WHY I LEFT KNIGHT TRANSPORTATION

UPDATE | MARCH 2024 | I now do food-grade tanker at FlowTrans...
⚠️If you are interested in joining FlowTrans: call the recruiter, let Mrs Amy Ashley know "Santiago Lib." sent you @ [phone]⚠️
Want to Show Support for the Channel?
www.buymeacoffee.com/truckinvato

[@truckinvato]

UPDATE | March 2024 | I now do food-grade tanker at FlowTrans... ⚠If you are interested in joining FlowTrans: call the recruiter, let Mrs Amy Ashley know "Santiago Lib." sent you @ [phone]⚠ Want to Show Support for the Channel? www.buymeacoffee.com/truckinvato

[@lclfav2]

I worked for Knight Refrigerated in 2011 out of the Green Bay terminal. It was great. I ran 3 weeks out and took 3 days off. I was running 2500-3000 miles per week. They ran payroll daily, so I always had money in my pocket. The people were awesome. It was a small office in Green Bay and you knew everyone. They knew me by my name, not a truck number. I can't imagine what it's like now that they closed the small offices and teamed up with Swift. It's probably a night and day difference.

[@maxaguilar1964]

Love the viejo comment, you are right to set goals for yourself. Appreciate you for posting this.

[@truckinvato]

Stay up and thanks for watching

[@cub67]

I started trucking with Knight back in 2018 as a new driver and my plan was simple. Work for 1 year as a company driver then leave so I can buy a truck. Been an O/O since 2019. Knight was a good company to start with.

[@truckinvato]

Yeah man like I said in video theres some guys I know who are liking and doing well according to what they tell me with Knight. Like I also said in video Im grateful for the opportunity they gave me by taking me in literally the day after I got my CDL. My goal is to pay off my house and then get my own truck in the future. Thanks for your view and comment bro

[@WanderingWolf365]

The fact you don't have a wife or kids and still didn't make enough that's crazy - WW

[@AlbertMaruggi]

Bless you young man and the love and respect you have for your pops. Your heart is in the right place and you will never give up. Stay strong

[@truckinvato]

Amen thank you for your kind words. You as well.

[@Richard-tq7gj]

You are so right! I like the company, I like OTR, the equipment was clean. They just don’t pay enough for the time you give up!

[@truckinvato]

They're a good starter company. And I've also learned if you're happy with them, then stay with Knight but this is an old video. Ive since moved onto doing food grade tanker.

[@johntalavera7512]

I got my tenure at my company (12) and I'm not a quitter. . happy and proud to still be driving at my age.... . local driver southern California for one of the big carriers

[@truckinvato]

Heres your cookie OG 🍪

[@BlueHoundskennels]

Good video very so much true you know one door close another open

[@user-pf3ss8wz5i]

After 8 years with Knight I called it quits they have gone downhilll the last few years ,money is not there any more.

[@truckinvato]

Thats unfortunate man. This is an old video but Ive since moved on to hauling tanker. Hope and wish you the best in your trucking career

[@saladlamp2092]

Good for you. Companies aren't running a charity, but either are you. If this or any job isn't enabling you to advance your career, financial, and personal goals, find one that will!

[@lilvato88able]

Is knight and swift about the same pay wise? I am looking for a dedicated route for the expierence. Got hired driving a concrete mixer truck but hours suck its local but always tired and sleeping plus its not giving me tractor traiker experience to make more money and its a more messy job.

[@donaldgreene3105]

I love hauling cars and the biggest part of my love for carhauling is directly related to the money

[@Bgl-fz3cs]

I liked the video. I’m about to go for my class A test in a week from now. Glad to see u working for a better company. Keep striving man.

[@truckinvato]

congrats for taking a step towards a new career choice. wish much good luck homie. see you soon on these highways

[@Bgl-fz3cs]

@@truckinvato ty

[@SPIDERMAN2015]

I give you much respect to you and ask god to help you and you very straight forward which is hard to see people who have experience and express there way of see how things really are

[@truckinvato]

Thanks, I appreciate the comment. Hope you are having success in your driving career

[@jfoley1968jf]

Best of luck to you I'm sure you're going to do well

[@Koolmoedeesimpson]

Always do what’s best for you ! Fuck what anybody thinks bro they don’t pay your bills vato .. get your money and stay safe …

[@truckinvato]

You said it best man

[@MYT1FL]

The problem with these mega carriers is that they don’t have a lot of freight in Florida to cover all the drivers especially the newer drivers. The routes are probably already taken by older drivers who’ve been with the company for a while. Florida is a tough place for truckers it seems. But keep up the grind bro get that 1 year experience and hopefully more doors will start opening up.

[@truckinvato]

Been left Knight months ago homie...at another company now. I'm always running, paycheck looking good, dispatcher actually knows what they're talking about.

[@MYT1FL]

@@truckinvato nice! That’s what’s up bro! Stay safe out there man

[@humano1196]

I appreciate your straight shooting. I just acquired my CDL (with tanker & double/triple endorsements) and I live in Vegas so I was considering Knight since they have a terminal here. Knowing what you know now, which company would you go with? Thanks for any input.

[@truckinvato]

Hey thanks for watching. This is an old video. I do food grade tanker now. My advice is find a trucking job where you feel respected, treated with dignity, and makes you happy. Everything else is going to be subjective upon your own experiences in trucking, that being said if Knight gets your foot into the industry then take it.

[@michaelconvey8017]

perfect for you to get trained and get the experience if you have,nt driven before you really dont understand the industry its so much more than shifting gears at least get trained on a manual transmission you wanna drive an auto go ahead but while you have the chance to get trained on a manual do it . just wait till your on a go load and your transmission goes to sleeper berth

[@truckinvato]

@@michaelconvey8017 bro, quit lying. The automatics are just as good as the manuals if not better. Let me guess, you still use payphones too because cellphones are used by the gov to track you, huh? Every generation hates anything new lol

[@Punk-waffles]

Man I was with knight too and I felt every word you said it wasn’t worth me staying but they were a good company to start with them

[@truckinvato]

Yeah exactly but what was your experience? Didn't make money as well?

[@John-Val056]

Thanks for sharing. I know with experience comes more money. My first career I started in it and made 17,500 a year and when I retired from it, I was making 6 figures. Knowledge is power and more you do to set yourself apart from the masses will make you more desirable to have. Be safe.

[@truckinvato]

Thank you for comments John. Ive now since moved on to doing tanker but as you said knowledge is power. Stay safe out there

[@raindrxpz2473]

⁠@@truckinvato that’s my game plan to do tankers in the end but I want to get some experience truck driving how many years would you suggest getting before switching over to tanks?

[@truckinvato]

@@raindrxpz2473 sounds great. I switched over to tanker sooner than I expected due to Davis Transfer getting bought out but its been a little over a year since I got my CDL

[@amadislugo5334]

Only 3 and a half months in with Knight Port and Rail Services as an experienced driver and I can't feel any further disillusioned by the lack of miles, meaning lack of money on the paychecks. I've always been sent to get an empty container/chassis, in which I would find that it's never at any specific location due to another driver taking it before I get the load information. That's just the tip of the iceberg.

[@truckinvato]

Geez that sounds bad man. Sorry to hear that. My time at knight transportation has gone and been over a year now. I wish you the best of luck

[@amadislugo5334]

@@truckinvato Thanks, man. Actually, things have gotten a lot better over the last few weeks. My driver manager resigned in an unceremonious fashion. My current one would not only tell me that he's there for me, but he actually would be there for me. I've been getting the miles beyond what I've wanted, better paychecks, and even got my HAZMAT endorsement. Thanks for your sense of empathy and I wish you well.

[@countryboy0118]

so how many times did you go home? how many states did you run? how many loads did you refuse?

[@truckinvato]

Honestly I don't I remember as this was from a year ago. Ive moved onto hauling Tanker and haven't had an issue

[@chickenandwaffles09]

Man gotta do what he gotta do…. And yes I hate that mindset that you gotta accept being treated like shit “bc that’s trucking.”

[@truckinvato]

Fa'reals homie. No excuse to be struggling to make ends meet while working. Ridiculousness. And yeah bro I think its stupid to put up with BS just to be a trucker.

[@skg5067]

How were treated like shit

[@truckinvato]

@@skg5067 I never said that for my experience so I don't know where you getting that from

[@cathyling2015]

I think location might make a difference on how many loads you would get. If you were based in florida , compared to the west or midwest side ,that might make a difference.?

[@truckinvato]

You are probably right but this is an old video from last year. Ive since moved on to doing Tanker. Thanks for the reply.

[@chinodawg5180]

There you go 10 months in and you quit not knight faults you have to pay your dues you should have know that before you got into trucking

[@truckinvato]

If I would've known then I wouldn't have gotten into it, would I? I literally said what you saying about "pay your dues" in the video lol. This aint street politics so I dont need to prove anything to anyone homie so if it aint making me money then I aint going to be sticking around like a sucka.

[@jesusvsninjas]

Sheeeesh, what’s with the hate? We’re in this industry to make money and for other reasons. Just because he’s had a different experience than you, doesn’t mean he should just quit trucking altogether. We all have our own circumstances that require choices. And the fact that the dude’s coming on here and being transparent to those who are possibly interested in this particular company is admirable. Don’t give up, vato.. I’d tell this foo to close his mouth but I’m sure his asshole would take over and keep talking. I hope you find some happiness, “dawg”

[@mateodominguez9168]

@@truckinvato you don't have to pay dues . Fresh out of cdl school you can make 6 figures .

[@truckinvato]

@@mateodominguez9168 I completely agree with you bro...thats why I refuse to be treated like a sucka when theres guys who Ive met and come across who've told me what youre telling me.

[@chrisdementtrucking]

You mind dropping a video on paycheck, or average check amount or even just telling me. Im starting my trucking career here at night

[@truckinvato]

I would but honestly the amount of knight drivers hitting me up talking trash aint worth it lol my intention is not to say theyre a bad company because they're just like any another corporation imo. But without any bonuses (fuel, productivity, safety, all that other bs)....my lowest paycheck one week was $295 and my highest without bonuses was under $700.

[@chrisdementtrucking]

@@truckinvato 😳

[@ronnyondasticks6240]

295?

[@truckinvato]

@@ronnyondasticks6240 could've been less ...this was months ago

[@AM0908]

Youre making way more than he did at the same company so something is off. You have to run like 1500 hundred miles a week or less to make what he did. Im thinking his dispatch wasnt very good or maybe just his location

[@ElKing001]

I got a question . Were you OTR or local ? What was your schedule like ?

[@truckinvato]

This was so long ago. It was reefer, no such thing as a "schedule" lol just be prepared to do alot if your sleeping whenever you can. I hated it.

[@RaphaTrombadinha]

I’m working with knight right now and I ain’t making squad so I believe you 😂

[@truckinvato]

Good luck

[@Bgl-fz3cs]

What the checks be like there?

[@truckinvato]

@@Bgl-fz3cs honestly bro, it all depends on who you ask...trucking be like that. lol

[@lowzdel5129]

Where did you go?

[@AnthonyConner]

Same here I’m leaving knight for the same reason

[@truckinvato]

Wish you luck man. Thanks for watching

[@richardmanikowski5947]

Good video man, not too long.

[@AM0908]

Just like his career lol

[@Herv66]

Do Knight require a down payment for training school

[@truckinvato]

I couldn't tell you that information because I paid for trucking school myself. I do know that they offer tuition reimbursement but in small increment payments each week for a few years to payoff your tuition.

[@Herv66]

@@truckinvato Ok Thank you :

[@Aldo03_]

Man im looking at getting into Trucking through their CDL program. I dont have no kind of experience in Commercial Driving. I know they have their school out there in AZ.

[@Aldo03_]

2:49 how come you didn't go through a school or get trained by a company. Like I seen a lot of people go through SWIFT/SCHNEIDER/PRIME INC ?

[@truckinvato]

​@@Aldo03_IDK what you mean but I went to a state college but I had to pay out of pocket for my CDL since I didn't qualify for any kind of financial assistance. Its old news anyways as this video was from last year. Good luck in your trucking journey tho bro.

[@Aldo03_]

@@truckinvato ahh I did a typo bro. I meant to say that I want to go through Trucking School with the Company SWIFT TRANSPORTATION. But yeah it's old news for you. Yeah.

[@The44One]

How much do experience drivers make at knight ?

[@truckinvato]

I dont know as everyone always says differing numbers all over the place. I'd rather not give out misinformation

[@kangarootrucker]

Good question. I too would like to know.

[@truckinvato]

@@kangarootrucker the best way to figure that out is to just call up their recruiting office and ask.

[@user-lx6vw8tq3u]

Truck driving is like working for peanuts I miss using the paper logs Local driver here talavera

[@rachelmalka4115]

It seems like employers are making their offers appear more and more like slave labor. Right on! Go where you are treated best.

[@truckinvato]

Thanks for the response.

[@Linknelson]

Are you still doing a driving job?

[@truckinvato]

Yes I still am.

[@chinodawg5180]

And if you sat for 4 days that's on you been at knight 15 years never sat longer than a day

[@truckinvato]

Heres a cookie 🍪

[@Shane7son]

@@truckinvato I love your reply 👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽

[@dubghost1829]

Lol you lost out on alot of money over 15 years

[@chinodawg5180]

@@dubghost1829 You think what you want driver but I'm doing just fine pal

[@Barely.audible]

This is the reason why I am going to quit. I was getting great miles but there was always something wrong with my truck and I don’t really get paid break down. The month of November I made $1,500 after taxes and benefits because my truck was out of service for two weeks. I made more working at a warehouse.

[@truckinvato]

Find another company to drive for if you want to keep trucking... I've learned this industry is not like your typical job. Company loyalty will get you nowhere. Always seek better for yourself. Depending on your driving experience another company will scoop you up to replace one of their drivers.

[@beyzakardenas3814]

Same way like me, 4 days out the road and my paycheck $237 😭

[@truckinvato]

@@beyzakardenas3814 oh no! Get your experience and find another small or medium sized company to drive for

[@kingTucca]

@@beyzakardenas3814 Hell nah get out.

[@donaldgreene3105]

Your dad is absolutely correct you got to go get it

[@RA-fz4gn]

Am experiencing the same thing man not making no good money at Knight transport . Thanks man

[@truckinvato]

I need money if Ima be out on the road. Cant be making mickey mouse money if they want you to sacrifice your home time.

[@matthewshannongreen1900]

The money will come. You have to understand how Knight treats their employees. They are very good and will bend over backwards for you. Nobody else will do that. So chase the money and get treated like total Sh! Knight will prob still take you back if you don’t take too long

[@RA-fz4gn]

Lol @@matthewshannongreen1900 if a company is ready good and it would go backwards for you then it would Pay you what you deserve Young one, don’t you know man that this company’s are make 10k or more when you driving for them and they will just pay you cheap change , you are making them rich , at the end of a day you are just a number you become at glory company driver because you agree on what they tell you , if they truly respect you my friend they will pay you what you deserve .

[@truckinvato]

@@RA-fz4gn bro your message is on point. These companies making bank off a driver while they get to go home, eat and sleep with their comfortable lives while we as drivers are supposed to tolerate cheap slave wages because we're supposed to be "loyal" to a "good" company. Thats a trip that some drivers will do that. Nah bruh, this is America the land of capitalism...if it aint paying me and its not charity work then nah Ima keep it pushing

[@skg5067]

With every job, you have to pay your dues . Seniority is the key with every job. I think you were going into this job with dollars signs .

[@truckinvato]

That doesn't make any sense...of course you have to go into a job seeing dollar signs. Who the hell works for free unless you a volunteer for charity? This is America home of capitalism.

[@MYT1FL]

No but you go into a job expecting to make a living and not get peanuts. It doesn’t have to be that way. He clearly said that he paid for his education out of his own pocket so he should at least be making a decent living from the get go. It’s not like he owed them thousands upfront and they were deducting money from his paycheck. We should expect a lower paycheck if we’re paying back a debt but if you owe no debt then you should get the same rate as anybody doing the same job. Seniors can have other perks but not on the rookies expense.

[@truckinvato]

@@MYT1FL save your time bro...you cant argue with super truckers lol. I gave up a long time ago. I just know that company loyalty will get you nowhere in this game. At the end of the day like my pops tells me "this is america where the dollar is king"...

[@keithbannister5283]

Unfortunately people don't buy that BS anymore SKG. We don't want to deal with that...and won't. These companies do not care about or invest in you. So people don't care how long you've been somewhere and pretend that gives you the right to a better work environment. All doing the same wirk. Advise you to get used to that now because people are different nowadays

[@jademcgood4314]

How do we know u were with knight

[@truckinvato]

You don't...but this is the internet so if you saw it on here then it must be true homie

[@Demarcointuit]

Knight gave me the run around big time. It cost me a lot of money and burning two bridges with other companies. I finally just quit... I am an entry level driver.

[@truckinvato]

Well that sucks...keep trying and applying at other companies. At the end of the day these companies all need drivers one way or another...its just a matter of being at the right place, right time, and finding the right dispatcher

[@TabbFromPhilly]

I'm with Knight. I'm looking to get out. Slow trucks. The first trainer I had was not good. The paycheck I recently saw was terrible. I hate it here. It's not worth my time.

[@truckinvato]

Dang that sux man. Get your experience and start looking for other options.

[@TabbFromPhilly]

@@truckinvato I already found another company. It's a team driving position. I'm willing to take a chance. Orientation next week. My check was less than $400.00. That was the last straw for me.

[@truckinvato]

@@TabbFromPhilly yeah good call man, 3-digit-paychecks are not it if youre going to be out on the road. Good luck with your next endeavor. Glad to see you watching out for yourself and not putting up with no BS. Stay safe out there

[@zhinbaysen7581]

Good for students. After that year, GET THE HELL OUT.

[@freshawntaylor9923]

Can you leave and continue to pay tuition back ?

[@truckinvato]

I don't know...I paid out of my own pocket and went to my local state college to obtain my CDL

[@AM0908]

Yes no contract with knight, if you leave early you pay them like 50 bucks a month or something

[@e7oh2]

Knight let go cuz I did a u turn in the corn fields 😢lol

[@truckinvato]

Dang lol well I remember they had a strict "no u-turn" policy...been long gone from them but nowadays I make u-turns no issue as long as its safe and wide enough to make one on the road with the company Im at

[@tudk4366]

Get your doubles & Hazmat..Go local LTL My brother

[@quezzyfloatn5662]

Are you in Cali ?

[@truckinvato]

Negative

[@JuanLopez-hb9cc]

Fuel hauling is where the money is at bro

[@CynicallyObnoxious]

Yea if you have experience and a Hazmat jump on that

[@floored3078]

I’m dedicated flat and in 1 day I can do 8 stops, $25 each, and run 400 miles, and have a $400 day. I worked at Coca Cola as a home daily with commission and base pay and only made $250 a day lol. The grass never gets greener until you pay literally cash for a truck. “I’ve got a car note and a house payment, and I’m single.” Sounds like you don’t drive a truck buddy.. you needed neither of those payments 😂

[@truckinvato]

I get it big dawg you're the real deal super trucker. But guess what, this video is from last year so who's really the sucka?

[@kingTucca]

He is right.

[@truckinvato]

What was your experience?

[@kingTucca]

Pretty much same reason. I do Knight ports in Vegas but. There is any berly any loads anymore. Dispatcher talk down to you. They try to make you do regional runs so you could have a load. But it is not worth it for 50 cent the mile. But the more miles you do you are only at 46 cents the mile. The pay is too low for that. All I want to do is go to the ports or rail yard which is my job that I was sign up to do.. But they try to send you off somewhere else for the same pay.

[@truckinvato]

@@kingTucca hope you it all works out for you homie

[@kingTucca]

@@truckinvato like wise man. God Bless.

[@jbobb793]

Who’s taking my socks and underwear at these public laundries

[@truckinvato]

A trade secret homie lol

[@CarliOtal-cu3nv]

Well that says it all.......if Knight has teamed up with Swift.....you can figure out the rest. the other thing that got my attention is that Knight has all Volvos????? NO Petes, KWs, Freightliners or Macks?

[@truckinvato]

I dont drive for Knight anymore so I dont know. This an old video.

[@trayjthelocdtrucker]

Knight has Volvos, Freightliners, KW’s, Internationals

[@user-lx6vw8tq3u]

Maybe you should try driving in a local job

[@truckinvato]

Been there, done that...too much work for not enough money in my state. But Im doing food grade tanker now tho 😎