Considering a career move in the trucking industry? Perhaps you’ve come across Fortune Transportation and are keen to learn more. It’s a common scenario for drivers to explore different companies, especially after gaining initial experience and solidifying their career path. In the trucking forums, real drivers often share their experiences and insights, offering invaluable perspectives that go beyond company brochures.
In a recent discussion on TruckingTruth.com, a driver using the handle Lemmy_Lives initiated a conversation about Fortune Transportation. Having spent almost a year with Swift Transportation, Lemmy_Lives was contemplating a switch, spurred by a friend’s positive experience with Fortune. This driver was particularly interested in weekend home time and consistent mileage, aspects highlighted by his friend. Let’s delve into the forum discussion to gather information about Fortune Transportation and what the driver community has to say.
Exploring Opportunities Beyond the First Year
Lemmy_Lives started the thread seeking firsthand accounts from drivers familiar with Fortune Transportation. He mentioned his positive experience at Swift but expressed a desire for a dedicated route that would guarantee weekend home time – a significant factor for work-life balance in the demanding trucking profession. This desire for predictable home time is a common motivator for drivers looking to change companies after their initial year of experience.
Errol V., a moderator on the forum, responded by prompting Lemmy_Lives to consider what he was specifically seeking “out there.” Errol pointed out the diverse opportunities within large companies like Swift, mentioning flatbed and intermodal options. This highlights a crucial point for drivers: understanding the full spectrum of opportunities within their current company before looking externally.
Intermodal: Transporting freight using two or more transportation modes. An example would be freight that is moved by truck from the shipper’s dock to the rail yard, then placed on a train to the next rail yard, and finally returned to a truck for delivery to the receiving customer. In trucking when you hear someone refer to an intermodal job they’re normally talking about hauling shipping containers to and from the shipyards and railyards.
Errol’s initial response served as a reminder that changing companies might not always be necessary to achieve desired career goals, especially concerning pay and benefits, which are often competitive across the industry for experienced drivers.
Dedicated Routes and Home Time: The Deciding Factors
Lemmy_Lives clarified that his interest in Fortune Transportation stemmed from the promise of a dedicated route with weekend home time. He acknowledged Swift’s dedicated Dollar Tree route but noted its downsides, including undesirable working conditions and a terminal location that negated the benefit of home time.
Dedicated Route: A driver or carrier who transports cargo between regular, prescribed routes. Normally it means a driver will be dedicated to working for one particular customer like Walmart or Home Depot and they will only haul freight for that customer. You’ll often hear drivers say something like, “I’m on the Walmart dedicated account.”
This clarification emphasizes the importance of specific needs, like consistent home time, in a driver’s career decisions. For many, the appeal of a dedicated route with guaranteed weekends home outweighs marginal differences in pay or benefits. Lemmy_Lives’s focus was squarely on finding a better work-life balance, not dissatisfaction with his current employer.
Internal Opportunities: Asking the Right Questions
Trucker Kearsey, another experienced moderator, brought up an important point: drivers should always inquire about all available routes within their current company before assuming limited options. Kearsey shared a personal anecdote about discovering a local dedicated route at Prime Inc. that was not initially presented during recruitment, highlighting the potential for unadvertised opportunities within large carriers.
This advice underscores the importance of direct communication with driver managers (DMs) or driver development managers to gain a complete understanding of internal route options. It’s possible that Swift, like Prime, might have dedicated routes that align with Lemmy_Lives’s preferences that weren’t initially apparent.
Dm (Dispatcher, Fleet Manager, Driver Manager): The primary person a driver communicates with at his/her company. A dispatcher can play many roles, depending on the company’s structure. Dispatchers may assign freight, file requests for home time, relay messages between the driver and management, inform customer service of any delays, change appointment times, and report information to the load planners.
Validating the Desire for Change and Seeking Information
Brian M., another forum participant, offered support for Lemmy_Lives’s desire to explore external options. Brian acknowledged that after a year of service, drivers have “earned the right to explore other offers.” This perspective validates the common sentiment among drivers that the first year is about gaining experience and opening doors to better opportunities.
Brian M. correctly pointed out that Lemmy_Lives wasn’t necessarily unhappy with Swift but was seeking a better fit for his lifestyle needs, specifically more home time. He suggested leveraging his friend at Fortune Transportation as a primary source of information and recommended interviewing with Fortune to gather firsthand details without obligation.
The Grass Isn’t Always Greener: A Realistic Perspective
Brett Aquila, the founder of TruckingTruth.com and a seasoned driver, offered a balanced perspective. He mentioned the phenomenon of “boomerang drivers” – those who leave major carriers only to return after realizing external opportunities weren’t as appealing as initially perceived. This highlights the importance of realistic expectations when considering a company switch.
Brett also emphasized the vastness of opportunities within major carriers, suggesting that drivers might be unaware of all available divisions, dedicated routes, and specialized freight options within their current company. He advised direct inquiry with recruiters or driver development managers to uncover potentially suitable internal options.
G-Town, another moderator, echoed this point, stating that Swift has “hundreds of dedicated accounts.” He reinforced the advice to contact the original driver development manager at Swift for a comprehensive and honest overview of internal opportunities.
Re-evaluating and Making Informed Decisions
The forum discussion on Fortune Transportation ultimately circled back to the importance of thorough research and internal communication. While Lemmy_Lives’s initial question focused on external opportunities at Fortune Transportation, the ensuing conversation broadened the scope to include a deeper exploration of options within his current company, Swift.
The collective wisdom of the forum participants emphasized:
- Understanding your priorities: Clearly defining what you seek in a trucking job, whether it’s home time, route type, pay, or specific freight.
- Exploring internal opportunities: Communicating with your current company to uncover all available routes and divisions that might meet your needs.
- Gathering firsthand information: Talking to drivers currently working at companies you’re considering, like Lemmy_Lives’s friend at Fortune Transportation.
- Realistic expectations: Understanding that every company has its pros and cons, and the “grass isn’t always greener.”
For drivers considering Fortune Transportation or any career move, the key takeaway from this forum discussion is to conduct thorough research, ask the right questions both internally and externally, and make an informed decision based on your individual priorities and realistic expectations of the trucking industry.
While the forum discussion didn’t provide extensive details about Fortune Transportation itself, it offered a valuable framework for drivers to approach career decisions and highlighted the importance of leveraging industry communities for insights and advice.
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Disclaimer: This article is based on a forum discussion and represents the opinions of individual drivers. For accurate and up-to-date information about Fortune Transportation, please consult official company sources.
