So Many Bottom Feeders, So Little Time....

Ok, busted---I do over-think things often mostly because of regrets of decisions I have made in the past throughout my life. On this website, there seems to be those that wish they gave their choices a second thought. I duly note all the forewarnings by those on this site--I have been reading it for over a year now.

Why no NYC? Chicago traffic is enough of a 'kick-to-the-balls' to me in my Astro Van working as a messenger (but working does not necessarily mean I am making money, hence, CDL school), I can just imagine pulling 80k with the gridlock and moronic speed-racers around here being three times worse in NYC. Furthermore, an instructor at my school suggests staying away from the entire eastern coast claiming the streets are narrow and such; he claimed that when he was at his last gig, he scratched out all the areas he did not want to go to--I believe it was anything west of the Mississippi River, anything North of Virginia, and anything within 100 miles of the coastline.

Finally, being paid by the mile in NYC, or Chicago, or Los Angeles is a good way to work for peanuts and I am already doing that as a messenger. NYC may work for the experienced Owner Operator getting $3.00/mile, but I am going to get $0.29 + $0.02 performance/safety bonus per mile all day and all night long regardless of congested traffic or width of streets or crime index of a given neighborhood. What is the saying--if the wheels ain't turnin', you ain't earnin'? My corollary is: If the wheels ain't a turnin' fast, then you ain't a gonna last.

Why no Mountain Ranges? I am assuming that I, as a noob company driver, will be issued a sub-400 horsepower tractor. Pulling 80k up the Appalachians or Rockies at 30mph is not exactly going to fill the coffers in my humble opinion. I also doubt I will be issued a tractor with a 'Jake Brake'---hence, 30 mph on the way down too. I am fairly sure there is no 'mountain bonus' to compensate for not being able to reach 62mph--- i.e., I am going to get $0.29 + $0.02 performance/safety bonus per mile all day and all night long regardless of the terrain's slope.

In fact, a different instructor at the school I am attending, 35 years experience behind the wheel, claimed that west of the Mississippi River the road is all up hill to the Rockies--and that his J.B. Hunt company truck often could not get above 45-50 mph; he then exclaimed 'One cannot make money like that!"

 

Well, Keyster, here in the near west suburbs of Chicago, if you are bi-lingual, mostly Spanish but Polish works also, you can get in at ANY restaurant you desire--you do not even have to be in the USA legally.========Unless you can get to manage that Car's Jr., then the major difference between the paths is that I expect to make relatively good money after I pay my first twelve month dues.

 

Hi Ice--I completely agree. Being paid hourly is the only way to ensure that as the clock ticks, one is making money. I feel the pain of the trucker sitting on the Eisenhower or Kennedy expressways torching up his 11 hours going no where fast.

 

Whoa---how did you put words in my mouth/box with my moniker? I did not say=="Although I would not suggest CR England, I have spoken with drivers with Stevens, Swift and Werner who are happy with their choice. Starting out your options will be limited until you get a year or two experience under your belt. There are not that many carrier that will hire inexperienced drivers" Nor did I say== "You don't want to work for Schneider because you will need to pay $3.00 on tolls a week?" The latter, you doubled-down putting words in my mouth. I never SAID I would NOT work for Schneider due to the toll road--I laid the facts out there so a comparison could be made--all else equal, the Schneider gig would cost me $1,839 at current $4.25/gal unleaded and $0.06/mile deferred maintenance more than the Old Dominion one. Of course, as you would seem to know, I would have to pay said $1,839 out of 'after-tax' funds since commuting costs are not deductible. Therefore, in actuality, I would need to GROSS about $2,627 more at my approximate tax rate of 30% Federal, State, FICA, and Medicare at Schneidz relative to Domz. Regarding Stealingz, Swindlz, and Wipeuoutz, I suggest you read some posts on this website of "REPORT A BAD TRUCKING COMPANY HERE" where you will see the 'non for consideration' companies I listed and the complaints listed about them lighting up like lights on the 30' tall Daley Christmas tree. Now, to YOUR quotes

There is plenty of freight near me—I need not move an inch. I only live by two airports and nine rail yards and six interstates and one of the five major lakes. As far as my conditions I require with my no experience—I have only one team to look out for: me, myself, and I. Why begrudge my team’ from looking for the best opportunity? The better situation I land, the less chance I am one of the 90% of noobs that wash out from his/her first job during their first year. --http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/08/10/us-usa-truckers-shortage-idUSBRE87906Z20120810

Ya, thanks, but no thanks. I can already feel my left knee swelling up having to clutch 30 times a minute in NYC stop-and-go traffic. I already have been driving the past three years for less than what a welfare recipient gets, so I no longer relish driving for pennies any further. Besides, I do not like to go places where buying a 32oz soda from a fountain is against the law.

Well, I’m happy for ya. I spent 30 days twice in my lifetime in the Mojave while I was a citizen soldier in the US Army, and I could list many things about a desert that scares this city slicker—such as the rattler that crawled in my boots one night. Regarding trucking, I guess a tire never blows up in 110 degree heat, or an engine never overheats in same ambient temperature, a just a general breakdown where the nearest garage is 150 miles away. Cell phone reception in the Canyon?

I don’t give a BLEEPITY BLEEP if I drive OTR!!! I just want to be BLEEPING successful!!! As in the movie "Cool Hand Luke", "What we have here--- is a failure--- to communicate.", and this failure is in your reading comprehension! Where in my original post did I say "I WANT to drive OTR!"…???!! Clearly written, albeit with a typo here or there but not so many as to destroy my meanings or intentions, is my first idea to drive regional for Schneider while the second consideration would be to drive local or line-haul for Old Dominion. The third idea, where I can see how you could have INFERRED that I wanted to drive OTR with the Chicago to California gig—and where I can see I may have implied such. However, what IS STATED, EXPRESSED, and not implied, is that I want to MAKE MONEY! For example, if I can pick a container up at the rail yard 2 miles from my house and just bring that container to another rail yard 5 miles from my house, I will do it all night and all day long, driving 150 miles per day never being further than 5 miles from my house! I will do such six days per week fifty weeks per year for the rest of my working years if I can make a living doing it! If I want to see the country, I will rent an RV and do it the right way and not at 65mph! I cannot find this guy, and perhaps it may have been on another website, but I raise my right hand and swear: A poster who claimed to live in Jacksonville FL, and said he threw away all of his IFTA permit for a bunch of states and no longer does ‘the whole 48 thing’. He further went on the he is making more money driving regional, in just a five to six state area. See, he worked SMARTER, (regional), not HARDER. Don’t misconstrue what I type and infer that I belittle the OTR trucker—nothing of the kind! I respected and admire those that can do such. Certainly, if one does Cali to NY and NY to Cali only, one minimizes his ‘at the dock’ time. Coal Miners, Landscapers, Ditch Diggers, Iron Workers that walk steel beams 100 feet in the air, Soldiers, Marines—I respect them all! I look down on NO work. The does NOT necessarily mean -- that I -- wish to do this said work. ********************************************************* Finally, In the future, please do not put YOUR words in a box with my moniker “Posted by: CastingMyFateToTheWind”. **************************************************************************