i would like to know who is better cfi,usxpress,or someone e

[mbreeze36]

i just want someones honest opionion which company they would go with dont tell me jbht cause im here right now on a dedicate account which they r probably going to lose since the r on probation with 9 stores and only had the account 2 months so can some u put ur bad feelings away 4 a second give a honest opionion thx

[dollarshort]

If you want miles and money go with Knight!

[Karnajj]

Between those two I would go with CFI. I wouldn't recommend anybody go with USX. Don't forget about Crete either. Knight isn't going to give you any more money than any of the other bottom dwellers.

[dollarshort]

Nobody is going to give you anything!!!!

If you want the best earnings potential go with Knight!

You will NOT sit, you will be expected to run a min. of 2,500 miles per week, LEGALLY!!!!

I have worked for many companies since I started driving and I am making more at Knight than any other company and doing it alot easier also.

It's all about not wasting time.

[larz0142]

Dollar I see you need 3mons. exp. to get hired is that true? Thank you..

[dollarshort]

Yes that is correct!. They actually just dropped it from 6 months.

[nickbtubas]

USX is a great company. i hardly ever sat with them when i was there. the reason i quit was because of the equipment and their refusal to fix it. i got AWESOME money there.


I was with CFI, liked them but you WILL be out 3-4 weeks.... long time to get benefits i.e. health and dental



Nick

[Skywalker]

Between those two I would go with CFI. I wouldn't recommend anybody go with USX. Don't forget about Crete either. Knight isn't going to give you any more money than any of the other bottom dwellers.

Between the ones listed.... I would also suggest CFI. I worked for them for over 7 years, averaged 11,000 miles a month.....did just fine there. They pay based on Practical miles, pay 5 cpm extra for all dispatched miles in the 12 NE states and if you have a hazmat endorsement and pull a placarded load, you get an additional 3 cpm. If you are not experienced...they have a school program, and train new drivers on solo operated trucks.

If not CFI.... I would suggest Crete. They are also a good company that pays their drivers by Practical Miles and have good equipment.

[mbreeze36]

which part of knight u talking about there a bunch here some more just crossed my mind what about frey miller ,marten, and as far as crete dont really like them myself

[dollarshort]

Dry van.....

[Skywalker]

According to Knights ad, a driver with one year makes 32 cpm ....(HHG?) with no premiums, a one year driver with CFI makes 35 cpm on Practical miles and gets 5 cpm extra in the 12 NE states for all miles dispatched there....for a total of 40 cpm on practical miles..... so its hard to see where Knight has a greater potential for earnings...... :?

This is the ad I am referring to: http://www.classadrivers.com/truckin...s.php?Cid=2467

[dollarshort]

I started with Knight @.35 cpm after 90 days I went to .36 cpm will go to .37 cpm after 1 year.
The earnings potential shouldn't be based on what you make per mile. It should be based on what your paycheck is at the end of the week.

Example: JB Hunt brags how they pay their drivers .40 cpm and Heartland pays up to .50cpm for their GREEN miles program.

That kind of pay doesn't matter if you are only getting 1,800 to 2,200
miles per week.

I am guaranteed to be paid on a min. of 2,500 miles per week whether I run them or not. Example: Say I take a run that only pays for 300 miles.
I will be compensated for the 200 miles I am short for the day. So I will get paid for 500 miles for only running 300. Kinda makes up for the HHG miles program huh?

Because Knight has terminals all over the country it is very easy to plan runs that are between 500-600 miles every day. But the best part of it is we don't EVER sit and wait for a load. Example: Two weeks ago I had a 11:00 a.m. appt. time in Allentown for a pickup. I arrived at shipper at 10:00 a.m. Once 11:00 hit I asked when I would be started loading. Shipper said "In about an hour." Dispatch told me to tell them I was leaving and they should call when the load is ready. I was immediately re-dispatched on a preloaded trailer just 15 minutes from where I was.

Any other company in that same situation would leave the driver sit and wait. Knight will not put up with shippers like this one. Because of this the shippers know we won't wait around so we always get loaded fast.

This is the main reason why I am at Knight. They have the balls to stand up to these a**hole shippers. Tell me another company that would do this.

[Skywalker]

I started with Knight @.35 cpm after 90 days I went to .36 cpm will go to .37 cpm after 1 year.
The earnings potential shouldn't be based on what you make per mile. It should be based on what your paycheck is at the end of the week.

I agree.

Example: JB Hunt brags how they pay their drivers .40 cpm and Heartland pays up to .50cpm for their GREEN miles program.

That kind of pay doesn't matter if you are only getting 1,800 to 2,200
miles per week.

Again, I agree. In fact, even if you are getting $1 a mile, it doesn't matter if you are stuck cooling your heels....

I am guaranteed to be paid on a min. of 2,500 miles per week whether I run them or not. Example: Say I take a run that only pays for 300 miles.
I will be compensated for the 200 miles I am short for the day. So I will get paid for 500 miles for only running 300. Kinda makes up for the HHG miles program huh?

It sure does!!

Because Knight has terminals all over the country it is very easy to plan runs that are between 500-600 miles every day. But the best part of it is we don't EVER sit and wait for a load. Example: Two weeks ago I had a 11:00 a.m. appt. time in Allentown for a pickup. I arrived at shipper at 10:00 a.m. Once 11:00 hit I asked when I would be started loading. Shipper said "In about an hour." Dispatch told me to tell them I was leaving and they should call when the load is ready. I was immediately re-dispatched on a preloaded trailer just 15 minutes from where I was.

Sweet!

Any other company in that same situation would leave the driver sit and wait. Knight will not put up with shippers like this one. Because of this the shippers know we won't wait around so we always get loaded fast.

That is a good deal.

This is the main reason why I am at Knight. They have the balls to stand up to these a**hole shippers. Tell me another company that would do this.

Not that I doubt you, and I don't. But if they are actually functioning like that then there is at least another company that has "stones" to not permit their drivers to be abused. Sounds like a good deal. And if they are guaranteeing you 2500 miles in the way you have explained it...that is a good thing as well.

Its almost as good as what we chemical tanker drivers have.... We show up at our appointment time...and the clock starts "ticking". regardless of the miles.... the first two hours are paid at $20.00, then all time after that is at $13.30..... I sat at one place for a little over 18 hours.... ended up being paid $259.40 for my time....and the real deal was that I slept most of the time.

You know.... maybe some of the other "box & reefer" companies could learn something from Knights business model. Seems they have found a model that apparently works for them and their drivers.

Kinda explains their growth over the past years.....doesn't it? If I was at all inclined to pull a box...I would probably look at them, but I'm kind of attached to my tanker.... 8)

[dollarshort]

Skywalker:

I have read your post on here for a long time. You are a real straight shooter, and I appreciate that.

I also just tell it like it is.

Like was said before, not every company is the right fit for every driver. The driver has to find it out for themselves. I am just trying to make it a little easier for someone to weed-out the bad companies.

For me, I have found what I am looking for at Knight. I am not on here to recruit. But if I can help a good quality driver make a wise decision then I feel I have done my job. And if that driver happens to come to Knight and is a good driver it will make Knight a better company.

That will increase the value of my stock options.

[Karnajj]

Let's see. A Crete driver fresh out of school and training will make .38 cpm for there first year. After that they are at .41 cpm with a penny per mile increase each year. With the opportunity for getting an average of 3200-3300 miles per week (practical miles btw) Crete kinda puts Knights pay package to shame, doesn't it?

[Skywalker]

Let's see. A Crete driver fresh out of school and training will make .38 cpm for there first year. After that they are at .41 cpm with a penny per mile increase each year. With the opportunity for getting an average of 3200-3300 miles per week (practical miles btw) Crete kinda puts Knights pay package to shame, doesn't it?

Karnajj,

We both, or at least many of us know that Crete is a pretty good and reputable company....and they were responsible for starting the trend toward paying drivers for Practical Miles...at least in the "box" segment of the industry.... But they have something in common with CFI and some others.

While there is a great deal of potential to make good money, there is no guarantee whatsoever. If freight slows, so does the potential income. When freight is running good, the pay is good.

But precious few companies offer any kind of "Guarantee", like what Knight seems to. Therein lies a significant difference. Were Crete and CFI to offer that....it would drastically reduce the turnover in both of those companies. Ask yourself this: If the freight movement is so great, and the pay so phenomenal.....why is Crete, as well as CFI working so hard to recruit new drivers?? Simply put..... People like you and I with good measures of experience and reliability, as well as significantly stronger work ethics than many drivers were or are kept engaged to move freight while less experienced drivers spend more time sitting. SO, it would seem that some at many companies do well, well others not so well. I have spoken to drivers at Crete who work to break 2500 a week.....just as some at CFI work to break the same mileage.

Bottom line, if Knight is willing to step up to the plate and "GUARANTEE" their drivers a minimum mileage of pay per week..... KUDOS to them!! Its a big step to make, and if they are willing to do it, then why are not other companies willing to do it?

Superior Carriers, and many of the other Chemical Tanker companies have similar commitments vis a vis their layover and waiting time policies that guarantee a driver a good paycheck. SO it begs the question....why do not more companies do the same? Surely it would go a long way to reducing turnover and recruiting costs..... in fact they would probably save money by paying a minimum guaranteed pay..... Don't you think?

[Karnajj]

I understand your argument and agree with you up to a point, however there are a lot of factors at work that determine how many miles a driver gets. Many of them are under the direct control of the driver, not just the dispatcher.
I ran with another Crete driver about a year ago, turns out we were both heading to the same place. He started complaining the his DM wouldn't leave him alone about his miles. As far as he was concerned he was doing everything in his power to get miles. But then he started telling me about how he won't run the NE and how he won't go west of Lincoln from Nov till May and how he hates Atlanta. This driver was so clueless that he couldn't see that he was to blame for his poor miles. Most of the drivers I talk to at Crete who bitch about miles behave the same way as this other guy, but they can't see or refuse to see the connection. At Crete you should have no problem getting 3000 miles a week at least 75% to 80% of the time.

As far as the recent upswing in driver turnover is concerned, that stems directly from Crete cracking down on drivers who can't or won't manage their logbooks correctly. Prior to the Florida accident Crete was fairly laid back in logbook enforcement. Now they won't let you get away with anything. Many drivers have quit or been fired because of this.

If Crete has one big shortcoming its hometime. I've said it before, if home time is a top priority in choosing a company don't bother looking at Crete.

[Useless]

Although I never drove for them, I always found CFI's drivers to be a cut above the others in terms of professionalism. Their equipment was also quite excellent!!

Had an offer to go drive for them, but I was pretty happy where I was.

[dollarshort]

Let's see. A Crete driver fresh out of school and training will make .38 cpm for there first year. After that they are at .41 cpm with a penny per mile increase each year. With the opportunity for getting an average of 3200-3300 miles per week (practical miles btw) Crete kinda puts Knights pay package to shame, doesn't it?

But at Crete you are expected to stay out 2 weeks at a time. I can make 3,000-3,200 miles per week and be home every weekend

[Skywalker]

I understand your argument and agree with you up to a point, however there are a lot of factors at work that determine how many miles a driver gets. Many of them are under the direct control of the driver, not just the dispatcher.

I know exactly what you are talking about.... especially the following statement you made..... I saw the same thing when I was at CFI ....

I ran with another Crete driver about a year ago, turns out we were both heading to the same place. He started complaining the his DM wouldn't leave him alone about his miles. As far as he was concerned he was doing everything in his power to get miles. But then he started telling me about how he won't run the NE and how he won't go west of Lincoln from Nov till May and how he hates Atlanta. This driver was so clueless that he couldn't see that he was to blame for his poor miles. Most of the drivers I talk to at Crete who bitch about miles behave the same way as this other guy, but they can't see or refuse to see the connection.

Simply put....he was one of the ones that wants to have his cake and eat it too..... And there are far too many of those in the industry that do 95% of the whining.... but yet they are unwilling to buy their own truck and get their own authority....they would rather live by the mantra: "Someone owes me a living and on my terms"....... They need a severe reality check.

As far as the recent upswing in driver turnover is concerned, that stems directly from Crete cracking down on drivers who can't or won't manage their logbooks correctly. Prior to the Florida accident Crete was fairly laid back in logbook enforcement. Now they won't let you get away with anything. Many drivers have quit or been fired because of this.

Understood, and I expected that probably had something to do with that. That was a horrendous accident..... that never should have happened.

If Crete has one big shortcoming its hometime. I've said it before, if home time is a top priority in choosing a company don't bother looking at Crete.

As with most companies in reality....