Part III - Drivers - How to Narrow your Job Search

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Welcome to Part III - Drivers - How to Narrow Your Job Search...

6.  Consult with your wife, husband or significant other.(for ease of reading we will refer to this person as your wife)  This is a step that is often overlooked.  You're wife will remember all the issues you complained about or liked at your last job.  Sometimes we only tend to remember the good things or bad things about a company we worked for.  Your Wife is a great sounding board because believe it or not she listens to you and wants to see you happy.  If your happy, she's happy.  It's not just about the money, it's easy to get wrapped up in the money aspect of a job.  Trust me, the a few pennies more per mile will lose its appeal when you are stuck out over the week-end, not getting the miles, or have a dispatcher that doesn't care or is too busy all the time.  FBC(Federal Blog Commission) Warning.  Too much interaction/conversation with your wife can lead to problems.  As you all know, a wife is, pound for pound, the most dangerous animal in the world.  Tread carefully here.  I learned this the hard way when I recently asked my significant other her opinion and ended up in a relationship counseling session.

5. Online Driver Discussion boards.  Check these out!  These can be a good source of real information.  I think every driver should belong to a few of them.  Like anything, there are good ones and bad ones, and some of the people who post on boards are just disgruntled and unhappy.  So use caution here also and don't believe everything you read.  I have gotten a lot of good information from these boards, and the better ones have members who have their profiles published also, so you can see who your talking to,  I find that for the most part, if someone is going to take the time to write and discuss companies etc. on these boards, they are generally sincere.

4.  Respect.  This is a common and rather generic term that is thrown around a lot these days.  Why?  I don't know.  I think respect is a given.  Perhaps what these trucking companies mean is that they are honest about things.  I think Honesty is the best quality a company can have when it communicates with its drivers.  Its just that simple.  This is a key aspect to look for in any potential employer.  When your following these steps, always keep this in mind.   

This seems like a lot of work, doesn't it?  Yes it does!  But, please remember the hours/days of orientation, setting up your truck, paperwork, drug tests and spending a few months at a company you don't like, when you make a knee-jerk decision to work somewhere. There is a lot of time and money you are investing in a new job, make it count.  A few hours of research now will save you tons of headaches later.  I originally tried to do this in 3 parts, but this is an important decision and there is a lot to cover.  Stay tuned, Part IV this weekend! 

What about a career change?  Have you thought about switching to pulling a reefer, van, flatbed, or tanker?  How about a being a car hauler or driving for an Oil Field Services company? Intermodal?  You ask, we deliver.  18 Wheels of Justice investigates and compares apples to apples and breaks it all down for you... Debuts next week!  "Drivers and Operators: Choices within your Driving Career - The Inside Scoop"...Next week will be the long awaited debut of “Ask 18 Wheels of Justice” on our website. We provide opinions, answers and solutions to all things trucking.  If we don't know, we will find the answer! A sincere thank you to all of you who submitted questions, please keep them coming.

© 2012 Michael H. Komadina

18 Wheels of Justice™

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Drivers - Part II. How to Narrow your Job Search

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Welcome back and thank you for joining us for "Part II - How to Narrow Your Job Search".  It can be a very daunting task, with all the options available.  So many ad's, a thousand job search website's, everyone promising everything to everybody.  I think an important thing to remember as a driver is that our industry is just silly.  Yes, silly.  It is so segmented and there truly aren't any major players in the truckload market.  I remember reading a few years ago that if you combined the top ten truckload carriers in this great nation of ours, they hauled less than 10% of the total truckload market.  When business picks up, your local trucking company will go down to the truck dealer and buy 10 more trucks.  When he has drivers for all of his trucks, he feels he must be doing something right and buys another 10 trucks.  When the bank stops by and visits him and gives him the green light for more trucks, he buys him.  God bless the optimism of the trucking company owner!  My point is that all of the turnover and all the driving positions available doesn't make this a bad industry to work in, in fact its the best industry in the country to work in.  The capacity and availability of driving positions reflects the segmented state of trucking, lots of moving parts for a lot of different reasons.  Back to business.  I hope you have read Part I, if not please do so now and join me back here. 

7.  How did you hear about this trucking company?  This is important.  The amount of advertising a company has does not necessarily mean that they have issues finding drivers.  There are a number of reasons a company advertises for drivers.(see above)  You may have seen their trucks close by home, saw an ad the internet, etc.  What about the ad appealed to you?  Was it any different than the others?
Sometimes you just have to pick one, sort of like duck hunting.  Write down 5 things that appeal to you about a company you want to work for.  New Tractor? Home time? Newer Trailers? Miles? Regions they run? Pay? The Dispatcher - does he have any authority on the amount of miles you get and when you need to be home? Fuel network? Company's reputation? Maint.? and so on. 

Join us later this week for the rest of this article and more!  Please check out our 18 Wheels of Justice LinkedIn group for Drivers and Owner Operators.  If you're not on LinkedIn, please join, it is a valuable resource for Drivers and Operators.  As always, thank you for reading...

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18 Wheels of Justice Presents... Super Service, LLC

Click here to visit Super Service website
18 Wheels of Justice Proudly Presents...
Super Service, LLC.

TA Truckstop - Foristell, MO.  11:49AM 10.22.2012

The TA in Foristell is about 50 miles west of St. Louis.  It's the first real truckstop you come across as you’re making your way westbound on I-70.  It is a grimy, dirty sort of misconfigured building, which has been there for ages.  There are remnants of a Taco Bell and KFC "in house" franchise, which never seemed to do very well with drivers passing through or with locals, for that matter. 

It smells like old tacos, used fried chicken grease and GOOP (I hope you know GOOP and its unique smell).  Honestly, I’m not sure if the Taco Bell and KFC are still operating, I never walk around that side of the building.  The best I can recall, I've never seen anyone over there.  I prefer the "real" food inside and most of all I enjoy talking to Marge.  Marge is the hostess, dishwasher and waitress extraordinaire for the TA in Foristell.  Marge is as sweet as can be, and more importantly, she knows a lot about trucking. 

Marge started at the TA in 1972 and never looked back.  Marge has seen and heard it all and is an excellent source of information and gossip from all around the country on everything trucking.  And Marge, she likes to talk about trucking...

I like to visit with Marge once a week when I stop by for lunch.  Marge had been telling me about the drivers she had been meeting from Super Service that had been stopping by the TA the last few months.  She asked if we could do some research on them so she would know what to tell other drivers who asked about Super Service. The 18 Wheels of Justice Staff of course is always happy to oblige. Between Marge’s interest and the large amount of drivers and owner operators also asking us here at the 18 Wheels of Justice office, we decided it was time to get to the bottom of things.  



We are proud to present our research on Super Service, LLC

       
                                     Call today - 888-883-6853

      Check out Super Service on Facebook 

Super Service Claim to Fame -

Keep Moving with Super Service: More miles, More Pay, More Opportunity.
Super Service keeps drivers and operators moving with consistent and timely dispatch. Because our drivers & operators make us a leading trucking company in the region, and we offer them best package in the industry.

This is just what we like to hear at 18 Wheels of Justice.

18 Wheels of Justice contacted Super Service HQ in Grand Rapids, MI. and we sat down for a spell with Mr. Jim True, Director of Recruiting.  We asked some of our typical hard hitting questions to get to the bottom of this cat-like curiosity around the office surrounding them.

Super Service is led by two honorable and well qualified individuals.  Mr. Dan Strong is CEO and Mr. Roger Waddle is the Chief Operating Officer.  Mr. Jim True, Director of Recruiting and Retention, was kind enough to spend some time on the phone with us on Friday afternoon.   

Excerpts from interview with Jim True – Super Service

Super Service is a large, financially secure trucking company with over 1100 power units.  What are some of the advantages of working for a carrier like Super Service?

Jim- “Our Company is big enough to have good business and have the ability to hire good people in operations, but we have the attitude and flexibility of a small company.  We know and respect our drivers and we stand by them, period.

We have terminals w/ WIFI, shops and showers across the country. Dispatch stays focused on assigning loads and keeping are drivers rolling, no waiting around for loads.”

  

Does Super Service accept drivers from driving schools who have a CDL? 

Jim – “Yes, we do.  We have one of the best training programs in the business.  We welcome qualified drivers’ right out of driving school with a CDL.  Call us while you are still in school so we can have you ready to go and answer any questions you have.  Start your career off right!  Call us at 888-883-6853.”

Does Super Service run any teams?

Jim – “As a matter of fact we have just expanded our dedicated team operation in San Antonio, TX.  Runs are dedicated and go to CA, AL and MI.  The money is really good and it’s dedicated.  This is an excellent opportunity for husband/wife teams, anyone who has ever thought of teaming up with another driver, and of course, existing teams.   Call us – 888-883-6853”

85% drop and hook means time spent earning and driving and not waiting to load & unload.  50% of Super Service trucks are 12 months are newer means no CVSA issues or downtime for maintenance problems.     What about home time and out of state drivers?

Jim - We have a very good flexible home time approach with our drivers.  As I said before, we stand behind our drivers; they are part of our family.  We know the importance of family and being home when you need to be, and we respect our families.

We welcome out of state drivers.  We have 3 major service centers and several dedicated operational facilities east of the Mississippi.

 

                                           Call today - 888-883-6853

          Check out Super Service on Facebook 

18 Wheels of Justice Quick Stats -Company Drivers-

• 500 new trucks recently added to our fleet
• Now offering a $2,500 sign on bonus, for a limited time! Ask your recruiter for details
• 50% of the fleet less than twelve months old
• Flexible home time policy
• Over 90% of freight is no-touch and 85% is drop-and-hook
• Dedicated opportunities in specific areas.
• Technology to ease route planning and reduce fuel costs
• EZ PASS & Qualcomm
• BCBS Health Insurance/MetLife Dental/VSP Vision
• Short Term Disability Insurance
• Life Insurance - $10,000 at no cost to you!
• Voluntary Allstate Benefits (similar to AFLAC)
• Flex Spending Account (Health Care and Reimbursement and Dependent Care Reimbursement)
• 401k Plan – Employees can contribute 1-75% of their weekly income to their 401k
• Paid Vacation

Plenty of perks at Super Service (click on logo to learn more and visit their website)

18 Wheels of Justice – Quick Stats

Fleet Owners & Owner Operators:

Super Service is also on the lookout for the best owner-operators and fleet owners to join our successful team. We are looking for long-term partners as we grow our business, together with you.

• Competitive Pay Mileage Based or Percentage
• Fuel Surcharge will be paid 100% (based on amount billed to customer)
• No forced dispatch
• Orientation in Somerset, KY, Atlanta, GA, and Grand Rapids, MI
• Mileage to orientation compensated on first settlement
• No Additional Charges for base plates, permits, or TripPak
• No charge for Filing Fuel Tax (if you use the Super Service fuel card)
• Lease on today and earn a $2,500 sign on bonus! Ask your recruiter for details
• Deep Fuel Discounts plus Intelligent fuel routing system – Save Big on Fuel
• EZ Pass

Please call our Owner Operator Recruiting Specialist at 800-669-8567!

We would like to thank Mr. True and Super Service for taking the time to share this valuable information with us today. 

Towne Air Freight - Unique Opportunity for Operators

18 Wheels of Justice Proudly Presents...

Apply Now Online!      Waiting List for Future Openings     Call 866-234-7464

Amber Egierski, a Towne Air Freight Recruiter, was kind enough to discuss the unique business opportunities available at the company for Independent Contractor Owner Operators.

Who is Towne Air Freight and what do they do?

Eugene Towne founded Towne Air Freight in South Bend, Indiana in 1963 with one employee and one van. Gary "Duke" Downey then purchased the company in August 1982. At that time South Bend was the only location with 18 employees, two tractors, and nine straight trucks. Towne has since grown into a national full-service trucking provider for the air cargo industry with a truly national linehaul network.

Serving 68 markets coast to coast, Towne Air Freight has doubled in size over the past five years with operations from Boston to San Diego and Seattle to Miami.

That’s impressive growth. What you offer is very unique because it is line haul, terminal to terminal and drop and hook. This an ideal situation for an owner operator to spend his time on the road strictly making money and not losing time with deliveries, waiting for loads, etc.
I know it is difficult for operators to find a position like this, “Are there certain areas you need Owner Op’s in particular? What kind of miles can they expect?"

Currently we are seeking Owner Operator Teams mainly in the Los Angeles, CA & San Francisco, CA areas. As long as you live within a 150 mile radius of either location you would qualify!

To take a look at the many driving positions available across the country and to be notified about future opportunities if we aren’t hiring in your area today, click below! Don’t miss out!

We have a guaranteed mile program and minimum revenue policy that by the very nature of our operations cooperates to create consistency but also allows flexibility.

Solo Operators can expect an average of 2,500 miles per week or a minimum revenue guarantee of $2,580. (Practical Miles)

Team Operators can expect an average of 5,500 miles per week or a minimum revenue guarantee of $6,750. (Practical Miles)

Call The National Recruiting Line for more information! 866-234-7464

You can also visit the Towne Air Freight Mobile Page by Texting the word “DRIVER” to 59495

Visit Towne Air Freight on Facebook

Towne Air Freight Quick Stats

- Teams - Excellent Program Including Great Pay and Incentive Package

- Solo Operators – Yes!

- Class A CDL with HAZMAT, One Year OTR Exp. Required

- Average Load 30,000 LBS

- Plate Program

- No Forced Dispatch

- Terminal to Terminal

- 100% Drop and Hook for solo and team line haul driving positions

- Real Fuel Surcharge paid to Contractors

- Excellent Fuel Discounts – $.30 cpg

- Fuel Card, EZ Pass, 100% Paid Tolls, Direct Deposit, Nationwide Maintenance & Tire discount program.

- No Age Restriction on Tractor – Trucks 2008 & Newer additional $.03 per mile

- Fleet Friendly – Have two, three or more trucks? Dreams of adding a 2nd truck? Towne Air is where you want to be.

- Towne Air Freight pay falls into the top tier of our industry plus they offer a $2,000.00 Sign On Bonus for Teams. $1000.00 in two weeks from your first dispatch, $1000 at 90 Days, no stipulations!

Towne Air Freight is a hidden treasure ladies and gentlemen; these types of positions never stay open for long!

This is your chance! Join the Towne Air Freight team and become a successful business owner today!

Apply Now Online!        Waiting List for Future Openings    Call 866-234-7464



18 Wheels of Justice Presents - The Maverick Way

18 Wheels of Justice Presents -

The Maverick Way

With so many options available to drivers today, 18 Wheels of Justice likes to meet with the carriers who actually deliver on what they promise to drivers. We like to find out more about the company and its appeal to not only attracting good drivers, but keeping them. We are proud to present – Maverick Transportation.

Born in 1953, growing up in a small Missouri town, Maverick Chairman and CEO Steve Williams took his father's lessons to heart and began a career in transportation. In 1975, he went to work for Steel Haulers, Inc. in Kansas City, Missouri.

After President Jimmy Carter signed the Motor Carrier Act of 1980, deregulating the trucking industry, Williams seized the opportunity to pursue his dream and started Maverick with friend and co-worker Larry Leahy in a one room office in Texarkana, Arkansas. In 1983, he purchased his partner's interest in the company and became the sole owner of Maverick Transportation, Inc. Today the Williams family still owns 100% of the Maverick companies.

Maverick's growth in the past 30 years has been built on Mr. Williams' principles and values of what is referred to as "The Maverick Way" which is doing what you say you will do with integrity, respect and commitment.

Whether it is hauling steel, building materials, flat glass or temperature controlled products, striving to be the best can be seen in everything Maverick does. Maverick Transportation has an amazing story. With an owner like Mr. Williams, who built the company from the ground up, everyone here knows what hard work is and what a driver goes through. This work ethic and attitude resonates throughout Maverick.

18 Wheels of Justice visited with Ms. Spring Dixon of Maverick Transportation to discuss the various aspects of the company and to get a better understanding of Maverick’s appeal to drivers.

Spring was kind enough to take time to answer my questions about Maverick. Here are some excerpts from the 18 Wheels of Justice Interview...


- "Ms. Dixon, First of all, thank you for taking the time to speak with us, Maverick Transportation is a world class trucking company and we are pleased to have you here.

Now, some things we would like to know about you and Maverick are:

How long have you been here? Why did you decide to work here? What is the best thing about Maverick in 7 words or less?

Thank you for featuring us! It's funny you ask that regarding my tenure because today is actually my 10 year anniversary at Maverick (true story!) I worked for an ad agency that only serviced trucking companies’ right out of college. So I knew Maverick and Maverick has always had such a positive reputation in the industry. When this position opened up I was thrilled! I was fortunate enough to be given an opportunity and here we are 10 yrs later. I'm in a position that I get to see "behind the scenes" on the high level management side of things and I have to say - our leadership ALWAYS has its heart in the right place, with the drivers. I can 100% honestly say that they make decisions based on how it will affect the people that work here, that's a rarity these days. In 7 words or less - I'd go with, "Nobody Does Trucking Like We Do!" The Maverick Way - 800-289-1100

- Thank you, Ms. Dixon.... The fact that you have been here for ten years says a lot about Maverick.
It seems like a lot of companies promise the world to drivers and operators, and when they come aboard, sometimes they don't follow through with the promises. This is one of the biggest reasons drivers and operators leave a company. Drivers and Operators take a big chance when they sign with a new company and they are understandably hesitant. Does Maverick help drivers and operators who have just started make sure that the promises are followed through on? How is this handled?

You are absolutely right! I think that's one of the main reasons turnover is SO high in this industry (beyond the obvious that this is a very hard profession to do day in and day out) At Maverick, we don’t believe in sugar coating or hidden agendas.

The Maverick Way - 800-289-1100

From the moment a driver speaks to a recruiter on the phone, to the moment they are given a truck, we’re honest, up front, and clear about the expectations of our drivers. And those expectations are high. Probably higher than any other carrier out there.

But more specifically, we do all of our background checks, MVRs, etc on the front end (unlike a lot of companies) so when we invite a driver to orientation, we know we want this driver to be on our team. In addition, when a driver is set up for orientation, they can view all the information related to their position on our driver portal. Then we go through this information verbally to ensure we are on the same page....This includes an extremely detailed list of expectations, pay, what division they will drive in, home time, mileage averages, etc with every single driver before they come in for Orientation. We want new drivers to know EXACTLY what to expect. Part of our Orientation includes a "lifestyles" class that really digs into the life of a truck driver (the good, the bad and the ugly) and their loved ones are invited to call in to take part in this. In terms of home time - we NEVER make promises, our signature line is "this is an average; some get home more and some get home less." Let's be real here - this is trucking and there are NO guarantees. Any company that makes you a guarantee is fooling you and themselves. If we have a driver in Orientation that says, "but my recruiter said xyz" that contradicts whatever is being said in Orientation - the Recruiter will go over to class that day and work out the discrepancy in person. I've seen this happen countless times. That speaks to Maverick's integrity. And really - this concept starts with something as simple as our advertising. We don't say "Average $200k a year" just because our top driver does, that's not realistic. And it puts a bad taste in a potential driver's mouth the moment he ask about this $200k a year and the recruiter has to say "oh, that's just our top pay, but what you can REALLY expect is more along the lines of $60k." That isn't fair to the driver and it's not fair to the recruiter either.

- Thank you again, Ms. Dixon, I can see why Maverick is such a successful company. We really need more companies with honesty and integrity like Maverick in our industry. Drivers lose a lot of time and money when they switch companies. We never feature a trucking company on 18 Wheels of Justice that doesn’t meet our standards. Now, as we promised to our Texas audience, please tell me about the great opportunity for a dedicated run in Wichita Falls, TX and the benefits...



This is a great opportunity for those drivers within a 75 mile radius of Wichita Falls, TX. It primarily hauls glass and containers for our PPG account on flatbeds, doubles, step decks, and container chassis. We all know why a dedicated position is preferred by most drivers in terms of consistent pay and schedule, better home, etc. We can offer all of this with this position. Maverick has really made a conscious effort in 2012 to aggressively grow the dedicated side of our business.

Available Position in Wichita Falls, TX


Dedicated Glass Run - Wichita Falls, TX (multiple openings, immediate need)

• Must live within 75 mile radius of Wichita Falls, TX
• Weekends at home
• Class A CDL, 21 yrs old & 6 months OTR experience
• Previous flatbed and/or glass experience preferred

One of the many appealing aspects of driving for Maverick is the dedicated opportunites available in various areas of the country.

The Maverick Way - 800-289-1100

Today Maverick needs Drivers for Dedicated Runs in the following areas:

Carlisle, PA

Dewitt, IA

Carleton, MI

Sutton, WV

Wichita Falls, TX

The benefits are unlimited, home on weekends, predictable schedule (watch your kids grow up), guaranteed (Yes, Guaranteed) weekly pay, regardless of miles, and more. Drivers must live within 75 miles of these areas. Maverick is adding areas all the time, so to be sure to check with them and get on their driver list for future opportunities for Dedicated Opportunities. (See more information about the Dedicated Texas lanes below).
Contact a Recruiter Today about these Dedicated Opportunities!
1-800-289-1100
recruiting@maverickusa.com

Maverick is also a proud supporter of the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. We all have been touched by breast cancer in some way, shape or form. This is a great cause and we commend Maverick for their support. Maverick supports the foundation through financial sponsorship and team participation in each year’s race event held in Little Rock, AR. Maverick I committed to helping this great organization find a cure for breast cancer.

Maverick Web Page- Apply Now

Maverick Recruiting Email recruiting@maverickusa.com

Maverick Recruiting Phone 800-289-1100

The Maverick Way - 800-289-1100