WS drivers whats your 20

D1 The companies I'm looking at and or going to are all top of the line equipment Petes and brand new trucks to the senior drivers with the trickle effect going to the least experienced driver and those trucks are less then 3 years old, This is of major importance to me, I know what it is like to be commissioned or paid by mileage and a sitting truck is not making money, I come from an industry that requires the equipment to be Top Notch and that is why I have chosen not to go this route at this time, Also the companies I'm looking at start their rookies between 30-35 CPM not 25CPM's,

You are wrong again, I'm not leaving anything currently, I have several P/T jobs that are holding my head just above water, I need to make a career change because the "O" Economy changed the fioeld I had been in for 20+ Years.

Well the trucks I hope to be driving will not even have that many miles when they are sold off from the companies I'm looking at.. .

Sitting would cost me money maybe not for you but it would me, and $50.00 lay over isn't squat compared with the mileage that you could get had the truck been operational... Well where you are it is, But with newer equipment it isn't the norm, Here again I know how this works I worked as an IC for many of my years and maintained all of my own equipment, I never let anything go very long because it got worse or caused a service failure. I never baught used trucks either and my "New Car" break in was exactly like I would drive it normally. So take Care. good luck to you as well. Thanks. TD

Anyway I am in Conover, NC. I will be here till Monday sometime, I have to stop by volvo tomorrow morning and have them turn my jakes on, the last time this truck was flashed someone accidently turned them off. Not a huge deal, just the last thing on my list and this truck actually hasnt had too many issues at all.[/QUOTE]

 

TD, keep us posted. Starting out I would worry more about miles when looking into a company. I drove an FLD freightliner with lots of miles but never let me down. I took care of it and drove it with in the trucks limits. Warp has been put through the ringer at first on break downs and now it looks like he can't keep that trailor empty.

 

Nice to be home. Going to take about 6 days off and go do some racing... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fF8ePxWlf3w

 

7/19---I am in West Wendover, NV. Nice ride today. I got 1 red light today right at the beginning when I was still full of fuel. Good the rest of the way. This is a big stop LOTS of parking.

As for TD and his issues, everyone needs to find their company. All I know is when I was looking Watkins Shepard had the most miles and since I have been here I am RUNNING, RUNNING, RUNNING. Boise, ID to Missoula, MT to Fort Collins CO. 3 days 1298 Miles. Fort Collins, CO to Sacramento, CA 1099 miles also 3 days since can't deliver except in AM otherwise 2 day. Lots of good miles. I agree with "Z" miles are most important, I don't care if I need to touch a load heck the 4 stopper I had made me an extra 160 bucks for about 3.5 hours of work so I will take it.

Just like my buddy Ray he appears to have finally found a company for him, he just has enough respect for the W/S drivers to not say much and he worked for us. TD lighten up a bit on the break downs it is really not that bad and usually no more then a day or 2 when a driver gets the truck assigned to him and runs it. Of the 9 in my class that got trucks I am the only one to have issues but I am pretty picky most of the stuff others would have an with but not I.

 

7/20--Sitting in Sacramento, CA tried to deliver this afternoon but they only take deliveries from 7-12, so I will be there at 7am. Already got my next load to Bozeman, MT it may be switched to Missoula if I get unloaded fast enough.

 

You are correct, sir. I did have multiple issues when I first started driving, but I figured the other day if I added up all the miles I've driven, I've gone the equivalent of around the world + since I've been driving. Even on my last trip out, they had me another trip from Cali to Montana, but I had to call dispatch and advise them I needed my home time. No worries, within a very few minutes, I had the run I needed to get home.

Obviously I can't say what's best for anyone else, but for me and mine, WS was the correct decision.

Breakdowns are a part of driving and maybe we don't have the newest, flashiest equipment of some companies, but if anyone wants to be treated poorly and like just another flea behind the wheel that's his/her perogative (sp?). This company has treated me very fairly, breakdowns or not....

Oh, almost forgot...
7/20/10 -- Still home...

 

Today I passed what looked like a BRAND NEW truck driven by a May driver, broke down hood open and steaming on Donner Pass. So like you said breakdowns are just part of driving sometimes.

I know Watkins Shepard was also the right decision for me as well. Fair and honest when you talk to the big guys. But like every company some things I don't like.

 

Which companies that pay rookies 30 - 35 CPM are you considering?

I wanted to PM you to ask this question, but I don't have enough posts.