I tried to keep this in the middle, not excessive praise or attack, just my honest observation. I hope it offers some insight for others interested:
For starters, this was the only decent company that offered local work to this CDL driver that only had a few months experience. I believe their policy has since changed, but nonetheless I have to appreciate this aspect otherwise I would have been working at a trucking company that only paid $9 an hour for local work, with trucks that were hardly maintained.
At first, working for Conway was complete shell shock. I went from working 8-9 hours per day, to 14 hours every night, 16 on Fridays of course. I almost quit because I just wasn't getting much sleep, but this company never seemed to care too much because as long as I was legal to drive, they felt I was safe. I still don't understand how this company has been awarded so many safe driving awards, I've never had an FOS seem to care about any driver's concerns when they are tired. The basic attitude is "hey, if you can't do it, go somewhere else". Well, when your options is a company paying almost double of any other company that will hire you, and excellent benefits, what options do you really have other than try not to fall asleep while driving and kill anybody?
Anyway, I was lucky enough to be hired before a group of students got their licenses, this shot me up in seniority very quickly so after a few months I was only running on Fridays, I still hated dock work, but hey, it's good money, right? Speed up a few years, I become more familiar with the company and get some good bids. Things seem to be much much better than the long tired nights from before. At this point I start feeling like this is my company, because I have a better overall picture of what is going on. For some, I can understand why they would love this company.
Some of the things that really ticked me off were, well, the fact that there seem to be an over abundance of managers. Most of the time the only thing I would see an FOS doing is standing around, as if their feet are holding the concrete dock from flying away. Occasionally they would be helpful for lesser experienced loaders on how to properly load a trailer, however, most of the time these FOS's had no dock experience themself so instead they would just scream at someone when the load doesn't look the way it should. It was rare they would actually be of any real use on the loading docks! I think my biggest complaint is that everytime we seemed to get a great manager, they would leave to another service center, or other company. Some of my favorite managers lasted just a few months, while the annoying idiots never left. I really was annoyed at how few managers were previous drivers, it seems they would rather hire someone out of college taught from a book how to be a manager, rather than someone within the company that might actually know how to get the job done, and not be a condescending a-hole at the same time!
The final blow for me was after my years of honest service having a few managers treat me as if I didn't know anything about the company or the customers, or even worse, act as if I didn't care! I had multiple customers request me as their driver, so I know I was doing something right, but management never seemed to notice. Maybe this happened because I'm not a suck-up, a lot of the management love those types of people, but it's just not me. I'll suck up to the customer, but that's it.
I think what I liked most were the other drivers. There was always a great attitude from most drivers regardless if they were a 30 year vet, or a brand new recruit. It is just unfortunate that attitude rarely seemed to go up into management, I have a feeling there is a much more negative attitude coming from higher up that kills any positive attitudes any management might have.
At the end of the day I guess it comes down to what you want from a company. If you don't mind the constant condescending attitudes and lack of respect for your good honest work from management, you probably wouldn't have anything bad to say. But for me, I just want more, a little respect is all I ask. To be treated like a human, not a cyborg robot that only gets sick 5 times a year and can work for 72 hours a week with no problems. Sorry, I guess I'm just a little too human for this company, or perhaps, any trucking company?
: and won't walk the walk! That's a fact and that's why Conway hires anyone with a pulse(apprentice).
and not enough "BALLS" to stand up to what's right. I always spoke us when I saw something that's wrong and then always wished I didn't say anything because "NOT MANY" would back me up. That's a shame because I do know at least someone in every major LTL carrier around and they all "LAUGH" at conway, sorry to burst your bubble but it's "SO TRUE". Keep working there and have everything taken from you, I don't care. You are just a number at conway while I am being treated like a person something that is not common at conway, and you know it!
Maybe his new job bends the rules with the randoms.
