Which company is better, may trucking or werner?

I am a driver with a year experience and just left Schnieder due to a lack of miles. I want know which one will run me the most and which one will not **** me. I live in Califonia and am ex military.
Which company is better, may trucking or werner?
I have been driving big trucks for over 10 years. If you are wanting more miles and more money go with an owner operater. No benifits but plenty of miles and usually a nice truck.





ps. werner sucks. paperless logs so no cheating.
Which company is better, may trucking or werner?
May is a smaller company (which usually means a more "personal" relationship with your dispatchers) and they run a lot of western states (which usually means a longer average length of haul). Most of the drivers I've spoken with are happy there- I even have one of their business cards, 'just in case' I am ever looking for a job, they are one I'd call.





I have a friend who used to work with them- she claims she was fired due to too many log violations. She gave me the impression that they're pretty "by the book" when it comes to logging (which is a good thing usually, they won't "push" you to be unsafe) and expect you to run legally and log properly. Still, they use traditional paper logbooks, unlike Werner....and there is almost always some "wiggle room" if you need an extra hour or 2 to get to a truck stop, instead of sleeping on a ramp because the "computer" says your time is up! Usually, companies with paper logs just require you to match your pickups, deliveries and fuel stops....as long as you abide by company policy, you can usually find ways to make your logging work in your "benefit" if you know what I mean :).





May will expect you to chain up, as far as I know, in the wintertime. They might leave it up to your "discretion" but this past winter, they were definitely all over I-84 with chains on in Oregon (one of them slammed into the back of one of our company trucks, narrowly missing our driver ;) I am pretty sure Werner does NOT require it, they'd rather you sit, than chain. This can mean quite a large decrease in miles in the wintertime- sometimes it IS better to chain up and go, especially when visibility is OK in the passes!





Werner is not a bad company, as the "big ones" go. I have met happy Werner drivers and miserable Werner drivers, but ANY trucking company will be that way. However, for me, the "paperless logging" system is a HUGE turnoff, especially if you are a solo driver. I like to have the freedom to stop when I need a 30 minute nap, to drive an extra 45 minutes to make it to a favorite truck stop. Sometimes, in the Northeast especially, traffic and lack of safe parking will make it necessary to drive 12-14 hours in a day, even if you only do 300 miles. I personally got into trucking because I like NOT having someone over my shoulder telling me how to schedule my day, which is why I am turned off by these crazy on-board computers that practically monitor your bowel movements, LOL.





Since you are on the west coast, you might also want to check out Gordon Trucking: http://www.gordontrucking.com/


I have heard a lot of good things about them- I think they only run the Western states, but the pay and benefits are supposed to be pretty good. They will hire trucking school graduates so I am sure you have enough experience.





Interstate Distributor Co in Tacoma WA is another one I'd check out- it's on my "list" of possibilities if I need a job as well. Here's the site: http://www.drive4us.com/000197d/dhesite....





BTW- use caution if you ever decide to work for an owner operator! While some folks might find a good working relationship with an owner/op, my experience tells me that is the exception to the rule. Many owner/ops are struggling with the price of fuel as it is; your job stability depends on whether he/she can stay afloat. Many can be difficult to work with as they'll insist everything be done "their way"....and if they decide to **** you over, it's a lot harder to get your money out of them, than if you worked for a company. I have personally been MAJORLY ****ed over by THREE seperate owner operators, I have friends who have been in the same position.... and would NEVER work for one again, even if it was my own mother. Just a warning!





Good luck :)