Pretty Pictures

Not even close.

Frankly I think you're the same person who posted as Dick Jones.

And with that said I'll simply place you on ignore. It's just that simple.

 

Did you really mean to criticize me for how I worded my post? Did you?


Now I could get my panties in a twist and get offended. I could compare you to dick jones, say you're not a native american, call you fat, say your mama wears combat boots and your daddy is showgirl in Vegas. But I choose........CHOOSE to remember that I consider you a friend and that most likely you meant to insult at all.

Get my point here? No one was 100% right and any of us taking sides publically will only make it worse.

*leaves you a huge hug so you'll know I'm making a point and not criticizing you*

 

I know several L/Os who are paying for a house. In fact I know one who owns several houses. I know several who have quite nice personal vehicles and I'm going to assume they have their homes and vehicles insured but frankly I don't go up and quiz them. I know during the rare times we get to sit waiting for wal-mart to get the trailers finished we all talk and very few of us are fussing about money. I know several L/O who have been with the company for a number of years. The ones I know the specific year numbers on it's 3, 5, 5, 15 and 11. The others have never said that I remember.

Now will my husband and I ever become L/Os? I rather doubt it and here's why: we don't want the risk of loss of income due to mechanical break downs. That's the major reason. There some others but that's the biggie.

*smiles*

You going to insult me now?

 

For the record, y'all, none of you are privy to the communications between Scottie and me. If he cares to share, he will tell you I suggested he go back to running Company for a while. I do not tell other people what to do, nor do I "cheerlead" nearly as much as I am accused of. When someone asks me a question, I give my best answer as it pertains to my own experience. One of the things I repeat constantly is it's not easy, it's hard work and you have to be your own advocate. I am constantly harping on the fact Swift will not run your business for you. If you don't want to run a business....and do it yourself, do not get into a lease.

I work my arse off to make mine work for me. If you're not ready to do the same, stay away from it.

Scottie chose to enter into a lease agreement despite suggestions from several, myself included, to give it a little more time. Since he has made that decision and the papers are signed, I'm not going to rehash all the negative things about it. I will give him as much information as I can for him to make his business successful.

If some of you think that is cheerleading and leading people down the garden path, I'm sorry you feel that way. There is nothing I will be able to say that will make you happy. I did not, have not, nor will in the future, press somebody into a lease deal with any company. If someone asks how to get into one, I give them the information. There is one person out of that whole department who I trust to give the straight skinny. He's the only contact name I give when asked about it.

Again. If you want to be home all the time, if you have an ol' lady who always wants more money for this, that or the other thing, if you don't want to be responsible for your own taxes, health care and vehicle maintenance....if you want to just show up, pick it up, drop it off and leave...and collect a mediocre paycheck, then do not go into a lease deal. In fact, don't even think about buying on the open market. Just stay company.

Whether leasing or buying outright, you are responsible for the truck payment, the insurance, tags/permits, maintenance, your taxes, health care....the list is extensive. Then, after you have paid for all that, whatever you have left can be used for personal and family purposes.

Since Redd asked, and I have not placed him on ignore....I do not have a house payment. I sold my house on a short sale due to divorce. However, before that was all final, I was sending money home for all that stuff Redd listed out. Now I have a pickup payment, a personal line of credit, a student loan that will be paid off next week, a storage unit, insurance on my pickup, money sent to help support two households (one of which is my adult daughter) and the rest that I don't spend myself goes into my business account, separate from my maintenance account. All totaled, my personal monthly outlay, not including what I spend out here for my own creature comforts, equals right around $1,200. I'm glad I don't have that $1,400 house payment any more.

I have no reason to "live large" and am able to set money by as a result. And yes, I work my arse off to do it. If you are not prepared to similarly work hard, ownership or leasing, either one, would be a poor choice for you.

Regarding home time: I take time off where ever and when ever I feel like it, for as long as I choose. I'm not on any schedule of any kind. Normally, I run for about three weeks and then park for a few days. It all depends on what freight is doing. If it's busy, I'm more likely to be running. I try to coordinate my off time with historically slow freight times.

I was able to be there when my Pops went in for surgery. I have only missed one powwow since I've been driving. I was there when my daughter met her father for the first time. I was there when my dad needed specialized help. I was there when my "other family" had a function. I was there for my Pops' birthday party...and managed to coordinate so my daughter and I could both be there...she hadn't been around them since she was a toddler. I was there when my Chief needed my help. I was able to get home and stick close when a young lady who looked to me for help lost her two month old baby to a genetic disorder.

Sure, there are events that I have missed. But I have been able to be there for the most important ones. Only difference is I have to plan ahead. Which I have already done. I could park this truck right now for a month and still not be "in the hole." But I have worked very hard to be in this position.

For those of you who think I'm so different from buying a truck on the open market and then leasing on to a company......please tell me what the big difference is...because the only thing I see is where my payment goes. And my payment might be a little higher. Oh...and I don't have the right to look down my nose at how somebody else is doing business.

Mods, if this all needs to be in a different thread, please create one. I just don't have the energy to write all this out again. And I will not....WILL NOT!!!.....get into a urination match with anyone over this. It's too frustrating for all parties and it would simply cause hard feelings.

Just STOP wagging your finger at me and telling me and others we have no option but to fail. And STOP trying to tell me a straight O/O is right about everything he does, whether it's safe or not. O/Os fail all the time. Only difference is, they won't come onto a public forum and b**** about it because they have nobody to blame but themselves.

 

No, I did not mean to criticize you, and I take your point. I got a bit POed over a comment that wasn't even directed at me. That comment has now been publicly apologized for. I will now leave here, since I have nothing to add about L/O's and that is the point of the thread, after all.

 

Jeees,At any rate,good luck Scottied...And I DO mean that,(if anyone wants to criticize this post,feel free)-for wording,content,whatever... Loco,Loco,Loco... Mi Forum Loca?? Anyone know Spanish for forum??

 

actually REDD...depending how much experience you have, and UNLESS you got on with a carrier running company and starting at .45cpm and getting 3k miles a week, there isnt anyway ANYBODY can run OTR even as a COMPANY driver, with the bills you've listed above.

lets say you do find an OTR job that pays the numbers i mentioned above (for argument sake)....you'll be taking home $1000 a week after taxes? $4k a month? most house payments run $1200-1500/mo., not to mention a car payment, kids to support, and if you have alimony or child support, you're pretty much working for free. and if you're REALLY lucky, you're wife/girlfriend gives YOU an "allowance" out of YOUR OWN PAYCHECK to live on for the week.

The items you've listed, yeah...thats life. But when you list them like you do....they're an excuse. And i'm not just saying that to try to get under your skin. Anybody with a third of a brain should know enough, if you've got those obligations on the home front, there isnt anyway you could make enough money driving OTR....as a company driver OR as a lease/op., to make it worth your while. MAYBE if you were running team or mentor/student, but then you're basicly home once a month?? Not worth it for me.

Sorry REDD, not pickin' on ya here just to strike up an argument.....its just my 2 cents...

 

scottie....you're going to fail. there i said it. (i'm just bustin' your golf balls)