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my first week as an owner operator..ouch!!

Discussion in 'Ask An Owner Operator' started by brycey1, Jan 30, 2011.

Page 1 of 6
  1. Jan 30, 2011 #1
    brycey1

    brycey1 Light Load Member

    133
    70
    Nov 19, 2007
    palm bay , florida
    0
    What a week, i left Florida Monday morning, picked up a trailer in Jacksonville, 2 hours later was given my 1st load,( rule 1, never accept a load before checking the miles, i was having breakfast in the TA when i got the call ) i was told it was a 90 mile deadhead to the shipper, turned out to be 220 miles, Mcintyre GA, picked up the load headed to Naugatuck CT $100 tolls, delivered load at 4am Wednesday, heavy snow, parked at small truck stop, got stuck in the snow with the other trucks parked there, lent a trucker $35 never saw him again, was layed over due to very low paying loads coming out of CT, eventually deadheaded to Carlisle PA, picked up a load, 3 home depot deliveries in Long Island NY, $100 in tolls, got lost, roads very narrow due to snow, on route to second home depot, the clutch gave out!!! drove the truck/trailer without a clutch to Long Island Freightliner, they cant look at the truck till Monday (tomorrow), 3 days hotel plus car rental, $400, good thing is the clutch is covered under the warranty, I will never drive to NY City again!!! lets hope next week is better :)
     

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    brycey1, Jan 30, 2011
    brycey1, Jan 30, 2011
    #1
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  3. Jan 30, 2011 #2
    broncrider

    broncrider Road Train Member

    1,618
    3,187
    Mar 23, 2007
    somewhere drinkin beer probaly.....
    0
    LS shows miles form a goofy program, and its never correct....now you know to double check everything

    tolls, and the east coast suck, one reason alot of folks wont run there

    rough week out the gate for ya....hope it gets better, but you need to get smarter about frieght lanes, rates and the route's
     
    broncrider, Jan 30, 2011
    broncrider, Jan 30, 2011
    #2
  4. Jan 30, 2011 #3
    brycey1

    brycey1 Light Load Member

    133
    70
    Nov 19, 2007
    palm bay , florida
    0
    Yep, im learning, i get dispatched she made an error, im working for Jones Express, LS approved me right after i got started with Jones, i will double check miles from now on, and yes, the north east sucks!!!
     
    brycey1, Jan 30, 2011
    brycey1, Jan 30, 2011
    #3
  5. Jan 30, 2011 #4
    Flying Finn

    Flying Finn Heavy Load Member

    972
    556
    Jun 22, 2010
    Ontario, Canada
    0
    You need to get smarter about the tolls as well. I can run to LI with under $50 in tolls one way. You just have to use a few lesser highways is all. Take the direct route, GWB is a killer, then Throgs neck. It is an expensive run out for the direct route. I went round about a little and saved more than the fuel I used.

    Good luck, you'll get it. As a company driver no one ever really thinks about the little things that add up. Once you have to pay them yourself, it can be a shocker.

    Have a better week this week.
     
    Flying Finn, Jan 30, 2011
    Flying Finn, Jan 30, 2011
    #4
  7. Jan 30, 2011 #5
    MedicineMan

    MedicineMan Road Train Member

    5,799
    6,440
    Jan 13, 2007
    Woodville, TX
    0
    or you could do the smart thing and just never go east of ohio :biggrin_25523:
     
    MedicineMan, Jan 30, 2011
    MedicineMan, Jan 30, 2011
    #5
    Gears Thanks this.
  8. Feb 2, 2011 #6
    alex94

    alex94 Light Load Member

    286
    78
    Dec 6, 2008
    good ol CG
    0
    brycey, that sounds like a pretty rough first week. stick with it though and i hope everything turns around for you! keep us posted.
     
    alex94, Feb 2, 2011
    alex94, Feb 2, 2011
    #6
  9. Feb 2, 2011 #7
    Big John

    Big John Road Train Member

    2,022
    1,515
    Oct 7, 2006
    Oklahoma
    0
    Don't loan anyone money. I have heard all the sad story's and how hungry they are and the family is hungry and cold waiting in the car. I tell them they need to go to a shelter or a church they will help them better then I can or I just tell them some homey robbed me and took my wallet with everything I had and can they spare some money because I am hungry and the usually split.
     
    Big John, Feb 2, 2011
    Big John, Feb 2, 2011
    #7
    Nolelover61, Jarhed1964, uptownkid and 1 other person Thank this.
  10. Feb 3, 2011 #8
    Big Les

    Big Les Bobtail Member

    25
    7
    Feb 3, 2011
    Las Vegas, NV.
    0
    Im new to this forum so please forgive me if I didnt post this right. I just started driving truck and and some dream of running my own truck and trailer, manage myself and not be micromanaged by some large company. I hear alot of mixed optinions and nothing solid on if its worth being a owner operator. I just wanted to ask this forum that question is it worth it?:biggrin_25514:
     
    Big Les, Feb 3, 2011
    Big Les, Feb 3, 2011
    #8
  11. Feb 3, 2011 #9
    MedicineMan

    MedicineMan Road Train Member

    5,799
    6,440
    Jan 13, 2007
    Woodville, TX
    0
    "worth it" is a subjective term. Depends what you are looking for. If you mean money then most likely not. We don't do it for money
     
    MedicineMan, Feb 3, 2011
    MedicineMan, Feb 3, 2011
    #9
    alex94 Thanks this.
  12. Feb 4, 2011 #10
    columbia1

    columbia1 Bobtail Member

    4
    0
    Feb 4, 2011
    Portland, Oregon
    0
    Can I jump in and ask a question? I just got my first truck, 2006 Frieghtliner Columbia, replaced charge air cooler, air and oil filters, now a new problem, engine "coughs" on up hill grades under load, drops 200 rpm but keeps on going. Had diagnostic test, showed nothing, any ideas out there?
     
    columbia1, Feb 4, 2011
    columbia1, Feb 4, 2011
    #10
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