Running 99% legal

291 miles
5.75 hrs logged (12)
$98.94 earned
nothing happened today, just a short day.

 

460 miles
9.75 hrs logged, (12)
$156.40
Delivered my load on time and I was supposed to p/u my next load on the south side of Atlanta, GA and take that load to Delaware, OH and go home. BUT b/c I couldnt deliver that load on time as I would have to take a 10 hr break, and rather than call the customer to get a later appt (I only needed 3 more hrs to do that load legally), I was taken off that load.
Now my next load doesnt p/u for another 25 hrs just north of Macon, GA and goes to Houma, LA (east of New Orleans)! I guess they just dont give a #### when or if I go home! (18 miles east of Akron, OH) This is unbelievable! I wish I had another job lined up and I would call Kevin Knight personally and tell him to kiss my big, white, hairy butt crack! This sucks!
They sure tried to push me to run that load illegal, I told them "Nope, cant do it!" and you see how they responded! "It's the only load we have to get you home!" they said. WHATEVER! CALL A FRIGGIN' BROKER!

 

as to working 60 hrs but only logging 44, it's b/c I spent so much time waiting to get loaded. (7.5 hrs at 1 customer in Springville UT) and I logged all but 15 mins of that time as "off-duty" (try and prove I falsified my logs, EVERYTHING else matches perfectly).
As to very low pay amount: I am paid .34 cents / mile, I know that is extremly low(dont remind me!). I pay very little federal tax as I have 3 kids and until I earn $400 (roughly) very little is deducted in taxes. The real killer is my spending money on the road! I spend around $150 a week on food and junk. Which I think is pretty low considering I am out 4-5 weeks at a time on average. I dont smoke, but I do drink more pop than I need to (trying to quit). So on average I send home $500-$600 a week home. And you are right, It is NOT enough for what I have to deal with!
As to "welcome to OTR": I've done this for almost 15 years now. I used to make nearly twice as much money and be home ALOT more often! I think most of us here would agree with that.

 

A few things make me stay here instead of telling these people to F*** OFF!
1. I job-hopped too much in the last 10 years (I was stupid!). Good companies wont give me the time of day when they see my job history. I dont blame them, it was my fault.
2. What's the point? Most of the OTR companies are the same! They treat the drivers like cattle (maybe worse) We are little more than a number to these companies. Switching OTR companies is like trading in your used car for another USED car! They both have problems, the only difference is, at least with YOUR used car, you already know the problems you will have.
3. Knight (like alot of companies) is infamous for trashing a driver's DAC report when the driver leaves. Very few drivers escape Knight unscathed! They are just sore losers, I think. It reminds of a pathetic crazy ex, "if I cant have you, I'll make sure no one else wants you!" kind of attitude. Right now my DAC is clean, I know that once I leave Knight it wont be! I know that I can fight anything they put on there, but it is a big PITA!
Those are just the top 3 reasons off the top of my head that makes me stay here. I dont want another OTR job EVER! I see some very significant changes coming to this industry in the next 3-4 years and NONE of those changes are going to be good for the average driver! Unless OTR drivers start getting paid a flat salary or an hourly wage (that is comparable to a "professional's earnings) there is NO FUTURE in this field! The writing is on the wall, those of us that are intelligent enough to read it are bailing out while we can! I just hope it's not too late for me. I dread the thought of starting all over again but, at the rate we are going, I wont lose much as I almost have NOTHING TO LOSE ANYMORE!