DM Bowman is not unlike any other trucking company. Some people become gainfully employed and stay for years, others manage to only make it for a few days or weeks.
I have been employed there for nearly a year in the short haul van division and occaissionally pull the FED-EX doubles that the company has a contract for. For the most part, I am enjoying my time there.
As far as the company goes, I can only tell you of my experiences. When you first start there in short haul, you will work 6 days a week mostly at night. You will be on duty anywhere from 60-70 hours a week. You won’t be turning a lot of miles for the first couple of weeks. This is mainly because the company is just filling you out. If you prove yourself to them, do your job, make your deliveries on time, and not bother your D.M. with pointless phone calls you will be rewarded nicely. Basically, show them that you can handle the job and they will develop some trust in you and give you more miles and better runs. I now have a dedicated run.
Honestly, the first couple of weeks there, I only brought home after taxes and health insurance, an average of $450. However, I am now bringing home nearly double. So, the money isn’t bad once you prove yourself.
As far as complaints go…you slip seat in short haul and there are some guys there that just don’t know how to clean up after themselves. There is nothing I hate more than getting in a dirty truck. This just starts my day off on a sour note. Other than that, the trucks are well maintained mechanically. They pride themselves on safety to the point to where I think they may go a little too far. For example, I was written up for a preventable accident when I did a Staples delivery. I had to blind side back into a dock off the street and I hit the curb. The mud flap got pinched between the curb and the tire and got tore off. I got written up for that and was made to feel like a piece of crap because of it. My opinion is scratches on bumpers, wheels, and things like mud flaps getting tore off happen. If they don’t happen often, I don’t think you should be charged with prevent ables for things like that. Slip seating is a pain in the butt in other ways. You always have to go into the building every day and see the dispatcher on duty to get your truck for the day, then to the shop to get your keys, then out to the lot to search for your truck. Often this process can take a 1/2 hour. I’d would much rather just go from the parking lot to my truck and get my dispatch over the Qualcomm, do my pretrip and get moving. Line-haul guys however, don’t have to do this ritual daily.
For the most part, the DM’s are pretty cool. My 2 favorite DM’s were former drivers that the company pushed back into driving recently. I didn’t like that move at all. I was more comfortable doing my job knowing those 2, who have been through it all were sitting on the other end of the computer or the phone. (Tim and Ron are the best) However, the DM’s will try to accomodate you with days off and extended weekends if you show that you are willing to do something for them in return, like work the next weekend for example. In other words, one favor leads to another.
For the most part. I don’t have any real complaints. I am enjoying my time thus far.
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