They have a mix of them I believe. I know some of the older ones were 9 speeds, and the new Petes are 13's. All have 3.55 rears, unless they changed that this year also.

Thanks chrome, now i just gotta pick a company to go with. They all have told me i'm good to go.

Prime
Central
Cr England
Marten

I would scratch CR England from that list. Central is much better, and we have allot of there lease OPs at Central, who learned the hard way.

Prime I have talked to many drivers from. It may be a good choice. They run Freight shakers, but the payment is also lower that way. Most of there drivers I have talked too are happy.

Marten I have looked at going too myself. APU equipped trucks, better millage pay, and they seem to be more of a drivers company than Central.

This is just what I think of them from a company driver stand point. I have not read allot here about Prime, just talked to there drivers at a few places we both load.

But I would keep it to those 3 company's. I will look more at prime in the next day or so, I am not sure what there millage rate is, and fuel surcharge, if it is for all miles dispatched or just loaded. This makes a huge difference. Also how the trucks are spec'd for trans and rears. To see if it is a truck set up for fuel economy.
That is the trick with the FSC, if you can get a well set up truck, that can average at least .5 mpg better than what the FSC is set at, you will make allot more money.

If you are getting FSC for all miles, loaded and empty, and averaging over 7 mpg, then your fuel just gets cheaper every time the fuel cost goes up.

Yep sitting outside the Columbia Plant now waiting to be unloaded. Security is tighter then fort Knox here.
Have a new preset which is a bit sucky, Quiet a few dead head miles well over the 10% we budget for. FM pointed out it was the weekend and not much else, was either take the load or sit until Monday.

JJ has a 45 day Evaluation in WVC as soon as we can get a load back that way and he will be talking to the L/O department, Accountant and FM about more presets before we deliver loads and less dead head to get loads unless the company is paying the fuel Surcharge.
The load we are going to get should be a company driver load 237 miles dead head and 556 loaded

__________________
The Two J's living in the house Peter bilt.

I forgot to warn you about Columbia.
You have to get there early. They unload based on when you get there, for the most part. They have had me wait hours and hours before. I really hate that run.

I am running around WI. Deadhead from this darn WM DC as soon as they are done. Load up and run to Springfield MO.
Then deadhead to Granite City IL.
Granite City-> Avon NY.
Avon NY -> Independence MO
Independence MO -> Granite City -> Avon NY again.

That is my plans till next Friday. Already preset.
The deadhead miles are about 600 miles, and about 3500 loaded. I really don't like running that hard, but I am going to need a reset after this, and I am at my home end when I get it. I will just barely have the hours to get it done and make it to home.

I like prime too, i have talked to quiet a few of their drivers and they love working there plus its a walk away lease and then you can stay and work company, which is not a bad deal

Might be worth a try. With the % of load pay though you really need to try and have loads set up early, so they are not taken.
The payments seem a little steep though, and what is that 4 cent per mile charge?
Allot of bonuses available to replace it though, and it is a walk away, so you can decide if leasing is for you.

hey guys, start central monday july 28 in wvc.. gonna stick with alot of advice and information ive learned on here from alot of you guys. i run into any problems ill definitly ask you drivers for info... drive safe...

how important is it to having a laptop with you, is it easier to run your routes using rand mcnally programs as well as using the books?????? i can go get one today if its a good piece of equipment to have. any suggestions to how big a memory i need or any special programs??????

Hi michaelc.....I brought my laptop mainly for checking email and getting on this board when I was in school, but as far as school goes, you wont need it. All pre route planning will be done with the motor carriers atlas. They let you use one in class. I will be in West Valley next week, maybe i will see you there. When your on your own you might want to use one along with your atlas. I use CoPilot 11 with my atlas myself.