Central Refrigerated Truck Stop

Hey All,

Who here is a L/O and company? I am company considering leasing the new Freightliner, although I haven't seen it yet, I have read some comments here on it. Driving a 2010 Prostar and like it for the most part. Some electrical issues like the triangle icon and warn,engine msg coming on occasionally. ICON inop from last year. Adding anti freeze 1 gal/month the past 2 months. RT mud flap disappearing and now torn for no apparent reason. Of the aforementioned the mud flap was the one that brought me into the shop.
Trying to determine if the ops get longer loads=more miles than company drivers.
Thanks for your input

 

Hey rakusa, I'm Bootlegger and I'm here to tell ya the truth (if anyone can tell me where I stole that from I'll buy ya a cup of coffee).

There is no difference in miles or distance in runs. That all depends on your FM and the planners. Loads are supposedly distributed by availibility and location in an even and fair manner. Personally I don't believe it, but that's what they tell me.

Of course if ya lease you take on the responsibility for the truck. You can also refuse(?) loads and have more freedom with fueling and routing.

I imagine that if ya read the past few hundred pages you can tell whose leasing and not.

We now return to our previously scheduled forum. (unfortunately since the word "lease" is once again in the forum we can expect a few pages of "DONT Lease" from naysayers, lurkers and trolls... sigh)

hey DM... get some duct tape and try putting all them short sticks together and see what ya get.

 

Good luck if you choose that route. Please research completely. One piece of advice, Find successfull L./O's and get their secret. Thems that failed might not have that secret.

 

Oh and one other thing...milk as many free lunches you can before you sign.

 

Safeway Tracey has been kind to me the 2 times I was there. Definitely in the top 10.

 

Man.. If you lease.. Go new.. Don't do this used crap.. Break the truck in yourself.. Screw that crap freightshaker man.. I've heard of numerous problems with the dd15 from lots of england drivers and locals.. Or if u go used.. Don't go past 50k..

My secret to being here? Determination.. And stuberness.. That's why I'm still here.. I've got prehires.. But I stay to full-fill my obligation.. And to get great advice from boot and my bud mike. Listen to em.. I lease op man.. When its good.. Its great.. 950-1250 on good weeks.. -2200 on bad weeks.. Just remember.. A min of 6 weeks out and 2-3 days hometime is what makes ya.. If the wheels don't turn.. I don't make mama happy with those new diamonds..

 

Leasing is not for everyone, it takes a lot more work to be successful. It takes assertiveness. You are responsible for getting your miles, you can not rely on your DM, you have to rely on yourself and remember that you are not a company driver who sits and waits for a load, get on the phone, the computer, whatever and get your loads.

 

I had one of those "good information nights" from the weekend warriors not too long ago. "Oh show up., they'll take you." I show up "they said you'd be in at 3, and now we can't take you until after we're done with other stuff."

So I got a 10. And then a day and a half to sit for a 450 mile load. And now we're on a 750 mile load and it's the best load we've had in 2 weeks.

2500 mile loads as a team, making solo driver pay, is killing us.

 

Not all company drivers sit and wait on loads, some of them will push for them. That's what I've always done, but the last month all it's done is backfired on me.

 

Well... I do get to deliver today. Customer service was nice enough to sked the appt close to the end of my 14. So I'm parked at the p-lot close to the kroger dc. Rigged up the concertina wire, released the guard dogs, and rigged some claymores. That may hold my ground here for a few hours. Gonna have to restock on anti-lizard spray and get the truck sanitized after I leave here in a few hours.