Drivers and Employers
I got on this site looking for some leads for hopefully finding a descent job. Went back and looked through some of the old forum discussion and it seems like only the owners side was shown on some. I'm not saying that I am perfect but I am honest and saying I believe I am in the upper 20% of quality of the driver pool. Went I got into this profession it was for one reason only. In 1994 I could make almost double what I could working at a local job in a factory around my area. That isn't true anymore. When I hear people or employers say all the driver pool that is looking for a job isn't worth having I start to fume a little. I myself have had a few jobs and am not embarassed about it. I have told a few to shove their truck does that make me any less of a driver? If I have had a few jobs over 20 years am I a lower form of driver than one that screws up every couple of years and costs the company thousands of dollarsbut has worked there 30 years? At my last last employer the #1 driver forgot to set his brakes on a exit ramp and said it wasn't his fault that the truck rolled off in the ditch and cost the company thousands of dollars. But every time a good load came up it was dealt to him because and I quote the owner,"Well he's worked here 30 years". I get sick of hearing well he has had 3 jobs in 6 years. The last time I checked national rollover was over 100%. And before the dogpile starts ask yourself have I used the term "Thats Just Trucking" because I am sure some of the times it could be chalked up to bad planning, luck, or management or even yes dispatching. Since when is it ok to sit somewhere 2-4 hours before you start drawing (the magic word) DETENTION! I wonder how many people out there show up for work at these places 2-4 hours early for no pay? I say not very many. I remember back in 1995 or 96 a company in SW MO with red trucks tried to set a new standard. The slogan was "No Games No Gimmicks 32 cents a mile" it was almost twenty years ago that and still some companies pay just a few more pennies a mile than that. All I ever asked was to make a descent wage and have some descent benefits but here in NE MO I have to travel at least 200 miles to find it. You have to have Haz-Mat but it pays me no better than toilet paper. There is always 2 sides to every story and every coin. Remember before you start throwing rocks make sure you aren't in a house of glass. Thank You.