Is the trucking industry in a slump

[Big Jim]

I have recently gone on the road with Werner, and thought I had made an ok decision to start driving. However, it seems I spend a lot of time just sitting. Is that normal for right now, or do I need to look elsewhere to get the miles I need to survive. If it is normal why do they keep churning out new drivers, why not let the current ones get the miles they need.

Or if Werner wasn't a good choice are their companies out there that are getting new drivers the miles they want. I am looking to run 2500-3000 miles per week.

[ranger309]

Originally Posted by Big Jim

I have recently gone on the road with Werner, and thought I had made an ok decision to start driving. However, it seems I spend a lot of time just sitting. Is that normal for right now, or do I need to look elsewhere to get the miles I need to survive. If it is normal why do they keep churning out new drivers, why not let the current ones get the miles they need.

Or if Werner wasn't a good choice are their companies out there that are getting new drivers the miles they want. I am looking to run 2500-3000 miles per week.

Its not just the trucking industry, Big Jim.

Freight levels are down as the economy is in a nose dive, no matter what they tell us on the news. I know plenty of people that are on hard times right now.

The housing market is shot, people are losing thier jobs and if they find one, its almost always at a lower wage then before and they are lucky if they have a lousy healthcare plan.

I thank the maker everyday that we saved up and set up for this a while back, got all our bills paid up and the house too.

Recession or depression, its going to get worse before it gets better, thats a given .

[Dirtball]

Big Jim welcome to the boards. Personally I would have chosen another carrier but then again thats me.I never heard anything good about Weener..Things do seem to be slow in some parts of the country..I see by your profile you are from Colorado.I am from Pa and there seems to be a lot of jobs in trucking around here.TL companys usually do sit a lot waiting to deliver or waiting on loads.Part of the trade I guess. Try to find a job with a local LtL carrier.This seems to be where the money and family time is anyway.

[IR CookieMonster]

What Mr Dirtball says is gold. Roadway is hiring in Denver. Generally any LTL carrier is better then the best TL carrier. Here's the link to roadway in Denver Roadway: Career Resource Center

Good Luck !

[prezars]

Go LTL you wont be sitting around much.Try any of the companies Fedex, Conway ,etc

[patrick]

Big Jim, I used to be a trainer for P.A.M Dedicated. I trained a couple people that came from Werner and they had the same problem. They were only bringing home $250 to $500 a week! Thats not very good at all since my trainees brought home atleast $350 to $500 a week during training. Id search for a new company. CFI is supposed to pay pretty good if you have 6 months experience. Id stay away from J.B Hunt unless its a dedicated account because they will only garuantee 1800 miles a week. I dont know about you but i can run that in about 3 days!