drive away companies

I did driveaway for a large exporter here in FL, did it for 4 yrs and made a decent living at it.

Our method was a bit different, if we had 48 buses(we did alot of buses) we'd take 6 drivers up in a van, bring 6 back to FL. Repeat. The co. paid for the eats and the hotel rooms and we were paid a flat rate depending on distance. I averaged $1800-$2500/wk back in 1998-1999. From June-August 1998 we moved over 400 pieces of rolling stock.

 

That was great money then and even better now; if it still pays that much. As a unionized truck hauler today, I can reasonably expect $50k per year if I stay out for a month at a time. The old timers tell me $60 - $70k was the norm in the late 90s and be home once a week; two weeks out at the most. Our pay was closer to car hauler's pay back then but now we are glorified 'freight haulers'.

 

I met up with a TM 'contractor' earlier this week. He was driving a large Mack out of Macungie, PA, pulling his car containing all of his worldly possessions and his dog. He sounded much like a traveling evangelist.


"The best move I ever made".

"There's nothing else like being your own boss".

"Being an independent businessman is where its at".

"I will make enough money to retire on in two years".


Truly incredible; he's probably already quit by now.

 

Yeah, alot of the contractors are like rolling stones/rolling homeless etc. which is unfortunate. i'm not looking down on anybody (well, ok i am), i'm just making observations.

a) also, they seem to make no emphasis/urgency regarding sleep.


However, i have also met a few that seemed to have their act together---financially and socially/healthwise. i met one guy who moved trucks but also towed rvs---thus maximizing revenue opportunities as well as cutting down on deadhead. It was a dodge 3500 diesel extended cab if i remember correctly.

i'm leaning towards getting back in either company hand or independant.

How's the lowboy division looking? i don't like to fly.

 

The only guys I know that do decent at all as an independent contractor with drive away are retired and just take a trip here and there for something to do,.....

If they had to rely on the income to live they wouldn't make it,....

 

I would think that anytime you hafta deadhead between ports in your own car you are losing money.
Unless they pay you some sort of gas and per diem for same I wouldn't go near it.

 

It would seem that way, but remember if you worked a "normal" gig even at yellow freight or any of those cushy LTL jobs you would still have to commute daily. i think for most people it's average 60 miles per day, x5= 300 miles per week. Some of these contractors have diesel pickups so they ain't paying for fuel.

b) Yes, i realize the OTRian really doesn't drive to work everyday; Here's one area the OTRians have an advantage UNLESS the OTRian lives a distance away from the terminal. Here again we are talking about a large commute.

 

That's the same line the recruiter used....
I don't know anyone who commutes 60 miles to their truckin job.
And in this gig you might hafta take your 4-wheeler hundreds of
miles at a pop.
Not to mention the wear n tear on tires while under a load.
Long story short, they gotta pay people for the deadhead or forget it.

 

I have worked for one of these truck drive away companies where your an IC sure they say you will make .50 CPM but ALL expenses to get back to Laredo,TX was on ME plane,bus,motel,rental car EVERYTHING i made $11000 in 3 months and spent $11000 in 3 months too.My advice tow your car behind OR find a company that your a company driver and the company pays for your expenses or helps out.I love the job...different truck every run,pick where i wanted to go.We were not suppose to sleep in the trucks but i did...hey it save me a motel expense....Beware to all that go with that Joplin Company.

 

Geeze,

it paid better than 50 cents a mile Years ago.

That stinks !!!!