will not cover. I think much of the problem with some carriers involved trip planning for OTR drivers. OTR drivers will often have firm pick up and delivery schedules and someone who has never had that experience may not know how to best plan their trip. Another may have something to do with dealing with the DOT. Local drivers may not have had much experience dealing with the DOT and filling out logs. Another is staying away from home and sleeping in the truck.

[Rhino]

I do understand the whole insurance issue, and see their point. I do have over a year of OTR, but its been years ago. I have no doubts about my planning, or log books abilities. I did apply and had an interview with http://www.coshoctontrucking.com/site/. There a smaller company, maybe 70 trucks or so, home weekends, flatbed which I wanted. He said everything looks great and gave me paperwork to go get a new medical certificate (mine just ran out) but I have to pay for it out of pocket, which I thought was odd, but Im no going to whine about it. He said to get it done come back for my drug, and driving test asap. So maybe this is answers to my prayers.

[Mackman]

I give up on you GMAN. I hope the IRS never wants to come after you.

[GMAN]

I do understand the whole insurance issue, and see their point. I do have over a year of OTR, but its been years ago. I have no doubts about my planning, or log books abilities. I did apply and had an interview with . There a smaller company, maybe 70 trucks or so, home weekends, flatbed which I wanted. He said everything looks great and gave me paperwork to go get a new medical certificate (mine just ran out) but I have to pay for it out of pocket, which I thought was odd, but Im no going to whine about it. He said to get it done come back for my drug, and driving test asap. So maybe this is answers to my prayers.

It sounds like you may have found a job as long as you pass the physical and drug test.

[GMAN]

I give up on you GMAN. I hope the IRS never wants to come after you.

I always pay any taxes that I owe, Mackman. There is NO reason for them to come after me.

[Steel Horse Cowboy]

but I have to pay for it out of pocket, which I thought was odd

Most companies don't pay for a medical card. I know of 2 that do off hand, but I have never worked for one that would.

[Fredog]

you are incorrect sir

[Steel Horse Cowboy]

you are incorrect sir

ME????

Well, lets see. I have worked for>>>>>
Schneider
Wal-Mart
Barr-Nunn
Landstar
Quality Carriers
TransCorr
US1
Whitcomb Trucking

and NONE paid for my medical card. It is a requirement to have a CDL, and they don't pay for your CDL either. Like I said, I know of 2 companies that I have heard DID pay for your medical card, but that was because you were using their training school and thus just absorbed in that cost. They were Swift and Werner

[Fredog]

no, not you, the guy who still insists that the job offer is illegal

I have only worked for one company that required me to pay for my medical
even Quality Carriers paid for it, but they DID rip me off in plenty of other ways

[Steel Horse Cowboy]

no, not you, the guy who still insists that the job offer is illegal

I have only worked for one company that required me to pay for my medical
even Quality Carriers paid for it, but they DID rip me off in plenty of other ways

I'm with QC now and have been for the last 2yrs, but I am an O/O and do a dedicated run so I have no idea how they treat their company guys or their OTR drivers. I love the run I do, and I will not be leaving unless this Wal-Mart deal comes thru after the 1st of the year.

[Luzon]

ME????

Well, lets see. I have worked for>>>>>
Schneider
Wal-Mart
Barr-Nunn
Landstar
Quality Carriers
TransCorr
US1
Whitcomb Trucking

and NONE paid for my medical card. It is a requirement to have a CDL, and they don't pay for your CDL either. Like I said, I know of 2 companies that I have heard DID pay for your medical card, but that was because you were using their training school and thus just absorbed in that cost. They were Swift and Werner

Can you tell me a little about Barr-Nunn? How were they to work for? Were they driver friendly? Did they keep you rolling? Would you work for them again?

Thanks.

[Steel Horse Cowboy]

Can you tell me a little about Barr-Nunn? How were they to work for? Were they driver friendly? Did they keep you rolling? Would you work for them again?

Thanks.

I worked for them for 3 weeks.

In my opinion, they are a bait-n-switch company. I went on their REGIONAL program as an O/O and was told I would average 2000 miles a week and I saw 1400 miles the first week, the second week I ran a load from Des Moines to Traverse City, MI and then sat for 2 days w/o a load. I then just dead-headed home the 300 miles. The third week they sent me from Chicago to Indy twice and then told me they had no runs for me. When i asked why I was not getting the miles they said, they told me that they give out loads according to senority basically and I was the NEW guy.... so I said thanks for the info and shipped their qualcomm and fuel cards back to them.

On top of that, I could never get ahold of my dispatcher, they wouldn't answer the qualcomm and refused to talk to you about a load until you accepted their "pre-plan" over the computer. I give them no credit, and I highly suggest you find somewhere else to work.

Also, I just spoke to 2 of their drivers last week in Texarkana and they had been sitting at the Flying J for 3 days w/o a load. I also have not seen their trucks as much as before, not sure if they are making it ok???

[Luzon]

Thanks Cowboy. I've been trying to find a local job hauling fuel or what not but so far no luck. I've been looking around at some of the OTR companies just in case and Barr-Nunn is one I heard some good things about but as of late the news hasn't been so good. I think, after reading your response, I'll pass on these guys.

Thank you so much.

L

[Fredog]

I'm with QC now and have been for the last 2yrs, but I am an O/O and do a dedicated run so I have no idea how they treat their company guys or their OTR drivers. I love the run I do, and I will not be leaving unless this Wal-Mart deal comes thru after the 1st of the year.

I was an owner operator for them, they paid for my physical, but they lied about leasing me on to the company and put me with a independent terminal. I worked there for 4 months, if I had let my truck sit for that time, I would have come out better off

[Steel Horse Cowboy]

I was an owner operator for them, they paid for my physical, but they lied about leasing me on to the company and put me with a independent terminal. I worked there for 4 months, if I had let my truck sit for that time, I would have come out better off

OUCH..... yeah, I am based out of the Trans Tech terminal in Columbus, OH but I am leased to the company, not the terminal (at least I think i am?? LOL)

[Rhino]

Update: I've had an interview with JB Hunt. I would be driving a straight truck with an A frame rack on top loaded with glass. 1-5 stops a day home every night & every weekend, They took over the transportation of a local company. They said that a lot of carriers are doing that nowadays. I met him at the plant where I would drive to every day,30 min from the house.(full benefits package, nice pay)

Then Im still waiting on an OTR company to get a truck ready, he said it wasn't a matter of if he will call but when, he said I should hear from him by Wed.
(home weekends, benefits, good pay)

another companies Im considering is USA Truck, a few years back I wouldn't have ever considered it, but I hear good things now a days and see better equipment being ran. (no insurance for the first full year, decent pay though)

Getting my foot in the door is key right now, so any company is looking good till I get another 6 month OTR.
__________________