I am new in this business, been driving class 2 for a year and class 1 for over a month.
It amazes me the difference in own account vs general haulage thing.
I was lucky to get my first job as class 2 in a big own account company.
New trucks, anything they just take to aurhorised service, toll and parking paid with no question, I stayed in premier inn a bunch of times. They just didn’t rely on the truck to make a penny.
Now working for a small haulage company with just about 10 trucks and it is lay bay every night, fussying about where to fill, waiting around and doing some weird runs to get some extra money, truck is old and night heating is play up.
Well, still experience on class 1 and I am soon to get specialised so I am not too bother but I wouldn’t fancy doing this for too long.
I understand why you guys says 10 out 10 own account is much better.i got spoiled [emoji16]
We are a family (of one ) run company and we are specialist rather than general.
We have 23 drivers, we have two fuel cards, one we prefer, but let people decide. Nights out, they can night out where they want if the truck is empy and as long as I have a receipt, then it gets paid. When the truck is loaded, then it gets parked up on a specified site and then it’s a hotel. We don’t, or very rarely back load. The trucks we can run longer than some, but they don’t do heavy mileage and if anything needs doing to them, it’s done.
I think what you’ve mainly seen is the difference between Own Account Operations and General Haulage.
Of course that is a massive generalisation, not every general haulage company will expect you to stay in layby’s, tell you where to fill up or run old kit and not every Own Account operation will top kit and hotels.
And of course as Albion pointed out, if you get to a company doing a specialist job that requires drivers to do a bit more than open the curtains on their trailer or back onto a bay, then hopefully, as they expect more from their drivers they’ll treat their drivers better, although that is not always true judging by the awful reputation for how they treat drivers that a specialist haulage company near me has.
Really it comes down to trying different companies and jobs, until you find a place you fit, getting to that point is a mixture of luck and perseverance, it also might take a bit of sideways thinking and what might seem at the time backward steps.
As a matter of interest, what do you want to specialise in?
One often big difference though is own account can be mind numbingly boring where as smaller operators can often provide much more variety. Not all small operators run old faulty trucks, some run trucks that you’d never even get near on own account. Horses for courses.
There must be good and bad in all situations. I’ve never worked for a really big outfit, so maybe shouldn’t compare, but it seems the big outfits go in for buck passing more? At a smaller place uou know who is in charge and who to talk to. Talking to the boss direct seems easier to me. They don’t always give the answers you want to hear! But you know where you stand.
switchlogic:
One often big difference though is own account can be mind numbingly boring where as smaller operators can often provide much more variety. Not all small operators run old faulty trucks, some run trucks that you’d never even get near on own account. Horses for courses.
Don’t come in here with the reality and real life experience, you’ll ruin everyone moaning about how terrible everything and anything is.
I’ve done own account work and I would rather clean a fifth wheel with my tongue than return to it.
Adonis.:
I’ve done own account work and I would rather clean a fifth wheel with my tongue than return to it.
A.
It does depend on personality a lot. I’d die in a big corporate environment, Ican’t be doing with all the rigid rules and dotting every i that seems to go with the territory.
As ever, in an interview, ask them what the turnover of drivers is. If they say most go after six months, then run for the hills. If they say, well Bob finally retired after 28 years, before that, Mike emigrated in 2013…then there’s a good chance it’s a half decent firm.
muckles:
I think what you’ve mainly seen is the difference between Own Account Operations and General Haulage.
Of course that is a massive generalisation, not every general haulage company will expect you to stay in layby’s, tell you where to fill up or run old kit and not every Own Account operation will top kit and hotels.
And of course as Albion pointed out, if you get to a company doing a specialist job that requires drivers to do a bit more than open the curtains on their trailer or back onto a bay, then hopefully, as they expect more from their drivers they’ll treat their drivers better, although that is not always true judging by the awful reputation for how they treat drivers that a specialist haulage company near me has.
Really it comes down to trying different companies and jobs, until you find a place you fit, getting to that point is a mixture of luck and perseverance, it also might take a bit of sideways thinking and what might seem at the time backward steps.
As a matter of interest, what do you want to specialise in?
Well i have my adr booked for next month so I will have a go, would like the tankers, may be too much h&s for me, We will see.
Also I do fancy the transporters, difficult to know f you would like something before actually doing it. But yes, looking to get a niche.
Adonis.:
I’ve done own account work and I would rather clean a fifth wheel with my tongue than return to it.
A.
It does depend on personality a lot. I’d die in a big corporate environment, Ican’t be doing with all the rigid rules and dotting every i that seems to go with the territory.
As ever, in an interview, ask them what the turnover of drivers is. If they say most go after six months, then run for the hills. If they say, well Bob finally retired after 28 years, before that, Mike emigrated in 2013…then there’s a good chance it’s a half decent firm.
I’m not sure what would be worse, I wouldn’t last 5 minutes in a corporate hell hole. I’ve done it before, briefly, in a different industry.
We’ve one guy here been with the company for nearly 40 years and another couple around 20. There was a small bit of people coming and going recently, mostly drivers thinking the grass is always greener.
On Albion ’ s last point: beware of drivers you meet who say “Great new job! Perfect” then say “Give them a call they’re always lookin for drivers”!
Muckles is balancing the different aspects of jobs. As we change our views will change about the balance point.
Young family and big mortgage may mean money takes precedence over all else. House paid, kids gone maybe different.
Ink wet on your license you may want to look for some easier work?
Million miles under your wheels makes motorway driving more boring. We all change in what we want and need to adapt,
at least, those of us who can’t find money and enjoyment at the same place.
) run company and we are specialist rather than general.