Question:
What Questions would you ask the Company or Recruiter for the OTR company you applied to? I thought it might be useful to have a list for new drivers like me to pull up when considering companies.
I opened a line of communication with Werner today. I told the recruiter I am gather information only. I dont want him to get his hopes up that I will bite, and I want him to either blow me off 'cause he doesnt want to take the time I want, or show he's willing to answer my Q's. I have about 8 days to gather questions before he gets back in town.
Thanks!

Answer:
Here's a place where you can get a list of the majority of questions you want to or need to ask. just taylor it to your needs.
Questions To Ask - Explanations and Details
http://www.newbiedriver.com/
Newbiedriver is a good place for info and answers to alot of questions.

Answer:
Well, for one, ask if they are paying actual hub or actual speedometer miles as opposed to "air miles."
Most likely, it will be air miles which, as i've recently discovered, is not a good thing; Previously, i've been paid by the hour and/or by the hub. This is my first real job that pays air and about 10-15% of my pay has been given away to so-called air miles.
Second, you want to ask what training did the trainers go thru to train; There are some psycho trainers out there, believe me. More on this unfortunate situation later.
Much more later.

Answer:
Air Head being paid Air Miles.
Only a complete idiot would believe anyone pays Air Miles.
Answer:
No need to get too upset about it; Notice i put "air miles" in quotes in the above replies. Air miles is my (and many others) nickname for "computer miles," "Rand McNally miles" etc. Anything that isn't actual driven miles.
U depressed?
3) The third thing you want to ask is, about the downtime pay for breakdowns---do they pay you anything if the truck breaks down?

Answer:
4) another thing is, don't just talk to the recruiters talk to the drivers. Try to talk to at least 10 drivers for the company you're interested in.

Answer:
Yep Chad I for one noticed you changed your post and added bold highlights and quotation marks shortly after you got caught.
Air miles for air heads, makes sense to me.

Answer:
No, he didn't. If he'd changed it after someone else posted, it would have said, "Message edited..."
Answer:
sorry, he changed it.

Answer:
Regardless, air miles, computer miles, randMCnally miles are all basically the same thing to me.
And that means getting paid 15% less than what you've actually driven.
Most of the LTL linehaul gigs pay actual miles.

Answer:

You're making crazy talk! Air miles is the distance between point A and point B in a straight line. Even the lousiest of companies is going to try and pay anyone based on that. Likewise, paying hub mileage is a sure sign of a poorly managed company. PC Miler is more than generous on practical miles. If an experienced driver can't meet or beat PC Miler practical, then they just aren't good enough at their job.
Don't get me wrong, I'd love to have some sucker paying me hub miles, but it's just not very likely that some company is going to pay me for out of route excursions.

Answer:
Yep PC Miler Practical would be the best and is hard to beat for being close. usually I can get wityhin 5-10 miles on either side of it. It's what I have on my laptop. But when it's comparred to what most companies use drivers are getting ripped. Most companies use HHMG and it is zip code to zip code using the shortes route to each. basically taking roads that most drivers would never dream of if they want to get where their going on time. Usually you give up 7-12 percent on a run. In my opinion any unrealistic percentage and HHMG is a rip off.

Answer:
OK, well thank you for clearing things up; I don't have all that much OTR experience.
I have worked for company that paid hub and they allowed for about +/- about 300 miles from an average run. So yes, you could get lost or go off somewhere and visit friends and get paid for it. And yes, the company was/is mis-managed.

Answer:

A somewhat misleading statement. They pay THEIR actual miles
on THEIR routing which may not be practicle. I've seen some Union Carrier
routes come up short.
Answer:
What questions would I ask of an OTR company or recruiter:
These -
CLICK HERE
They are written for the owner/operator, and therefore don't all apply to a company driver, but they are a good start.