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SAIA | Decision making day

bigbuck said:
Funny how I heard MANY times during my tenure at Saia that drivers are replaceable, and that drivers are the biggest drain on company resources. My argument was always that drivers are the most important facet to your LTL Trucking Company. Seemed like common sense at the time, and still plays true today. But trying to convince a manager (who by the way, knows everything and couldn't possibly be mistaken) of that fact was definitely an uphill battle. Amazing how almost every argument or gripe stems from treating drivers like second hand citizens. Maybe management should change their attitude toward drivers, treat them better, and then things like cameras wouldn't have the same negative effect on attracting and retaining drivers. But, on the other hand, maybe trimming down the driver pool was part of the plan all along, and the cameras are just a tool to facilitate that.
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Thinking of driving for myself. Is the money good enough to justify all the additional headaches of running your own business? If so, what type of commercial driving has high pay along with being home nightly? P&d drivers are underpaid when you consider damage to body, but they are home every night which can be important to people with children at home. I know this is off topic, but I didn’t feel like scrolling back to find where you talked about how much better off you are running your own business
 
Having your own business is not without it's fair share of headaches. The difference is that you can decide for yourself: what type of freight and how much/how often you want to work. The ball is entirely in your court; no second guessing from a clueless supervisor, no grief about how you went against the "optimizer" that Saia swears by for P&D, the list goes on. By purchasing or leasing your own rig, you will need to pay all the taxes, repairs, licensing, etc...for that rig. But again, you own it so you would probably take good care of it. You will gross more money going out on your own. But you will also have more expenses. The cash is really a wash in my situation. The difference is the quality of life aspect and no more corporate BS.

High pay and home nightly are not that common, unless you are in the LTL world. But, I have stayed out anywhere from 2-18 days, depending on the loads you are pulling. Another option is to become an owner/operator for another trucking company. That has it's good points too.

The fact of the matter is that this country has so much freight to move it's almost frightening. Plenty of work out there if you are willing. Why do you think they are researching and developing autonomous trucks? Not enough drivers and too much freight. It's that simple
 
LTLIndentured said:
Thinking of driving for myself. Is the money good enough to justify all the additional headaches of running your own business? If so, what type of commercial driving has high pay along with being home nightly? P&d drivers are underpaid when you consider damage to body, but they are home every night which can be important to people with children at home. I know this is off topic, but I didn’t feel like scrolling back to find where you talked about how much better off you are running your own business
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If you think that you're underpaid now go get yourself a truck and you'll see what underpaid is. I don't believe that there are many (if any) opportunities to make a good living as an O/O. We had our 'pal' Stoney at ABF surrender his five or more years at ABF out in AZ to go that route a couple of years ago and he hasn't been back bragging about how much money he's making. There are a couple of drivers on here who are running the road for other companies and some who had their own trucks years ago, including me. Trucking careers just plain old suck anymore. I think that they always sucked but they used to pay better, relatively speaking.
 
bigbuck said:
Having your own business is not without it's fair share of headaches. The difference is that you can decide for yourself: what type of freight and how much/how often you want to work. The ball is entirely in your court; no second guessing from a clueless supervisor, no grief about how you went against the "optimizer" that Saia swears by for P&D, the list goes on. By purchasing or leasing your own rig, you will need to pay all the taxes, repairs, licensing, etc...for that rig. But again, you own it so you would probably take good care of it. You will gross more money going out on your own. But you will also have more expenses. The cash is really a wash in my situation. The difference is the quality of life aspect and no more corporate BS.

High pay and home nightly are not that common, unless you are in the LTL world. But, I have stayed out anywhere from 2-18 days, depending on the loads you are pulling. Another option is to become an owner/operator for another trucking company. That has it's good points too.

The fact of the matter is that this country has so much freight to move it's almost frightening. Plenty of work out there if you are willing. Why do you think they are researching and developing autonomous trucks? Not enough drivers and too much freight. It's that simple
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Don't forget the astronomical cost of healthcare. Try and see what a plan like SAIA's would cost you and be sure your sitting down. That's why many young guys with families stay here.
 
runawaytrain said:
Don't forget the astronomical cost of healthcare. Try and see what a plan like SAIA's would cost you and be sure your sitting down. That's why many young guys with families stay here.
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They still pay for insurance,Unless you have 10 years with this company,and I assume that this is changing.
 
runawaytrain said:
Yes but it's dirt cheap for a great plan is my point. $12. Single ... 35.50 family weekly.
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You might see that as cheap but I see it as a bill that I shouldn't have to pay. You are aware that that money goes into the employer's pocket, right?
 
ABFer said:
You might see that as cheap but I see it as a bill that I shouldn't have to pay. You are aware that that money goes into the employer's pocket, right?
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Are you suggesting that the company has no associatied cost in providing us healthcare? Where do you think that money should go?
 
ABFer said:
It should go into the drivers' pockets. Do you think that the company sends it to the health insurance company and says, "this is from runawaytrain"?
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Now that's funny!!! I suspect they are just recouping some of money they pay UnitedHealthcare for their best plan. Your not against a company trying to recoup some of their money? You know it's not free. Those premiums have went up and are pretty damn high from what I hear and SAIA hasn't passed that on to us in years.
 
runawaytrain said:
Now that's funny!!! I suspect they are just recouping some of money they pay UnitedHealthcare for their best plan. Your not against a company trying to recoup some of their money? You know it's not free. Those premiums have went up and are pretty damn high from what I hear and SAIA hasn't passed that on to us in years.
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Train, good to see you back beating the drum for Saia, I was afraid we were not going to see that again.
 
runawaytrain said:
Now that's funny!!! I suspect they are just recouping some of money they pay UnitedHealthcare for their best plan. Your not against a company trying to recoup some of their money? You know it's not free. Those premiums have went up and are pretty damn high from what I hear and SAIA hasn't passed that on to us in years.
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Why do they give it to you then take it away? Why not just cut your pay by $1.00/hr and get it over with?
 
seabreeze said:
Train, good to see you back beating the drum for Saia, I was afraid we were not going to see that again.
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Like your wife and kids I suppose. You get pissed off sometimes at the things they do but in the end you still gotta love them. I'll get over it. Hell, I already have.
 
ABFer said:
You might see that as cheap but I see it as a bill that I shouldn't have to pay. You are aware that that money goes into the employer's pocket, right?
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What world are you living in?? They don’t owe you insurance, it’s a benefit. You don’t have to accept it either. I get mine free but my wife isn’t covered because her government job offers it,.....at a cost. Put the tub of glue down. No more huffing. Seriously. Quit. You’ll get better.
 
PhilWilliams said:
What world are you living in?? They don’t owe you insurance, it’s a benefit. You don’t have to accept it either. I get mine free but my wife isn’t covered because her government job offers it,.....at a cost. Put the tub of glue down. No more huffing. Seriously. Quit. You’ll get better.
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You must remember ABFer is a Teamsters and they get free healthcare. They also will receive a pension. But because we get a 6% match on our 401K and we make more hourly we should just consider it a wash. There are pros and cons to both so it's just a matter with coming with the gal that brung ya. ABF is no place for a new hire. A new hire would be better served here IMO.
 
PhilWilliams said:
What world are you living in?? They don’t owe you insurance, it’s a benefit.
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You must be a newcomer. Years ago health insurance was a part of the package that came with any job worth having. McDonalds, Sal's Pizza, et al no health insurance. BF Goodrich, ACME Markets, et al fully paid no haggle, no bull health insurance. I could make the same argument for vacations, paid holidays, sick days, etc, what world are you living in? They don't owe you that stuff. And your glue comment tells me a whole lot about what you are, grow up, man.
runawaytrain said:
A new hire would be better served here IMO.
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If I was young and searching I would crunch the numbers. Well...actually...if I was young I'd find a different career.
 
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