My time with Hirschbach

You can now add Hirschbach to a long line of trucking companies that have fired me. However, I still recommend them. I made good money with them. You do have to make sure that they pay you correctly and you have to get them to put things in writing. If you get called to do a relay you can negotiate a price. Like a $150 bonus for doing the run. I averaged $1894 a week with them as take home pay. Remembering that you have to pay taxes out of that money is a pain but the Donald will help.

Now I am sure you want to know why I was fired. I got my truck turned up to 68 at an International dealership. That was a no no. I also let my truck run downhill as long as it stays with in the legal limits. Those two things were frowned on. Then I broke a cab extender off jack knifing into a dock. I got called in and fire by someone who did not have the guts to do it to my face.

Anyway, I highly recommend the company but as I am tired of being fired I am buying my own truck now.

 

What does that bring the number of companies you have been fired by to? What was the purpose of getting it bumped up to 68? Why not just get it bumped all the way up if you were going to mess with it? Smh

 

So the lease plan is doable? Not a scam?

 

Sorry for the lateness in my reply. Running around crazy getting the new truck. It is a 2017 Volvo 780. I take delivery in June.

Hirschbach's lease is not a scam. What it is is a lease with option to buy. I started out with truck 24077. They number the trucks like this. 2 is owner operators or leased trucks. The first number is a 3 for company drivers. The second number is the year of the truck. So my truck was the 77th of the 2014 trucks. It was an International with the Maxx Force engine. I paid $615 a week for the truck. My contract called for 85 payments and then a $48000 payment to buy the truck. I did not see that as something I would be doing. So I did not go into it looking to end up with a truck.

The people who run the company are business people. I mean that in a good way. They pay you what it takes to keep you. A fair wage but not a dime more. It is up to you to make sure you are making as much as possible.

By example. Everyone knows that the price per gallon of fuel is not the price that companies actually pay. They have discounts. Hirschbach says that you pay 99 cents per gallon if you fuel at Pilot, Flying Jay, or Love's. I did not understand until after my first few checks that you have to fuel at specific Pilot's, Flying Jay/s and Love's, If you don't follow the plan they add 25 cents per gallon to your price. I am guessing that is because of the discount they get. They are not trying to screw you but they are not going to let your mistake effect their bottom line either.

If you choose not to take the 99 cent program (and by not taking it you can have your truck turned up to a higher speed) they do not give you the entire fuel surcharge back. Their trucks get about 8.3 MPG. So they make money if you get that but if you go fast that ends up cutting into their cost. They guard against that.

I ran hard but that is something I like. I put myself in the sleeper as soon as I hit the docks and saved my 70 hour clock. I never turned down a load and I was never late. I loved my dispatchers, they left me alone and always had a preplan before I needed it. No wasting time waiting on what to do next. In the first four months of this year I grossed $49,301.05. After all deductions but before taxes I brought home $19,983.68. That works out to just under $60,000. ####. I worked harder then that.

 

So with the new truck are you leasing on to a company or running complete independent?

 

Going to Land Star. But I am so tempted to get my own authority now. Land Star will let me get my feet wet first. I had ordered 10 trucks awhile back but lacked the gonads to pull the trigger.

 

Wow...Fire away... You said you been fired by many, baby steps buddy. I'm surprised they took you on.

Wish you well... Are you going flat or Van?

Going with landstar @blairandgretchen can give you some advice I'm sure...

 

I am buying a reefer.

 

How many folks that run with them have you consulted with?