Owner Ops, do you ever just take a break while out on the road?

I just got back from a 3 day run that had me without sleep for about 40 hours. To me, operating a truck on such sleep deprivation is pure physical torture, not to mention dangerous. I work for a little small time outfit that runs paper logs. I'm just not a nocturnal creature, and night driving creates a sleep deficit. I told them but they don't care. And apparently they expect me to do "on duty" tasks during my sleeper birth time. Yeah like watching for the light to turn green while the trailer shakes is quality sleep.

So I'm just going to tell my temp agency that I'm going to do local driving for the time being. They have a couple jobs a week driving a daycab that will at the least, pay my bills.

I like driving the 11 western states, but it has to be on my terms in order to enjoy my job. That means when I'm extremely worn out, I might want to stay at a truck stop for a day or two, what's wrong with that? I like truck stops. Oh but the truck is not moving! Well guess what, it's my #### truck and if I want to park it for a week, I'll do it.

It's not just about the money. If it was I'd sign on with a carrier that has me out for a month at a time making 44 cents a mile, I'd start smoking cigarettes (apparently smokers don't need to sleep). Hell maybe even a little bump of meth when I really need to pull a long one. I'd make a ton of money, probably die at the age of 60.

My plan for now is to just start saving as much money as I can. With about 15K I'll have a decent down payment for a nice pre-owned Cascadia. Then I'll work for a large carrier such as Schneider. I think this will be the best way for me to go. I'll have the security of a company to find me loads, truck parking, maintenance discounts, but still the freedom to choose the loads I want. Lease to own... let's not even go there. All that is a "retention tool" for the trucking companies. Just because you work for a large carrier doesn't mean you have to participate in that.

I figure if I can have my truck payment under $1500 a month, I should be able to make ends meet, net $500 or so a week, but most importantly have a job a I like to do. Not to mention having my own beautiful truck that I can keep spotlessly clean.

 

Oh man, rebutal time. Don't have a wife kids, or even a girlfriend. The mortgage on my house in Sun City, AZ is split 3 ways, it's cheap. Eventually the house would be mine and my brother's. Car bills, I own a 20 year old Grand Marquis outright. A bum with a shiny truck, might be a little truth to that though.

You're right, I don't any longer. That's why I told my staffing agent today that I don't want to work for that particular company any longer. I have other jobs I can work.