Finally we know what everyone is talking about!
We have read on this website and talked to several drivers who always said we should get hired on with a small carrier in order to be treated right. Well now we know what they were talking about!!
After we left Knight Transportation we went to work for a very small carrier (22 trucks). We have kept in contact with the owner for the last two years, but he never had any turn over so we couldn't get hired. Finally we got the call and here we are. Working for a small carrier is a huge change and we can't believe we are so lucky (pinch me for I am in a dream for sure). The owner specs out the trucks with refrigerators, inverters, wrap around curtains, and higher quality seats. The trucks are very well maintained and we haven't had any mechanical issues (unlike Knight where we had to have the truck in the shop every other week). The owner knows us by name, asks us every week if there are any concerns, and if there are he fixes it right then and there. He also pays us for what we do, gives us good benefits, and a Christmas bonus! We are home EVERY week for a full two days, that's right a FULL two days and we are a team. If we need time off we just let them know in advance and it happens! We make runs out west and back, and we are preplanned 98% of the time on the return load before we leave (something unheard of at Knight). No JIT loads, no set schedule except the delivery time and pick up time on the west coast. After figuring drive time we leave when we want, so if we can squeeze in another half day at home we do. Dispatch is two people who have great senses of humor and we only hear from them if necessary. We actually enjoy stopping into the office and many times spend an hour there talking to everyone. We feel human again for we get plenty of rest, and have time to stop and smell the roses.
Most of his drivers have been with him since the beginning (12+ years) and we wish we had been there with him. One driver said he has been there 3.5 years. He said they would have to drag him and his wife kicking and screaming out of the truck for he would never leave this company and I agree!
So to all you newbie’s, hang in there for there! There are actually great trucking jobs out there, but you have to bide your time.
__________________
If you think you can or you think you can't, either way you are right!
Doesn't matter where you have been, it's where you are going in life that counts!
|