I've already made more then last year

Geez. $400 a week after taxes? I get more than that being on unemployment over the winter. And I don't have to leave my recliner. But it's tough, sometimes I have to lift the remote to change channels. Find something better. Shouldn't be hard.

 

I'm driving for Pam transport. Im in a situation where I've already got 3 incidents (2 backing , 1 stuck in pothole) so I'm on probation for my final 6 months of working here. That also affects my ability to switch companies.

That being said I've still got offers from other companies that average around .50 cpm . Im going to finish my year here mainly because of me owing drivers solutions 6000 dollars If I leave before my 12 month mark (May 12th). Most people at PAM I'm guessing don't stay for as long as I already have (8 months).

I usually stay out for 5 weeks and go home for 5 days so I'm usually home once a month.

Iirc I'm the only person left from my driving school class that is still with Pam. I'm guessing all those other people didn't all have 6000 to pay that school fee straight away, they probably got on some sort of payment plan.

I've still been investigating several different companies . I've got some top ones in mind but IMO they probably won't accept me due to the incidents. I may be most likely going to another mega carrier with a better reputation + .50 cpm compared to PAM (ex. Western Express )

 

Watch out for those pot holes

 

I made less this year. Evidently it has something to do with me not wanting to work as much. Go figure.

 

That's one thing I'm finding out in this job search process , people are still willing to hire me despite the incidents (no injuries /catastrophic damage ).

I know how to avoid the backing stuff if I GOAL enough it's almost impossible to hit something . Two times I clipped a trailer I didn't GOAL and just assumed distance.

The pothole incident was unfortunate and I'm not sure that was avoidable being I had to go through that area to pick up a load and several other truckers from my company were getting sunk in that same place .

I'm just trying to be careful to select the best option I have available.

I think the main issue I have with trucking is the fact that most of us are paid by the mile. That bites you in the ### If you run into traffic jams, have alot of truck breakdowns , alot of live loads and unloads. May paychecks have not been stable mainly because of these factors.

The place I go to next NEEDS to have some sort minimum weekly guaranteed pay . I'm not trucking on the road for weeks on a time away from home to make 200 something a week if my truck doesn't want to work or I'm sitting all day long waiting to get loaded .

IDEALLY I'd be at a place that paid salary or hourly . I hate the milage system because you can't always run alot of miles .

 

This really isn't the best season for it but i was averaging 6-800 dollars weekly local class B dump truck work. I had my class A paid for by a company to work in their shop at absolutely no expense to me but i wanted to drive and was green as they come.

Naturally I couldnt get an opportunity because of my lack of experience. But once i started really looking, the opportunity to drive presented itself in the form of a hillbilly with his recently purchased second truck. It was a 97 sterling tandem axle dump truck, my first ever company-assigned CDL ride. Took me under his wing and taught me practically everything i know. You can, and will, do better friend

 

That's cool . Yea I'm expecting to be in a very different place 5 years from now and especially 10 years from now (about 30 yrs old now but trucking is my first serious career. I just had random jobs before this).

 

First understand I am on your side! I could also really badmouth PAM here if I so desired. I generally take the carrier's side when it comes to accidents and incidents though. "people are still willing to hire me despite the incidents (no injuries /catastrophic damage" You want to see this list of carriers get smaller? Listen I'm not trying to bust your chops here. There is a large 900 pound gorilla in the room though and it does not matter how much you deflect from it, you already have 3 incidents in what? 8 months? Do you have any idea how many drivers go through this same thing? It's a bunch! They say oh I have learned my lesson and the accidents and incidents will stop! Then go on to another carrier and within months have another one. You can GOAL all day every day, but that is not any guarantee! This cycle goes on carrier after carrier until one day you have to choose, outlaw trucking or flipping burgers at Micky Dee's. I have seen it many times. Even in these situations, @Chinatown can't help you. I am going to tell you the same thing I just days ago told someone in your shoes. You had better wake up! Turn that dang radio down, put that smartphone down, open those windows so you can hear outside. GOAL also means more than just looking where you are about to spot that trailer. It also means looking around for anything that may quickly get in your way. Years ago I had a driver to open his right side door AFTER I got back inside after a GOAL. In that split second, I almost tagged his door. Thankfully I was also watching more than just my tandem and back end as I pivoted. I also have had dock workers open a door and jump down into my blindside for whatever reason. GOAL is good, but after 30 seconds it is 30 seconds stale, remember Smith System about a stale light? Almost every driver I have spoken to in this kind of situation after a while has admitted to being distracted while backing. Just saying!