JCT

Nope he ain't!! He's across the table from me right now in Barstow Is uglyer a word ??

 

Oh no, hang on to your hats kids, here it comes...
PS, at the end of the deal, Yes I want a 5 year old truck. This is especially true if I drove it from the get go. That means the truck has been taken care of, and most certainly will have another 5 years, with out a payment. Alos have a thing called "Pride of Ownership", that you rarely see with company drivers, (sometimes you do, but more often, not). Done correctly, saving that extra money, in another 5 after that will have a very large bankroll. It is my opinion, that if you are not entering a deal like JCT offers with a 5 to 10 year plan, you are really kinda winging it, but thats just me. Plus seems to me, with the economy, more and more companies are are extending their trade cycles, therefore other compnay drivers may very well end up driving 5 year or more older trucks. But that is a choice everybody makes. Not sure why the comments need to be even thrown out there. These guys are running, doing it their way, long haul trucking. I'm sure Crete is a fine company, and if you happy there, that is fantastic, do your thing there.

 

The old "I left my wallet in the truck" routine! Jarbo strikes again! JK, he bought breakfast!

 

I for 1 do appreciate all the info especially the breakdowns on deductions.

Some of the biggest reasons drivers elect to become their own boss is to have more control over their business. Whether that be driving a faster, more powerful truck, setting that truck up with an apu, inverter, fridge, microwave, pets, or just having more say over where they go and how.

I have seen both sides and it appears to me that large carriers are too strict when it comes to drivers adding creature comforts to a truck. Most do not want to pay for the added expense or maintenance of an APU but they also will not (in most cases) allow a driver to install an inverter, a fridge, or microwave in a company truck. All are very useful and make an OTR job easier as well as more cost effective.

Fortunately I work for a carrier that does permit me to have an inverter, microwave, fridge, and pets. If I did not have these amenities I too would be driving my own truck even if I made LESS money Per mile than some company drivers.

OTR trucking is not just a job, it is a lifestyle. For those that think it is just a "job" then by all means stick to company gigs.

 

Hey there... just popped in for a quick peek. Been under the weather past few days, trying to catch up on sleep, etc. It took Randy 4 hours to get 100 miles through the snow storm on the WY/UT border to get to our drop an hour early... 4:00am. We got there, got in line only to have a truck break down right in the entrance gate blocking all of us:/. We unloaded 5 hours later.... ahhhh, the life of a truck driver! In WY now... clear roads, high wind gusts.... heading for TX!Be safe, behave. If you can't behave... be darn good....

 

Hey, that explains it all!! Heard winds had been high and bs was flying !!!lol! BE SAFE, RUN HARD, MAKE MOOLAH !!

 

Hope you get better soon. I know how much getting sick sucks. Anyways have a safe trip guys.

Just repowered a guy here in chicago that according to bills loaded yesterday in WI going to birmingham for wednesday 0800. His DM said he was complaining that he's been up all day. O well I get to deliver a day earlier than my original preplan

 

Those of you with APU's... would you give us some feedback please?

1. Does it seem worth the money?
2. I see a wide range of prices... from 6000.00 to 18,000.00. What is the difference?
3. Can a JCT driver buy one elsewhere... other than the JCT shop?
4. Does it break down often? If so, what is the most common problem?
5. Any bug a boos with using them?
6. Love it... or hate it... or???

So far we have not had one and yes we do idle. The cost of 90.00 per week for two years sounds high, I don't think we idle that much fuel awayper week though I understand you should look at it as a long term investment for savings AFTER you pay it off. Given that you want to keep the truck you put it in for at least double the time it took to pay it off... do I have that right?

I think we will buy it outright... not finance it when/if the time comes.

Dabs

 

With more and more states, counties, and cities enacting and enforcing anti-idle laws, getting to the point from if nothing else, driver comfort, will be forced to have them, if you don't want to freeze or sweat to death. Everything I ever read, that they pay for themselves in a couple years time, not even taking in account for wear and tear on the trucks engine.