DIS-Orientation - finalized

[NoProblem]

Well folks, I was hoping to post a great "my first two weeks with the new company", alas, I gave it two weeks but found I could not afford to wait another week - it was costing me too much to work there.

After having such high hopes, its a bit of a let down for me and I'm sure, for the owner I drove for - he is one awesome individual whom I respect immensly and was surly not expecting such a losing venture these last two weeks. I only hope the future rewards him handsomely.

An example of "DIS-Orientation":

(Among other things) In orientation we were told:

"dead head was under 15%", for two weeks, mine was over 25%
"No long dead heads for short runs", my last run was 293 DH miles to Indy for a 106 mile run - I tried to deny the load but was convinced otherwise - my personal "final straw."
"D" rates always apply except on rare occasion you will be asked to take a load at a "C" rate", I had a total of four runs in two weeks - they ALL paid a "C" rate.

In short, with one 4 hour exception, I was on duty the entire time I was signed on. This only allowed me to get 1600 miles (Though I drive a "D" truck, I was paid the "C" rate don't forget) with 443 dead head miles. My last and final week, I got a whopping 570 miles.


Buisness, strictly business. Sometimes theres no need to wait a year or more to figure out if you can get by with getting "the business".

 

[Glen Rice]

Sorry things didn't work out for you. I don't know the particulars of your situation. You usually don't abandon a business in 2 weeks of work. I'm not ragging on you. I just don't understand how you can bail out in two weeks? Seems a little quick. Did you marry Jlow and bail on her a few months ago? Just kidding of course. I would talk to your co-ordinator and fleet owner and create a plan for your success. There are to many operators out there making a good living to quite like this. I know you can do this if you apply your time and energy in a positive manner. If you don't want to be in trucking anymore and are looking for an excuse, then go ahead and bail. If you want it bad enough I believe you can achieve it. Good luck with what ever you decide.

 

[Dreamer]

>
First off, tho I understand your frustration.. 2 weeks is a VERY short time to learn the company.

>"dead head was under 15%", for two weeks, mine was over 25%
>"No long dead heads for short runs", my last run was 293 DH
>miles to Indy for a 106 mile run - I tried to deny the load
>but was convinced otherwise - my personal "final straw."

No offense then.. but that was your own fault... you should not have taken that, unless the total pay (deadhead included) worked out to over $1.00 a mile or so.

=
>"D" rates always apply except on rare occasion you will be
>asked to take a load at a "C" rate", I had a total of four
>runs in two weeks - they ALL paid a "C" rate.

That's just a fact of the business.. that happens.. sounds like you got unlucky a bit.

>
>In short, with one 4 hour exception, I was on duty the
>entire time I was signed on. This only allowed me to get
>1600 miles (Though I drive a "D" truck, I was paid the "C"
>rate don't forget) with 443 dead head miles. My last and
>final week, I got a whopping 570 miles.
>
>

1600 paid miles... at average rate of what, $1.20? so.. approx $1920.00 to the truck, I'm assuming you had standard 60/40?

So your share would have been about $1152.00, minus fuel.

Yes, that's a ruff start.. but definately not the way business goes every week. Everyone's had those... and then the next week complained about not getting rest!


>Buisness, strictly business. Sometimes theres no need to
>wait a year or more to figure out if you can get by with
>getting "the business".

Once again, I understand your choice.. but I'm still thinking you didn't give it enough time... maybe that impatience coming thru?


Seems to me that a lot of dispatchers start you off slow, then build up after you show you're reliable... instead of dumping huge, high dollar, high responsiblity loads the first week.


Best of luck in whatever you decide to do!


Dreamer

 

[raceman]

WoW! As I told you before I am really sorry to hear this kind of report. I know you have decided on something else as a follow up to this and I wish you the very best. I wish I could have seen it coming that quick with my ex wife. I carried her decals a bit too long. Hey happy holidays and best of luck with your next undertaking.


---Why hug a tree when you can carve a notch in it---

Raceman

 

[Dreamer]

> I wish I
>could have seen it coming that quick with my ex wife. I
>carried her decals a bit too long.
>
>Raceman





[IMG src="http://smilies.jeeptalk.org/otn/laughing/yelrotflmao.gif"]




[IMG src="http://smilies.jeeptalk.org/contrib/lilly/hmm3grin2orange.gif"]


Nuff said!


Dreamer

 

[RichM]

Care to tell us what carrier you were with? I agree 2 weeks is not enough time to pack it in.How about the awesome owner,did you ask him for help?

 

[NoProblem]

First off, tho I understand your frustration.. 2 weeks is a VERY short time to learn the company.

I have been driving truck for five years and I may be new to expediting but I hired in with the clear understanding that each of the items I posted were not going to happen to me again.


We (the owner of the truck and I) specifically asked about each of these particular items and we were assured that these items would not be a concern. Had they told us that these items were to be expected as the rule rather than the "rare exception", I am confident that we would not have signed on with them.

Yes, that's a ruff start.. but definately not the way business goes every week. Everyone's had those... and then the next week complained about not getting rest!

I really do understand this and there are other extenuating circumstances.....for example, the owner told them more than once before signing on with them that he has four other trucks that he would love to sign on with them - IF they ran ME well. Well brother, heres me thinking I had some leverage and would "get taken care of", lol, well, they took care of me all right.

I feel pretty confident that were it not for the owner's leverage, I would have done much worse than I actually did. I could be wrong but thats the impression I got.

Once again, I understand your choice.. but I'm still thinking you didn't give it enough time... maybe that impatience coming thru?

I understand this too, and as I said, I have been through this a few times before and did not want to get trapped in this situation again - if my bills would stop coming, I would have NoProblem with 800 miles at the "C" rate every week. It honestly has nothing to do with impatience but has alot to do with pre-defined expectations.

Seems to me that a lot of dispatchers start you off slow, then build up after you show you're reliable... instead of dumping huge, high dollar, high responsiblity loads the first week.

Dispatchers need to know that some of us catch on a little quicker than others. If they wanted to "test the waters" with me, then first, they should know what THEY are doing or they might lose a good driver. IOW, if they know what they are doing, one or two runs should be sufficient to clue them in on a 5 year driver. Second, their paycheck does not depend on me sitting or running - if it did, I doubt very much I would have only had 570 miles last week. Third, while I understand that theres good and bad weeks, would it have killed them to pay the "D" rate under the circumstances? I tried, the truck's owner tried, they would not budge an ounce.

As I said, I might be judging too harshly, but I lived through this type of things a few times when I drove a semi because I had to, because I was fresh out of CDL school. I disagreed with it then and I still do.

There really is no need to starve a driver simply because the dispatcher is unsure if the guy they hired and put through two days of orientation is capable of doing the job they hired him for.

 

[NoProblem]

I really don't want to tell which company at this time because I honestly do not want to think that this is typical of how they run their business. Other drivers I have spoken with who work for this company really like them.


I am starting with another expediting company tomorrow and all indications of this one working out are excellent!


I suppose I posted this thread to just state the fact that first impressions were bad enough for me to leave after only two weeks. Also for other drivers who might be in a similar situation who feel they are stuck and end up going in debt while spending months trying to give the company a chance.

Perhaps other companies will see this thread and strive to do something to improve the situation so that it NEVER happens at all - newbie or not.

 

[LDB]

I suspect everyone would like to know what company that was. It may help others in their future plans toward expediting.

Leo
truck 767

Support the entire Constitution, not just the parts you like.

 

[NoProblem]

I gotta believe that Jlow would last ALOT longer than two weeks LOL.

We both spoke with three or four different folks that are in high positions of authority expressing and communicating our concerns. They all agreed the concerns were grave and pretty much promised to rectify the situation immediately.

I guess I'm not sure if they figured it was rectified or not, but to us, it most assuredly did not get rectified.

 

[TONYII]

WOW I have to agree 2 weeks is not near long enought to decide wether a company is good or bad. I have been in expiditing for almost 14 years and to this day I have bad weeks that I would love to forget about. Deadhead is the name of the game a lot in this business, 25% in my own oppion is about average some weeks are better then other last week my dh was only 3% but I was sitting on top of everything that dont happen offten. I dont know which company you hired on with but most companies dont require you to take loads that are less then your normal rate therefor you should have stood firm in that you dont want that load. Unless they can make it out to be about a buck a mile for all miles I dont take the load. Theres a lot to learning this game from regular trucking like I said I have been doing this almost 14 years and still learning new tricks each week that help the bottom line. With this new company try to give it some time to learn the ropes. I dont agree that this other company might have been holding back on you becouse you were new I believe it just has to do with the time and place you were. But thats just my 2 cents worth.

 

[Doggie Daddy]

i also agree with the others that 2 weeks is not nearly enough time with a company to get a picture of how it's really going to be. this coupled with your previous post about a whole 2 day orientation,. leads me to believe that you just don't have alot of patience.and to be blunt, if you don't have at least some patience you are never going to make it in the expediting business. just my opinion,but what do i know i'm just a truck driver.DD.

 

[NoProblem]

Not to be argumentive, but out of curiosity, after 14 years, how long would it take you to decide that $300 gross per week is plain wrong when freight is not slow?

It might take some folks months or years, and perhaps they can afford to wait that long, IMHO, thats not a very good way to run a business.

I do not dissagree that I should have stood firm and not taken all four loads unless they paid the fair rate, however, they were quite clear in orientation when they told us that we were expected to accept every load for the first two months - and not to call in more than twice a day for loads.

 

[NoProblem]

Well, if you knew me, I am sure you would not have the opinion that I do not have alot of patience.

I do have patience. However, when a two hour orientation gets dragged out for two days, or when I gotta sit for four days without a load, or when I am sitting in Indy and can only get a 100 mile run at a "C" rate - then its not really a matter of patience, its more a matter of ethics than patience.

 

[TONYII]

Personaly I would say 30 days would give you a rough idea, again I dont know which company you were with to be honest every company that is not forced dispatch is going to tell you the line of dont turn nothing down, but it all comes down to dollars if your not going to make money on a run you can not afford to take a loss. I own 1 truck not a 1000 so I load at a loss brings my whole week down and with the price of fuel these days we have to watch every penny, and dont be afraid to do the math and let them know that you cant do a run becouse it is not good business since, let them know you are more then willing to help them out if they can help you wether through a bonus, full dead head, or whatever.

Now freight might not be slow over all but the area you are sitting in could be slow while a couple of hundred miles away its poping. Takes time to learn the areas that are hot for your company.

And personaly I would call them once a hour if thats what it takes for me to get a load. As far as I am concerned the company works for me not me for them. One rule I go by is never sit more then 24 hours, anything more then that your losing.

But as before just my own 2 cents worth. Hope that helps ya there.

 

[rode2rouen]

>Now freight might not be slow over all but the area you are
>sitting in could be slow while a couple of hundred miles
>away its poping. Takes time to learn the areas that are hot
>for your company.
>

I've noticed that "learning the areas that are hot for your company" or some variation of that statement keep popping up in a lot of threads.

Maybe I'm missing something, but if you're going to spend 2 or, in some cases, 3 days in an orientation session, that should be a major topic of discussion. My feeling is this: I've made a commitment to sign on with the company to get their freight to the customer's dock in a timely manner. The company should make sure that I am aware of where their "hot areas" are and there should be suggestions made as to getting myself into "proper position" for my next load.

I've got to admit that I would not be a very happy camper if I signed on with a "D" unit and got a steady diet of lower paying runs for the first 2 weeks.

Rex

 

[Doggie Daddy]

we also drive a D unit,and i would say that easily half of our loads are classified as C loads.it really doesnt matter to me what letter they want to associate the load with, what matters is if i add the DH and loaded miles together and divide that into the pay i get the total amount per mile that the run pays. if that amount per mile doesnt pay what it costs to run the truck and pay us,(we don't haul anyones frieght for just truck operating expenses)then we turn it down it's as simple as that. i'm not saying that we have never taken these cheaper loads, but when we do it's to get to a better area where we know we will do better.they can tell you not to turn down any loads for the first two months,but if the loads they are offering dont pay you enough to pay expenses and yourself then you should refuse them.DD.

 

[TONYII]

Rex there are companies that do just that, suggested moves or empty moves you dont have to take them but they are great for the new drivers to get a good start as to where to go. As far as putting a major portion of that into orination try this when you get some wheres seek out others with the same carrier and pick there brains and also keep good notes (records) of what you do out of each area your in. I dont know about you all but one reason I do what I do is I enjoy being my own boss, I make the decisions and dont have someone sitting over my shoulder telling me what to do. In this line of work if your not self motivated you wont go far. You have to learn the game in order to play. Best advice I ever got when it came to expediting was if you want to try this the way to start is to find someone with experince and team with them for awile you can learn a lot. But that is just my 2 cents worth.

 

[Tennesseahawk]

NoProblem, I know which company your ran with from your post, and I can say things don't sound right. The way you explain it, did the company ASK you to go 293 miles to Indy, or did you go most of that deadhead on your own? I know that chances are, they have more than one truck in Indy... and no dispatcher there would MAKE you go that far for a piddly run. They also compensate you for a run that has dh miles close to loaded miles. Four runs in two weeks? Were you stuck in the boonies? You hafta learn the company and its zones before you can run willy-nilly. Alot of it is luck also. C-rate isn't much different from D, so griping that 4 in a row were C doesn't carry too much weight. Most of the time I don't even care except for paperwork purposes. When I'm in the boonies, I tell em a van rate is cool with me.

Either you seriously torked some chains in orientation, you have no idea what you're doing, or you're the unluckiest guy in expediting. Ppl who have that hard of a time are doing something wrong, cut and dry! And don't say it was that you signed on with the wrong company. Did you ask the dispatcher's advice? Did you ever ask if you were doing something wrong? As far as calling twice a day... anyone who's successful will tell you once every 3 hours is cool... just to let them know you're still alive. Did you move around during the 4 days you were empty? Where were you located during those days? All these questions are pertinant<sp> in knowing why you're not doing well. If you're having a hard time now, you'll have a hard time with any expediting company unless you find the problem. Your company is not fly-by-night, and they are not out to screw you. However, they cannot drive your truck for you.

T-Hawk

-end of transmission-

 

[NoProblem]

Well, thats cool. If you want to wait 30 days to get a rough idea, thats your perrogative and I agree with you're thoughts here. I would be happy to wait 60 days, but I cannot afford to.

The owner of my truck owns four of them and was planning on getting at least one more, so when he has a bad couple of weeks like the last two, he's better off chartering a private jet to vegas and blowing a wad at the craps table. At least the fun would've justified the expense.

I will admit that I could have been much more aggressive with dispatch by calling them every hour on the hour - but they can't pull loads out of thin air either - and they repeatedly told me freight was slow.

I have a very good idea of where the hot spots are but I wonder if dispatch does. THEY should know better than to send anyone in a run that 'll result in too much dead head period. Newbie or not, they do it because they are not the ones who suffur a loss.

We honestly planned on them living up to what we were told BEFORE we signed on. I really do not think what happened to me was done purposely, but it did happen and we did do what we could, short of making threats to rectify the situation.