SOMEONE said it couldn't be done...

So far, my longest deadhead between loads has been less than 100 miles. A couple of loads were 15 miles between unloading and loading. I did have one load where I had to defer loading due to a bad trailer, then swap trailers with the owner halfway back to the yard. So that load 'cost' me about 140 'free' miles. That one unloaded and loaded at the same plant, so it would have been sweet if the trailer wasn't broken (couldn't slide tandems, and discovered that a frame rail was cracked). Yes, I know, Pre-trip! BUT the trailer was already loaded, and I met the owner and swapped loads with him, so I assumed it was roadworthy.

 

The owner and I agree that we will always say NO to cheap freight. There are exceptions like a broker favor that will be repaid on another load, but everything I've hauled has paid well so far.

 

No health insurance if that's what you're asking. For what I spend on medical costs in a year, I come out ahead by banking the premiums and paying out of pocket.

 

Different situation. I was able to obtain my CDL by paying out of pocket. The value that you are getting is being able to work off the cost of training by going with a company that will train you but pays less.

 

It's been my experience that companies have 'requirements' in place to weed out those that are less than enthusiastic. The type of people that they want to hire will find ways to communicate their value to the company such that the fact that they don't meet all of the 'requirements' is outweighed by the things that they CAN bring to the table.

For example, do you want someone with 2 years of experience that spends more time in the truckstops than driving, or would you rather hire a recent grad that has experience as a construction safety supervisor?