Greetings Truckers,
First of all, thank every single one of you for your service and commitment to keep America (or wherever you are located) moving. I also want to thank anyone in advanced who responds as it seems these forums have quite a few industry geniuses lurking around.
The questions here might be all over the place, it’s sort of hard for me to word all of this, so i apologize for that in advanced. I was going to write a TLDR, but in my situation it seems a bit to hard to type in summary form.
Let’s get into my situation:
I’m currently 22, located in Buffalo, NY, and im about a year into the trucking industry already (I’m a lead washbay tech in a Kosher/JPA Tanker washout)
I know I want to go get my CDL, and most likely drive Food grade tankers after getting my CDL and tanker endorsement.(But im not oppossed to driving reefer or even flatbed, I wouldnt mind the extra labor that comes with flatbed)
I know I have a somewhat easy in to drive for the company I already work for, but I have a few issues:
1. I know that once I get my CDL, me and the girlfriend want to move down south. Should I hold off on attaining my permit, attending school and move first? Since the regulations changed in Febuary, is there anything that changed with transferring CDLs out of state, especially for new drivers?
2. The equipment my current company has is… well, not good at all. & That’s coming from someone who doesn’t have to do a single repair outside of pump seals.. (lol) It’s very outdated and breaking alot. Our trailers are not in good shape, and It’s the same with our tractors. The 2 or 3 newest drivers we hired are definitely driving tractors that are bound to get absolutely wrecked by DOT at any moment, same with alot of our trailers. Also, my yard currently doesn’t have a mechanic. (Literally) Our drivers have to take it to our headquarters shop about an hour away, unless something major happens they will have a mechanic from over there come to us.
3. Our ‘Director of Logistics’ and our Dispatcher are always screwing drivers left and right. Since the director started, we’ve had a decent amount of drivers walk strictly because of her. (Side note: We’re a smaller company in terms of this industry, I dont know the exact number of drivers we have, probably about 13 or so out of the yard i work at, and another 10 or so at our ‘corporate headquarters’) The directors “husband” is currently doing the driver payroll, and in the last month or so he’s been doing it, I have constantly heard drivers being absolutely screwed out of pay. He’s one of those “Why are the drivers getting paid for this” “I’m going to save the company money” “Did that driver really need to leave on Sunday?” Type of guy..
Am i wrong to think that I’m in a weird, but yet unique position as someone who’s about to start driving? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I don’t necesarrily mind working in the washbay, I meet alot of awesome people and the work is relatively easy for what I’m paid. But, I absolutely do not like knowing I’m working a dead end job, and I definitely do not like the trajectory of the way the company is headed. I know I want to get out of the washbay and hop in a truck, but is staying in NY for an extra couple of months, going to school here, and dealing with the BS that I know i’m going to encounter worth it?
Essentially what I’m getting at, is, do i deal with the BS I see because i know that as soon as i get a CDL in my hand I can double, if not tripple my pay without even switching who signs my checks while gaining (some) expierence before I make the move? Or do I hold off on getting my permit up here & attending school, make the move first and go from there?
Again, I apologize for how all over the place this may seem, and if you guys need any more specific information about my current company, position, etc, feel free to ask or (preferably) send a PM. I really appreciate any advice. I’ve explained my situation to a variety of drivers I encounter.(It’s much easier verbally, lol) Both inside the company i work for and the mega carriers we wash out and it seems to be split pretty 50/50, with some good and some bad coming from both sides.
All replies are greatly appreciated, thank you guys.
