Murphy's World

Third Time is the Charm

Dear Murphy,

I don’t know if this qualifies but here it goes. I just started driving last year, so I don’t have much experience. I went to work with a company that promised me a van, but when I got there, they gave me a flatbed. I tried to make the best of it, but the truck had no heat and an air leak, yet they told me there was nothing wrong with it. To make matters worse, my pay was disappearing without me knowing about it.

I quit that company and went to work for another one. Their truck was a piece of junk with oil leaks. The dispatcher must have woken up on the wrong side of the bed every day, because he was the meanest man I ever met.

Those were the two worst-working experiences in my life. Fortunately, I am now driving

with a good company that actually knows how to treat and respect their drivers. Thank you for listening. Your theory is true: anything in the trucking business that can go wrong, will.

Richard Foy

New Eagle, PA

Dear Richard,

They say that the third time is the charm. I’m sorry to hear it took you three attempts to find a “good” company. The fact is, there are plenty of good trucking companies out there, but you have to do your homework. The pages of Over the Road and Pro Trucker are a good place to start. Read the ads carefully, and then check out the carriers that interest you. Talk to other drivers. When you’re satisfied that you’ve found a carrier that’s right for you, give them a call and set up an appointment.

I’ve heard of bait-and-switch, but telling a driver he’s going to be driving a van and then giving him a flatbed is ridiculous, especially with an inexperienced driver. You’re lucky your first load didn’t slide off into the sunset the first time you made a turn. And just to make matters worse, they gave you the keys to a rig with all kinds of problems. What were those people thinking?

As you noted, in Murphy’s World, just when you think things can’t get any worse, they do. Withholding pay is about as bad as it gets. Dealing with a mean dispatcher isn’t much better.

As we like to say, Murphy’s World does have its silver lining. In your case, it was finding a good company. They say the third time is the charm, but you could have saved yourself a lot of trouble by doing a little homework up front.

Regards,

Murphy and Lucky Dog