We talked about this a while back....I didn't t know you were gonna pull the trigger on it this soon.
Good luck!
From our conversation, I believe that you're walking into this with your eyes open and no illusions about the business.
I'd still recommend staying away from anything newer than 2006 or 2007.
Call me if you have any questions.
I didn't think I was gonna pull the trigger this soon either. Lots of small changes over the past year or two. Friday, things just got completely ignorant after am entire week of BS. As of Friday afternoon, me and my dispatcher is no longer on speaking terms, and the other dispatcher doesn't want to get involved at all for multiple reasons I guess. So, I got the entire weekend off, plus today. and maybe tomorrow for all I know at this point.
When I came to work here 5 years ago, the keys to the truck were handed to us, and it was our truck. It was non-forced dispatch, which meant first come, first serve on the available loads, allowing me to keep myself running good miles. We got maintenance done on the road. We could get minor repairs done on the road via the swipe of a comdata card (tires, etc...). We were home on weekends, and throughout the week by design. Trucks ran down the highway faster than 68mph. If something broke, the shop got busy and fixed it. Overall, it was a great job.
At Blue Beacons, I would get the truck washed every 2 weeks, sometimes I would go 3 weeks if the truck still looked decent, maybe even a month. I would get the rainx treatment at that time, and every 2-3 months I would get the undercarriage washed. Undercarriage wash a little more frequent during the winter. I treated the wash money as if it was my money and spent it wisely. Now, we can get a straight wash only once a week, which comes out to much more money that I was spending to keep the truck clean, and clean underneath where it was important. Oh well, their truck, their money.
We can use our comdata cards for fuel only now. can't even buy oil in the shop, and definitely can't pay for a tire repair or any other minor repair. This means many more hours getting something taken care of.
Drivers are now hired under forced dispatch, and more and more, they are trying to apply that to everyone by only having one load to offer you when they call. I'm not picky about where I go, I choose loads based on running consistent miles each day, and ultimately hitting 3500+ by the end of the week. Ill take a 600 mile run that delivers the next day over a 900 mile load that don't deliver for two days.
Trucks ran 74-75mph when I hired on. may last truck was wide open, with permission to keep it that way. I ran it about 70 if the speed limit was that high, slower in slower speed zones. Now, I am harnessed at 68mph, and just waiting for it to be slower at some point.
Shop, on many occasions, has tried to send me out with broken studs on a trailer, and expecting me to get it fixed (on my time) out on the road. Ok, I am pulling a hazmat load all the time, and you expect me to agree to this? Sadly, many drivers do it. Same thing with tires. trailers being sent out with tires that have no business on the road. Many other money cutting issues in the shop (according to our shop personnel)
Just lots of small changes that continue to add up, and it appears to continue to go in that direction.
. well congratz hope you get it 
. you going to be a true O/O or leased to a carrier
