New Driver Progression

My opinion, if you can put up with where you’re at then I’d stay until you can’t atleast for résumé purposes. I got my CDL in 2020 and jumped ship from my first company six months in but I’ve been with the company I’m with now every since. With you having all your endorsements and a year I don’t think you’ll have a hard time finding another job. Id explore options just to have a fall back plan

 

Drive a truck that doesn't have a bed in the back.

 

My first two years was with a large mega carrier. I did dry van, reefer, flatbed, step deck, curtain side, and oversize. I just wanted to learn as much as I could.

I feel like your first year you really don't learn much. You get comfortable with driving and backing but year two is when (at least I and most people I know) really begin to understand how to make money. That means utilizing your clock and being efficient mostly. But also sleep and learning how to solve problems yourself instead of calling somebody. My first year every dock I was in I was perched up in the driver seat just twiddling my thumbs watching my clock drain for 6-7 hours then PC to a truck stop and go to sleep for a 10 hour break. Now I'm in bed sleeping. They'll knock on the door when I've overstayed my welcome and I'll be ready to go on my split sleeper berth. I bought my own jumper cables, I carry spare lights and air couplings, etc. They don't pay me to play mechanic but they don't pay me to sit for 6 hours to have a headlight bulb changed either. I also call every receiver ahead of time because dispatchers don't know how to tie their own shoes yet alone give you the proper information. I've been burned one too many times on sitting at a truck stop all morning to deliver at a 2PM appointment just for it to be FCFS, or to drive to a place because dispatch said they have parking just to be told I can't stay even if I deliver at 5AM and have to drive somewhere to park then shut down and be late for that appointment. I do my own homework and due diligence.

The chasing empties and dealing with typical BS is going to exist no matter where you go. Hell I know some local drivers that show up to work and there's no truck for them to take because their's is in the shop and the loaners are all gone already. You're going to have to deliver at 2AM and then sit somewhere until 7-8AM for somebody to come in the office because they didn't preplan you. You're gonna have loads cancel on you and have to sit and wait for a reload. It's trucking. It happens everywhere. I work at a small carrier now of just 200 trucks and the day to day BS doesn't change. It's just more tolerable when you're addressed by your name and not a truck number or employee code and take home $1600 a week instead of $600. I wish I made $70K at the company I started at. Didn't even see $50K in my 2 years there. Just a bottom of the barrel company hauling bottom of the barrel freight, Rolling Over Every Hill Last.

 

Please explain how that could happen, and how you actually let it happen.

 

I switched to a good paying hazmat company at my year, but I was already doing hazmat in year one so I knew the job market. If you’re dead set on van I’d rock that cake route then move on to Walmart. No sense tripping over dollars to pick up pennies. From my experience the good paying tanker routes are either really dangerous or have anal customers. I was sitting in the sample lab and an employee complained that I didn’t have safety goggles over my glasses today. I also had to don full PPE just to scale in. Many drivers have been banned from this plant.

 

Fantastic. It's nice to read about a new driver acting responsibly instead of like a spoiled teenager. I vote for tanker, if you can find a company near your home or you are prepared to move near their yard. Tanker customers do not play games or treat you like a skunk that just wondered onto their property. Pulling a tanker is something ANY safe driver can do. It is not for those drivers that drive like they are in an SUV fleeing from the cops. The slosh or surge feels like getting punted by Superman when you are at low speeds, but it isn't dangerous at low speeds. It feels mild at higher speeds, but that is when it is more dangerous. You may have to search for a tanker outfit if you really want to stay out a few weeks to earn longer home time. Many tanker companies have you home every 5-7 days, but there are some others that keep you out. Tankers with their 45-48 foot length are much easier to park in crowded truck stops, and you can keep your hood intact. Out west there are a lot of 53 foot 109k lbs tankers. It wouldn't have a strong preference for food-grade or HazMat. The only practical difference I saw as a HM driver was you cannot park on shoulders or ramps for 10 hour breaks, but I didn't do that before anyway. It's a dangerous and stupid habit, HM or not.

I would recommend you look at Quality Carriers/Quality Distribution, now owned by CSX railroad. I worked for them and liked them. They are nationwide, but each terminal is like its own universe. The terminal manger is king, the pay and conditions vary per terminal. Tanker companies almost always have every safety doodad possible installed for insurance reasons.

Besides QC, Indian River is a national tanker company and Oakley Transport is big, I don't know if they operate near the West coast. Indian River has a yard for a dedicated account in Grandview, WA.

 

QC pays quite well. It’s not uncommon to make 2400/week starting out of the right terminal. Their dedicated lanes pay a LOT

 

Follow-up to the above info: I would respectfully submit that....Oakley Transport may be a good option--but ONLY if you have previous tanker experience, and you want to do food-grade tanker.

Been there, done that.

--Lual