truck driver

local driver

entry level truck driver

dispatcher

transportation specialist

KLLM Transport

Truck driving is often considered a good job for several reasons, making it an appealing career choice for many individuals. Here are some key points highlighting why truck driving can be a rewarding and beneficial profession:

1. **High Demand and Job Security**: The trucking industry is a critical part of the economy, responsible for transporting goods across the country. This constant demand for transportation services ensures a steady need for truck drivers, providing job security even in fluctuating economic conditions.

2. **Competitive Pay**: Truck drivers, especially those with experience and specialized skills, can earn a competitive salary. Long-haul drivers, those who handle hazardous materials, and drivers of oversized loads often receive higher pay. Additionally, many companies offer bonuses for safe driving records and timely deliveries.

3. **Travel Opportunities**: For individuals who enjoy traveling and exploring new places, truck driving offers the opportunity to see various parts of the country. The open road can provide a sense of adventure and a chance to experience different regions and cultures.

4. **Independence and Autonomy**: Truck driving often involves working independently, with drivers spending much of their time alone on the road. This level of autonomy can be appealing to those who prefer working without constant supervision and enjoy making decisions about their daily routines.

5. **Flexible Work Schedules**: Many trucking companies offer flexible work schedules, allowing drivers to choose routes and schedules that fit their lifestyles. This flexibility can be especially beneficial for those who need to balance work with family or other commitments.


Saw a lot in my time there.  Half of the shop staff are decent people, the other half are not.  They do not drug test employees at the shop, and some take advantage of this, some mechanics would come into the shop high, and work on pretty heavy duty equipment.  I'm sure that the traffic from drivers into the shop would halt if they knew about what some of the people were doing in there.  some of the employees would have a straight week of unexcused absences, with no repercussions.  The management was never reliable, you could never get a straightforward answer from the manager.  This company is also really bad about dumping two or three additional duties onto departments who would otherwise not deal with these sorts of things.  They had the parts department writing estimates of repair, providing status updates on truck repairs, and checking in drivers, stuff that any other fleet would likely have a service writer/service foreman do.  Raises are minimal, you may break big with a three plus dollar raise, but it's rare.  They do yearly raises that bumps your pay 3% higher every year, but again that's only dimes.  I was promised a large raise by this company, it took six weeks of constant badgering, then I was told a much lower amount, then my actual raise ended being 50 cents lower than the lower amount.  I would not recommend putting a two weeks notice in, as it seems that over half of the people that did when I worked there, were fired before their two weeks was over, I imagine this is because they will not have to pay whatever amount of PTO that is promised to you after a two weeks notice is fulfilled.  

What is the best part of working at the company?
Education and training to become a Professional Conmercial Licensed Class A Truck Driver.  
Insurance benefits, lease and purchase options are one the best in the industry, company driver solo and Team operator choices. 
Miles are plenty and given if tat is what you want and need 

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
Being away from your family for extended periods due to unexpected events and and natural disasters and causes 

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
The assignments are good and they plan very well to accommodate each driver to what is needed and that driver can physically and mentally do.  

The dispatch and planning route and loads personnel are some of the best folks I have ever worked with and spoken with. Treat each other with respect and care for your equipment and you will be rewarded in the same way.  

Don’t risk your load.  Or your life.  

Communication is very much important and it will take you down if you are not alert.  

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
It’s driving and sometimes having to wait for more hours than expected to be loaded or unloaded.  

You could be tied up in traffic for hours do to road conditions, construction, weather and accidents in the pathway.  Some detours are not suitable for your load and equipment.   Be very attentive to reading highway signs

I can only give you my experience and it will be different for everyone. First, the salary is based on what your dispatcher and planner want you to make. The load board is one whistle that is silent. If you are not bowing down to the powers that be, you will never see the load board. They will give you the standard excuse for no loads available or in your area, but when you are soon to the deliver THE LOAD they want is what you get. Their goal is make money off of you not you to make money especially the lease owners which they push so you can attempt to buy a truck only to break your bank with truck repairs.  Yes, the equipment is not well taken care of so you will get another persons problem. All they want is your weekly settlement to cover that truck payment.  You are paid $1.05 a mile starting in January but the planners and dispatchers will NOT give you anymore miles to make a difference.  This company could be better, but they refuse to release those individuals who are keeping you from making money, so long story short the upper management must agree with with what they do. I believed the hype and was disappointed twice because they also speak to you with the utmost disrespect.  Company drivers....well good luck with that!

Kllm dispatchers are the worst. Preplanners over there are the worst as well. They talk to you like you are their children. Nasty attitudes. They always disrupt your 10hr break with a swap and expect you to get up on time when your 10hr break is over. 34 over resets do not exist if you are a company driver. They run you off recaps. They do not get you home on time.
If you have a load going home and someone with seniority wants to go home and your load takes them there, kllm will make you swap.
Family emergencies, they will ask a million queations and see if its worthy of you going home.

Hotel rooms, they make you call everyday to get money for the same room if you have to stay a week if your truck is in the shop.
It is a hassle to get funds from them.

Company drivers they make you switch trucks several times out the year.
They receive grants at the driving school but lie to you all about paying them back.

Only do lease purchase if you are on a dedicated account or if you are a seasoned driver because they will have you sitting for several days if you are a rookie

I was a great driver..always on time 
Ran 500 + miles a day on average...
This my experience
Yours may be different

Being a Team OTR with spouse; as time goes by and unforeseen circumstances arise.  Being honest, having patience and understanding of all aspects and the amount of staff and constant new drivers coming into the industry.   I’m very happy with the way everyone is very professional though out the entire company.  

I’m very proud to have been part of such a family of professionals and people who turn into being like family. 

As I have grown up all around the industry of all kinds of construction, mechanical engineering new and old remodels and expansion and down size of all types of shipping and receiving systems and facilities. 

KLLM is always going to be a very important part of my lifestyle and has been understandably supportive in my life and helped me learn and develop in more way than I ever thought could have become a reality.   

Like anything else in life you get out of  life what you make and put forth.  

The initial training program to get your CDL has great instructors. Unfortunately, the next phase with over the road 'trainers' is not good at all and discourages many trainees. If you get unlucky enough to get a "team" driver who just wants a steering wheel holder, you will be very disappointed and very unprepared in the trucking world afterwards. My "team" driver slept while I drove, made me drive every night, and commented on all the trainees that left his truck and quit before training ended. He still had clothing in the truck from them. He also said management always sided with him when the trainee complained/quit. There are good trainers at KLLM, but there are also ones who only use you(like mine) to make money for themselves.Trainers should be on the same shift as you so they can observe and correct/instruct you. My trainer just slept most of my shift. The other part he just played on his computer. He would wake up and start driving once you ended your "shift", then you are supposed to sleep while he drives. I had about 2 hours of real sleep every day. Somehow, you are supposed to learn something while under this kind of duress. I can honestly say I survived my trainer, nothing more.

Load planners have absolutely no consideration for drivers time.  Drivers can not make plans in advance to be home.  They will make you late every time.  This hurts the family but also cannot make doctors or dental appointments in advance.   Load planners will leave too much time on a load leaving the driver sitting 24 and 31 hours waiting to get unloaded.  They always make sure no detention or layover is paid to drivers if at all possible.  KLLM policy shorts drivers on their milage on average of 60 miles per trip (some times less sometimes more) plus shorts driver on miles to and from trailer washouts.  By the time you retire from this company you will have bought a truck FOR  KLLM in driving unpaid miles.  They make employee drivers pay for scale tickets, trailer washouts, lumper fees, load locks, windshield wiper fluid and a number of other costs to the truck or the load.  Of course, it’s reimbursed but they will forget.  You have to call and call and sit on hold chasing people down just to make sure you’re getting paid even as an employee. 

Great CDL training experience with this company. Straight down hill after that. Waited 5 weeks before a trainer was available.Could not go out due to death of an immediate family member. The next training opportunity came and I went out. Spent first 3 days with trainer, at terminal due to leaving out on second day and having carbon monoxide leaking fumes into tractor. Returned to terminal. Truck placed on OOS status. Went back home to await repair or new tractor. The next week I went back out and the second day I finally got to drive,the trainer watched me drive for about 2 hrs, went to the sleeper berth. My first night driving experience also included driving into the Ga/Tennessee mountains without any instructions or information on using engine braking. I woke the trainer up when alternating brake pumping, as instructed was not working. Going down a mountain and around a curve, at 76mph, while she slept. I was done at this point with the trainer and KLLM for providing her. Training leaves a lot to be desired from this company.

What is the best part of working at the company?
Up-to-date trucks the veteran drivers are very helpful 

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
You’re just being a number  And if you are new to trucking, don’t expect any help from dispatch Although they put you on the New driver list They are pretty much like computers. They expect you to know things that you have never been taught. Most of them are just not helpful. The load planners suck also They care less if you get home on time

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
A lot of smoking mirrors It’s like an assembly line New classes start every Monday 20 to 25 people which means you can easily be replaced  only thing that matters to them is that load getting there on time all 

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
Driving and Every now and then out of the blue you You’ll be forced to swap loads with someone with no explanation And you would have to call the other driver to set up where the swap is going to take place and most of the time once you get there, you’re sitting there waiting

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Truck driver 75 salaries reported	$1,914 per week
Local driver 3 salaries reported	$28.25 per hour
Entry level truck driver 2 salaries reported	$60,000 per year
Dispatcher 2 salaries reported	$17.00 per hour
Transportation specialist 1 salary reported	$22.01 per hour

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