On the verge of being fired, need advice.

I’ve been out here 10 years. I’ve never once even contemplated using excuses like I had laundry or needed a shower or didn’t get enough sleep. Doesn’t even enter my mind. Makes me kind of wonder what I’ve been doing lol your drivers really do this stuff? If I didn’t run a load because I didn’t get enough sleep? Are you kidding?

 

There are no excuses for service failures, except in cases like bad weather, truck breakdowns, and similar situations. I know several drivers who lost their jobs due to repeated issues. Not long ago, I was talking about why some people can’t perform their duties properly without constant supervision. I could dive into topics like rear-facing cameras and other tracking methods carriers use—but I won’t! One simple truth about this job is that personal matters need to be handled during off-duty hours. If oversleeping is a problem, it might be worth checking for possible OSA.

Think of it this way: how long does it take for someone to lose their job for being constantly late?

I'm with @gentleroger on this one.

 

Is OTR mainly about grinding? I ask because I know that sometimes I’ll feel anxious or a little overwhelmed on a random day during the week, but I essentially have to bite down on my mouthpiece and push through. Is that kind of the professional “hustler” aspect of this career? Get as many miles as possible/ trip plans/ run as soon as legally able?

im asking because im at my 6 months trying to balance the HUSTLE with maintaining long term vision/ burnout avoidance. What do you think?

 

When did most of y’all adopt 100% personal responsibility/ Hustle in your career? Like was it after a few months etc?

I ask because a lot of truck drivers are in there 20’s and haven’t felt a lot of the hard knocks of bad personal decisions/ time management so we might not be as on point as a Guy named Greg who has to pay for his kids food

 

OP I don’t know your personal situation but you can ask to transfer to PODS. Im on the act and all they give you is a pickup/ delivery date. The hours of Pickup and Delivery is (6-3:00)

might be worth looking into it’s very lax

 

Some fleets are better than others...with this.

Some types of freight are better than others with this, as well.

If you stay in trucking long enough -- you will see what I mean by the above.

 

That wouldn't be a driver related service failure. In Schneider parlance it's a 'B.A.D. load' - best available driver. Get under it and do the best you can - safely and legally - and they'll work out resetting appointments.

 

In a way it is about grinding, but doing it in a sustainable manner.

When I first went solo my goal was to average 300 miles a day. I figured 6 hours of driving at 50 mph and two hours of on duty time each day (I sucked at backing and everything takes longer as a new driver). That should be easily accomplished running recaps and would cover all my bills with a bit left over. In short order I upped the goal to 350 miles per day. Within 6 months I was aiming at 425 miles a day. That doesn't sound like much, but it's 3,000 miles a week and about 130k a year - respectable numbers in a 60 mph truck. And that was the MINIMUM I wanted to run.

One of the big mistakes I made early on was trying to run on my 10. One day I'd be starting at 0400 and the next day 0900. And I had way to many 'shut down early because the 70 is short and then run at midnight'. That takes a toll and I made some stupid choices that could have ended badly. I figured out it was better to keep a more stable running time - starting most days at 0600 and shutting down by 2000 even if I had hours to run yet. Obviouslly if the load required I'd do what was needed to make OTD, but afterwards I would work to get myself back 'on schedule' by how I set my availability.

Say I needed to 'run hard' and start my day at 0200 for a load. On the next load with time on it I'd push delivery later - ie I could make delivery at 1100 but I'd take a longer DOT break and deliver at 1400 (again, within the customers expectations). Say I had to start my day late and run later into the day, then I would change my availability - I might have 4 hours left on my 14 when I'm available but I'd only show 2 or just push off until the next day. It's more about running smart than running hard.

 

That is something too many people never figure out.