I've been driving for 12 years and just left my employer of 10 years due to a disagreement over running local instead of OTR.
I know in the past decade the coast to coast runs seem to have dried up, I guess now mostly reserved for team drivers as consignees want faster service.
Maybe there are some dedicated routes out there?
It seems that industry wide the length of haul that used to be about 1200 miles when I started with CREngland in 1995, is down to 400-500 miles on average. Sure, there are the occasional runs out west from the mid-west or southeast, but for every one 2300 mile run I get, I seem to run another 4 weeks of 400 mile stuff from the IL to OH, OH to TN, TN to MO and MO to IL.
I'm burnt out on Chicago, Atlanta, and Ohio. Anyone know of a little trucking gem out there who run solos on longer OTR routes? I've been trying to google info about mail contractors to see if I can find a data base that includes lists of dedicated runs being offered, but it seems you have to pick up the phone and spend a week calling dozens of firms and trying to interpret their response and get them to give a straight answer.
I'm leaning now to Dalton, GA based Shaw transportation (I live in Chattanooga, but would LOVE to stumble across an Atlanta to LA dedicated route!). Any suggestions appreciated, I've got times on my hands to follow up on all leads, LOL!

Sadly we are a product of our own efficiency, just in time deliveries really prevent loads like this, and the railroad industry competes head to head with trucking. I have only had 1 load over 2000 miles in the past year but that had 3 different stops on it. I am on one right now that is 1800 miles with only 1 stop. But everyone has moved to the "just in time" delivery system, which puts hell on truck drivers and companies.

yeah, I miss it. Long haul was the reason I got into this game and I'm always jealous (if I believe them, LOL!) hearing tales of guys who run to LA, Seattle, Arizona on a regular basis.bb.

The main long loads I have heard of lately involve mostly refrigerated running diagonals, like Atlanta to Oregon or La to Maryland or New Jersey. Much of the long haul work is regular routes that are dedicated. Hauling maintenance parts for utilities and factories can be long haul and is varied but much of that is overcapacity loads from companies with their own trucks so it is sporadic.
Flatbed is something else, I do local involving step decks which always carry the same load, I've never gone farther than the mid west for any of those loads.

OTR is dead as far as long haul is considered. That's the primary reason I went regional. I'm not going to spend 21-45 days away from the house getting only 2500 miles a week...that's total BS in my book.

Especially since I can do the same thing, and be home 2-4 days a week.

The area you are looking in, will be difficult at best to find a dedicated run like you are wanting...I spent the last 18 months doing the same thing. I live about 4 hours from you.

Long haul has went the way of the dinosaur, the new hours of service has seen to that. Most companies are setting stuff up in relays now to insure timely delivary.

I can't tell you how many times CFI screwed their solos with this BS, on their Con-Way team loads. But, since they are one and the same now...I guess it will occur even more often now. Glad I'm not there anymore.

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and sent hither swarms of officers to harass our people,
and eat out their substance........

He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution,
and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his assent to their acts of pretended legislation:

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King George or Obama ????

To answer your question simply; yes there are. I read in another post you made that you are going to go regional. Have you decided which you want to do yet? I may be able to suggest a list of companys to look at for long haul solo if you'd like.

I know Swift gets a lot of laughs out of people, but compared to JB Hunt, they were long haul all the way. Their system is probably the best out there, forget the drivers and listen. Your time out and your ETAs work for you. I always got 2800 miles or more a week staying out 14 days, and if I stayed out 4 weeks, my loads were either 1400 or 2400 miles each. When you get to a certain area, you are taken in by different dispatch and whether the load is 50 or 250 miles away, they will put you on it.

I didn't realize how good the system was until I came to JB Hunt. Swift always know how much I had on my 14, and paid attention to my ETAs. As soon as I hit a dock and someone came inside to unload, I did my unloaded call because it almost never took more than 90 min/2 hrs. Whatever they charge customers for taking too long must really work.

I know they used to suck, my friend worked there before I did and had a terrible experience. But they are a company that is better to their drivers. You do them a favor, then ask for something you get it. I laughed and cried at times at how they would deadhead me home, T-Call me from Dallas to Detroit, or whatever I needed. Yes, I did them favors by answering and completing any load regardless of the legality, but at least there you get something out of it instead of being treated like an idiot.

With the new HOS coming, I'd go to a company like Swift and get some miles with it. Unless they changed it, they paid .34 for 6 months exp all the way up to .42 I think and you get all kinds of extra short haul and layover pay. I made over $1/mi on short hauls, and they even paid $75 to pick up in downtown metro areas.

Whatever anyone says, if you want nice easy long hauls that's what I know about Swift. But check into the pay, they have new owners. And if they still have Trip Paks, that is the main reason I left, my wife pretty much made that decision before I did. They lost a week's worth of trips, and I didn't have any copies. I kept copies after that, but there were still some weeks of no pay followed by a highly taxed 5000 mile paycheck.

Thanks, Eskimo, I'd appreciate any leads you might have regarding long-haul companies for solos. I've searched for manufactures in this area who might transport their own product, but so far have come up empty.
I'm taking the week off (road-tripping, of course) and when I return to my home in Chattanooga, will be talking to reps from Averitt who have a Chatt terminal for regional work (I applied on-line today and they already have called back), and with Shaw Transportation which is just down the road in Dalton, GA and says they will get you home once a week. I would prefer long-haul, but even the occasional west coast run with Crete (and I would imagine any other OTR national fleet for any company) only came after way too many trips to Chicago, KC, PA, and Dallas. Hard to find a dedicated long distance route. (I've also should investigate US mail contractors as well).

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"I have promises to keep and miles to go before I sleep, miles to go before I sleep" Robt. Frost

RE Garrison out of Cullman,AL(mainly teams but do hire solo and run mainly west and northwest)

Danny Herman Trucking out of Mountain City,TN

3KB out of Altus,OK

I would start with those 3. I know of a few more but they don't pay so good. They are the "chrome and lights large car" companies, and I'm sure you know how that works out.

I quit Landstar and sold my truck recently.. I did lots of long runs and on a regular basis. So does Broncrider with his lease to Davis.

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