Kansas Flatbed Driver Needs advice please.

yeah - 700 at 65 is.... gasp, just shy of 11 hours

 

Flatbed securing, tarping etc,,,,

 

Oh *I* understood the time thing.. even though the hardest work I have to do is putting that darn seal on the door....I was backhandedly pointing out that lowbudget obviously gets to run at better than 65

 

Actually, i CAN go faster than 65, but i don't. My MPGs are in the low 7's when I'm loaded at that speed....or I can do 70 and get 5.5 mpg. Not my fuel, but it is my fuel stop and I hate the hassle of stopping and waiting in line for fuel during the middle of the "shift" as I am only allotted a given $ amount/day. And I did mention that I run a skateboard, so securing and tarping is a given. On the other hand, I wouldn't have a clue how to put a seal on a door. Do you use superglue or just nail his barking butt right on there? XD

 

Here is a typical day for me.


Call into dispatch at 7-8 a.m.

I need you to drive 100 miles to pick up a load going 150 miles. This load will pay you $45.00. Also this load will waste 4 hours out of your day at the least.


Call back into dispatch empty. OK now we are going to have you deadhead 200 miles to pickup a load going 550 miles. This load will pay you $130.00. You get a $20.00 tarp fee(wooohooo)


Log book: generally use 5 log sheets a day shifiting time back and forth elliminating dead time with calculator so I can drive however far 11 and the calculator let me. My day usually starts at 4 a.m. and I generally hit the bunk at midnight.

I hate truckstops because backing spread axles sucks so I stay at rest areas. Not to mention trying to find a spot at 11- 12 pm is impossible. I can't stop at 4 p.m. and find a nice spot like the rest of the world gets to. I get to shower maybe once a week, twice if I am lucky. Eating at a truckstop is a luxury and get to do this maybe twice a week. Otherwise it is vending machine food.

Otherwise I am busting my ### tryng to get delivered by 7 a.m the next morning.

 

Dude I would quite that job as soon as I could get it back to their yard. Seriously you are going to kill yourself or some one else out here.

There are plenty of companies that will allow you to run a lot closer to legal than that!
Thats no way to live.

 

In my younger years I would of quit week 2. A new driver quitting a job 3 months in isn't going to impress other employers. Also not many hire with only 3 months experience. My company knows this, which is why they have me by the balls. That is why I am asking for advice from veterans.
I don't know what to do.

 

well, i could say to call someone, but i'm not allowed to advertise, and not many ppl are willing to relocate

 

Well I told you what I would do. And any of the companies I mentioned would listen to the "why" you quit.

Just keep in mind that while your physical log looks perfect, if you get in a wreck the lawyers and DOT can and will subpeona your cell phone records and all receipts and be able to tell that you are running 20 hr days. Guess who goes to jail??????????????????
Not the company owner, not the dispatcher and not the load planner. The guy going to jail will be the guy that looks back at you every mornin in the mirror.
IS THAT some thing you want hanging over your head while to are running their illegal logs?

Myself and nobody else out here is going to claim that we have never pencil whipped a log sheet, but to do it daily is really pushing it.

Driver I wish you the best of luck, but like I said before..... I would quit that job immediately. You have other options.

 

I thank you all for your responses. I will take the advice given to heart. I have sent my resume in to one of those trucking job finder places. Also I am going to slow down greatly this week and hope other offers come in. It is time to move on to another company, but I am going to stay where i am until I have another offer. I hope that offer comes very soon. I will update this thread as my search progresses.


Thanks again. Peace.