Honest Input about Covenant & JB Hunt

[Geeeeeezer]

Yeah, Sheepdancer, I drive SE Regional. So far, it has been everything my lil ol recruiter said it would be...... home every weekend, AND I'm gettin the miles I need.
Can't wait to hear what the big news is....... Could it be that ol' Geeeeeezer is being named the new CEO of JB HUNT?!?!?!
If so, watch out all you O/O's, cuz were turnin the trucks up to 90 and gonna give yall a run fer your money out West, hehehe.

[ben45750]

Imagine that!!!!! Another driver happy with JB Hunt. Don't know why everyone thinks JB Hunt is a company to avoid?

[chickenwire]

I worked for JB hunt for a few years and I have to say that they were a damn good company. I made good money and was home when they said I would be. I started as a regional driver (East Brunswick, NJ.) and then transferred to a dedicated, home every night, Home Depot account. I would still be working for them today but I moved. The equipment was always new and well taken care of and the company always did what they said they were going to. I was making Over $70,000 a year 10 years ago. I know other people have reported different experiences but all I can tell you is what happened to me. (I was Experienced when I went there too.)........... JB's OK in my book.

[silvan]

like it was some kind of miracle that I even made it to the truck stop, let alone, got the truck into a tight spot without causing massive damage!!!

I do think this is funny myself. I haven't paid any attention to JB in a long time, but 10 years ago, when all of this was new to me, people were always ragging on JB because JB used to train rookies from scratch, and they ran with a lot of inexperienced drivers. The trucking board I used to hang out on back then had a very vocal JB recruiter who kept asserting that they didn't hire rookies anymore. I can't think of anything I've heard in the interim to make me think otherwise, and so far as my own impression, I have no expectation that a Jaybee is going to be a clueless idiot.

I'd say experience generally bears that out. I've gotten run out of the road by Pumpkins and Swift more often than anyone I can think of, and don't recall ever having trouble with a Jaybee, unless one of them tried to pass another one, which is annoying.

I stay out of truckstops though, so I have no idea who sucks the most at backing in. Last time I tried to back into a truckstop, I sucked myself. That was the '90s I think. Maybe I'd be better at it now.

[Karnajj]

Just thought I would give you my two cents worth....., not that it really matters.
I drove for Crete for over a year, and hated the equipment. My tractor was a pig sty when I picked it up, and no one would do anything about it. Every other trailer needed a team effort to slide the tandems or close the doors. The miles were good, but I only got home every other weekend, and I spent A LOT of time in Chicago, PA, and New Jersey.
After Crete, I went with Barr Nunn for a little over a year, thinking I was making a move up..... Not really. Barr Nunn had me sitting around for 6 or 7 hours at a time, and had many, many, many late night, early morning deliveries. Had to sleep whenever I could, and had to play with the log books more than I was really comfortable with. I spent so much time in Jersey and up north, that my wife suggested I get an apartment in Hackensack, and Hell Bubba, I live in Georgia.
I finally decided to take a chance and go with the "dreaded" JB Hunt, and I could not be happier.
I have noticed several things since I have been with them,...... here are a few:
I am home every weekend and still have as many miles as I got with Barr Nunn.....1600 to 2000. Keeps me busy and pays the bills.
I NEVER drive at night. All of my loads deliver after 7:00 am or before 8:00 pm, (unless it is a 24 hr drop and hook, then I do it whenever I want).
Yeah, the trucks are slow, but so were my Crete and Barr Nunn trucks, big deal.
The equipment is GREAT...... it took some doing, but I had a new truck after my 2nd week there, and I will not let it go. The 1st truck had MAJOR problems, and I discussed it with my Dispatcher and got a new one within 2 days........Crete could not get me a new one in a whole year!
The trailers are unbelieveable........ I have not had ANY problem sliding ANY tandems the entire time I have been at JB. My hammer and steel rod are pretty much just for decoration in my tool box now. Trailers that may look like crap, but function well, make life MUCH EASIER.
Now for the funny part..... I can park a truck just about anywhere I need to, and whenever I enter a truck stop, I ALWAYS turn my CB on just in case someone is trying to warn me of an impending fender bender. Well, I park in the same spots that I always have parked in, and do it in the same manner, BUT, now that there is a big ol yellow "JB Hunt" on the side of my truck, whenever I get backed into my space, all I here on the radio is "damn fine job of parking JB, I didn't know any of y'all could drive like that" or, the drivers parked next to me will smile and give me a thumbs up, like it was some kind of miracle that I even made it to the truck stop, let alone, got the truck into a tight spot without causing massive damage!!! I laugh myself silly just about every night!!!
Now, as far as having the CB on the rest of the day, ...... forget it. I get cussed out and flipped off all day long for things that ANOTHER JB driver may or may not have done. I just keep me and my gears in the right lane and plug on. It is TOUGH being a JB driver with the attitudes that exist out there right now, but if you have thick skin and dont really give a rats butt, then it aint no big deal!!!
Hope you find what you're looking for and I wish you the best of luck.

1600 to 2000 miles/week? That is so pathetic its laughable. Also Hunt's equipment is no better than Crete's and as far as trailers are concerned I'll take a Crete trailer anyday

[Geeeeeezer]

Karnajj wrote:

1600 to 2000 miles/week? That is so pathetic its laughable. Also Hunt's equipment is no better than Crete's and as far as trailers are concerned I'll take a Crete trailer anyday

Okay Karnajj, what's the deal?
I have driven both Crete and JB equipment, and actually, JB equipment HAS been better than Crete's.
As far as the 1600 to 2000 miles a week goes, that is all I want.
Yes, I did get between 2300 and 3000 a week when I was with Crete, but I was only home every other weekend. And then I was home for only 36 hours and back on the road again.
NOW I am home at a decent time on Friday night,(early enough to eat out with my family and catch up on the weeks events), and still not usually leave the house until 6:00 to 8:00 am on Monday morning.
Now I realize SOMEONE like you apparently knows EVERYTHING, but I can say without hesitation, I KNOW ALL of the above is true, because I HAVE LIVED IT,...........
I would like nothing more than to call you a JERK or a MORON, but hey, I am a little bit better than that.

Aw hell, no I'm not........ you are a freaking idiot and don't know what you are talking about. I have not stated anything that I have not found to be true in my personal experience, so kiss my butt. You can argue with what I say all you want, but you will not change what I know to be true for me.
And oh yeah,..... have a good day, "good buddy"!!! hehehe

[Cluggy619]

I worked for JB hunt for a few years and I have to say that they were a damn good company. I made good money and was home when they said I would be. I started as a regional driver (East Brunswick, NJ.) and then transferred to a dedicated, home every night, Home Depot account. I would still be working for them today but I moved. The equipment was always new and well taken care of and the company always did what they said they were going to. I was making Over $70,000 a year 10 years ago. I know other people have reported different experiences but all I can tell you is what happened to me. (I was Experienced when I went there too.)........... JB's OK in my book.

Let me just say you are one lucky guy if you made $70,000/year with JB. I'm not saying you didn't, but you are one of a few drivers who did well. Now ofcourse, we can hunt down drivers who will say and post good reviews about JB. You all amount to about, let's say 25% of JB total driving force. I ran into a few of you at every terminal. I also ran into those who were NOT doing so well. In fact, some of those ask me what was I complaining about, when they were doing worse off than myself.

So you can't just dismiss those who had problems with JB, or any other company, as just disgruntal drivers. There is a reason the turn over rate is what it is at JB. 120% ????

I have worked at my current job for about a year now. Every driver that was there when I got there, and those who were hired on after I was, are still there. No one fired, no one quit. So what does this have to say about my company? Or is it just when a good driver finds a good company to drive for, they DON"T leave.

Now that's my .02 cents.

[coastie]

Let me just say you are one lucky guy if you made $70,000/year with JB. I'm not saying you didn't, but you are one of a few drivers who did well. Now ofcourse, we can hunt down drivers who will say and post good reviews about JB. You all amount to about, let's say 25% of JB total driving force. I ran into a few of you at every terminal. I also ran into those who were NOT doing so well. In fact, some of those ask me what was I complaining about, when they were doing worse off than myself.

I agree.... If you look around you can find someone worst shape than yourself.

Last company I worked for, I had to do a repower to get home. And the guy who did the swap with had no money, and not eaten in 2 days. Needless to say I could have used the 20.00 I gave him 3 days later when I was let go cause I refused to drive while I was on medication...

[Karnajj]

Karnajj wrote:

1600 to 2000 miles/week? That is so pathetic its laughable. Also Hunt's equipment is no better than Crete's and as far as trailers are concerned I'll take a Crete trailer anyday

Okay Karnajj, what's the deal?
I have driven both Crete and JB equipment, and actually, JB equipment HAS been better than Crete's.
As far as the 1600 to 2000 miles a week goes, that is all I want.
Yes, I did get between 2300 and 3000 a week when I was with Crete, but I was only home every other weekend. And then I was home for only 36 hours and back on the road again.
NOW I am home at a decent time on Friday night,(early enough to eat out with my family and catch up on the weeks events), and still not usually leave the house until 6:00 to 8:00 am on Monday morning.
Now I realize SOMEONE like you apparently knows EVERYTHING, but I can say without hesitation, I KNOW ALL of the above is true, because I HAVE LIVED IT,...........
I would like nothing more than to call you a JERK or a MORON, but hey, I am a little bit better than that.

Aw hell, no I'm not........ you are a freaking idiot and don't know what you are talking about. I have not stated anything that I have not found to be true in my personal experience, so kiss my butt. You can argue with what I say all you want, but you will not change what I know to be true for me.
And oh yeah,..... have a good day, "good buddy"!!! hehehe

[chickenwire]

Let me just say you are one lucky guy if you made $70,000/year with JB.

Well Cluggy (And the other ' disgruntled' JB drivers) ,
First let me say that I did exaggerate that slightly. I went back and looked and I made between $66,300 and $68,720 during the years I was there. I Think the difference for me, and it has been this way my whole career, is that I am willing to go anywhere and do anything. I don't care about NYC trips or manual unloads and the likes. My ablility to be easy to work with has payed off because I make money doing what other drivers are either unwilling or uncapable of doing. I was an experienced driver who had no preferences...Needless to say I spent alot of time in the crap holes like the Elizabeth NJ railheads and newark docks....but....I made money doing it. So I guess it comes down to making the best of a situation.
I ran into alot of guys in my own terminal who couldn't make money(according to them) but in the same breath they would tell me how they just didnt 'do' live unloads, cabovers, chassis drops or some other unsavory task. It's been my experience that people like that are their own worst enemy. I don't have any problem with people's preferences...just dont complain about the results then!

[Cluggy619]

Let me just say you are one lucky guy if you made $70,000/year with JB.

Well Cluggy (And the other ' disgruntled' JB drivers) ,
First let me say that I did exaggerate that slightly. I went back and looked and I made between $66,300 and $68,720 during the years I was there. I Think the difference for me, and it has been this way my whole career, is that I am willing to go anywhere and do anything. I don't care about NYC trips or manual unloads and the likes. My ablility to be easy to work with has payed off because I make money doing what other drivers are either unwilling or uncapable of doing. I was an experienced driver who had no preferences...Needless to say I spent alot of time in the crap holes like the Elizabeth NJ railheads and newark docks....but....I made money doing it. So I guess it comes down to making the best of a situation.
I ran into alot of guys in my own terminal who couldn't make money(according to them) but in the same breath they would tell me how they just didnt 'do' live unloads, cabovers, chassis drops or some other unsavory task. It's been my experience that people like that are their own worst enemy. I don't have any problem with people's preferences...just dont complain about the results then!

First....Still good money.

Second.....I took everything, and saw NYC and NJ alot.

Third....no cabover last year....I was in a decent truck. Good equipment. Just no miles.

And I met those guys too. And I agree that some people put themselfs where they are. But there are those who are not making it, due to no fault of there own.

Now, my opionon is all, and I do mean ALL, OTR drivers should be making at least $1000.00 per week. If your not, you might as well work a local job making $600+ per week. I made about $400 - $700 per week with JB, and to me, that's NOT enough to keep me from home.

And I had some other issues with JB, and I think this board is tired of me repeating myself.

[btemefordboy]

i hope u dont chose cvent. i still have a couple of friends over there working for them. they are looking for something different they sat there last month in cali for 4 days. finally moved and then got to sit in new mexico for a couple of days they said all they do is sit around and getting tired of it. cvent likes teams they are still trying to go to teams and all teams. the end of of march they sat in chatt for 4 days b4 they got a load. i can say i did alot of sitting and playing with my log book more than i cared to. good luck on what company you chose. dont limit yourself to just a couple companies.

[chickenwire]

Now, my opionon is all, and I do mean ALL, OTR drivers should be making at least $1000.00 per week. If your not, you might as well work a local job making $600+ per week. I made about $400 - $700 per week with JB, and to me, that's NOT enough to keep me from home.

Now that I agree with completely. If your going to make the sacrifice and be away from home....you should at least make some money.

[Piece Of Work]

its all about the money

[Colin]

its all about the money

I would disagree. I took a $.03 pay cut so I could drive a Volvo 770. It was worth $300 a month to me.

[Cluggy619]

its all about the money

yes....Yes....YES.....YES

But I guess you drive for free. Or maybe you drive to be on the open road.

But I drive to get PAID. Sorry if that goes against your belief, but you know, some drivers need a paycheck. That's why we drive.

I guess your company will be glad to hear that you don't need to be paid. Go on....tell them. We'll wait.