Magnum ltd - fargo, nd

I think no matter what the trucks are governed at there will always be someone out there slightly slower than you. So I really don't think raising our govern speed would help at all. Bite if I had a way to increase my speed temporarily for a minute or 2 that would help greatly. Just give me a passing button and let me use it once per day. It's not like this happens all the time. Depending on the trip sometimes I may be relying on my ability to go 63 or 64 miles per hour. Other trips allow me to drive slower and I do drive slower on said trips. So I don't believe just cruising at a lower speed at all times is the answer either.

 

As for giving me a run for my money, here is exactly what you have to do to be as successful as me:
1. Go where the wind takes you
2. Stay positive and polite
3. Manage your clock and hours
4. Be careful and selective on when you take home time

If you want to do better than me here is another step that you can take that I don't pay much attention to:
5. Learn and memorize the lanes and customer schedules so you can be a little more selective when going outbound, when freight availability allows you to be selective

With all that being said It does not guarantee I get the miles that I want every month. I recently took a week off and last month I got about 8000 miles. As for this month I'm at about 6200. This puts me about 3000 miles behind where I would like to be for this trimester. This is where the selective home time comes in. I need to make up those 3000 miles before March arrives. Some months I get 8000 miles and other months I get over 13000. But as we all know it's the average numbers that matter. When I'm behind where I would like to be as far as miles it means I'm either not thinking about home time at all or I have to be very picky about it. Every day that I am on Home time is at least 383 miles that I am willingly forfeitting.

 

Ok guys.... I gotta think hard and quick here.... Just got an email from Tony.... hiring for Jan. 8th start
I have accepted a bulk tanker job with pneumatic trailer. Have doubts. Doesn't sound the most organized...if ya know what I mean. He did say to make sure this is what I really want before showing up to Denver.
I also have a good trainer interested in me at Prime... He was a businessman. Help me with learning the business side also. Learn and not fail at leasing, then O/O. .. ?????

I just finished the first two parts of my CDL exam today. Got the Driving test tomorrow.

I have to admit. I've always really liked Magnum. Partly is you people. Also... If I didn't like OTR. Magnum has an LTL terminal, one mile from my house. I could go to that. Could also become a Maverick. So am very interested in Magnum.... Like the company from what I know...

EDIT!: Just talked to Tony on the phone. He suggested I go for the pneumatic trailer gig. Said if I get experience with that. I'll be golden. Can command a job anywhere....If it doesn't work out. Even in the first month. He understands. He'll still be interested in me. Says most don't make it from point of interest to actually working.

 

I would suggest learning dry van / reefer first just so youre not over taxed having to learn too much at once because there is a lot to learn, then switching to a specialized division but thats just me.

@Zata40 not really looking to keep up with your pace out of the gate. I want to focus more on doing things safe and right first before being a mad man on miles. My first goal is to become proficient at shifting. Ive come a long way but not being able to grab my low gears like i was saying really pisses me off. Other than my shifting is good. Plus I wanna make it through winter.

There is a lot to learn still being this is my first gig and I want to make that a priority over miles.

 

Thanks Ray.... You might be surprised. There are things with a pneumatic tanker that are easier than dry van/reefer. No adjustable tandems. No need to adjust the fifth wheel. The weight is pretty much the same when full. All figured out. No playing with weights and adjusting. Also, no fooling around with shippers and receivers. The shippers and receivers in bulk tanker are generally great. A pleasure to deal with. No bunch of waiting around. No dealing with wasted time and....trying to make it to.... yadda yadda....

 

I think you’ll do great. Your mind is in the right place. Just hustle and keep doing what you’re doing. Before you know it, you’ll wake up a few months down the road and wonder where the time went.

When I started, I just wanted to not be late and not break anything. I never thought I might actually be “good” at this and have fun at the same time. As long as you’re having fun, everything else will take care of itself. I hope you do have fun! Every day is a new problem to solve.

 

Stay away from Prime unless you like being gone a month at a time. With Magnum they do so much so if you don’t like one thing you can try another. I would steer clear of any lease purchase. They are company friendly deals not driver friendly deals or else they wouldn’t offer them. After you pay all your fixed costs you made the same as a company driver. Learn to drive before you rush to owner operator. You have to crawl before you walk or you won’t succeed.

 

I kinda like the toll booths, I like to pretend I'm on the drag strip. Wind it out and powershift, you'd be surprised how well our trucks roll out, even loaded heavy. I should note however, that there is a reason I'm not a trainer and under no circumstances should you use me as an example of good behavior.

 

If your at the CR yard tonight wander over by the out gate and take a look at the strait truck in door six. 13 foot four in truck had a little meeting with something about 13 feet high.

Guy was still on probation. Now hes on unemployment.

 

Ouch