Getting miles during COVID-19

I don’t drive a lot of miles, but I get paid like I do.

 

If you have the choice to keep the truck, then I guess I should live in it and save rent lol. Are the beds comfortable? How much storage is in there. I can pull this off.

 

Most trucks have plenty of space for what you need to live on a truck 3 to 4 weeks at a time. The reason there’s plenty of space is because all the stuff you think you might use and want to bring on the truck during your time off, well, you won’t have time to use it. Not very often anyhow. Keep in mind when your hours are reset a good dispatcher will keep you running constantly with 10 hour breaks exactly on the dot and you’re rolling again. Round the clock you go. Drive 10 to 11 hours, take a 10 hour break and back at it right on the mark. Now to me a 10 hour break sounded Ridiculously long when I first started truck driving. Trust me it’s not. By the time you get situated, grab a bite to eat, maybe take a shower, catch up on messages from family and such, 3 to 4 hours of went by. And now you’ve got a rush and hurry up and sleep. Your schedule will change from graveyard shift to dayshift and back-and-forth sometimes multiple times per week. Some days you’re lucky if you get 3 to 4 hours of sleep.



the beds are comfortable, no issues there. If your company gives you an APU, you can bring all sorts of things that you can plug-in and use and it usually comes with a nice climate control system to keep you warm in the winter and cool in the summer.

you’ll learn to sleep anywhere, and I mean anywhere. Close the curtains, tune out the world, block out the surrounding sounds and just pass out and sleep. If you’re a light sleeper the job will be harder. I’m a light sleeper but trust me I still get tired enough out here that I’m going to sleep no matter what.

it’s not a bad gig if you can adjust psychologically. Some can, some can’t. Best enjoy liking to spend a lot of time by yourself and with yourself because that’s who you’ll be enjoying company with. 99% of the time its...you, yourself and I. Lol

 

I feel this emotionally. Constantly fighting my 70. We never slowed down from covid 19

 

It depends on your company, OP. I've probably had 2 terrible weeks through the pandemic. More so, it depends on you the driver. If freight gets slow, the better drivers wont have any issue staying busy. I haven't ran below 2500 except those two weeks and that was only because I went home both times. The hometime came right after a 3200, and a 3500 mile week. My average is about 2700 miles weekly. Just remember, you have to show your company that you can run and deliver on time, and do it consistently, that's the quickest way to get vaulted to the top of a dispatcher's list. Sometimes you will have to do short runs, hell I'm on one now. It's the nature if the beast. It maybe to move you closer to a big one.

 

Hey, it sounds exciting. Can't wait to join you Pros!
Once I have successfully completed a month of trucking, I am gonna gift myself a brand new F-150. My car and my car only, no more nasty passengers. I will park it at the trucking company.

 

Easy there tiger, it’s not all Unicorns farting glitter out here.

 

Hahaha. I am single. $4000-$6000 is Great for me.

 

I’m an owner operator, so can’t speak for company jobs - but - rates are down, however volume is still there.

If you want to get a handle on your question, have a look at freight volume/rates and load/truck ratios at a website like DAT or Freightwaves.

Food/medicine always moves. Platform has seasonal fluctuations.

Best of luck.

 

Its actually depression, loneliness, and boredom out here... Most of the time.