Does Solo Long-haul Exist Anymore?

Sadly we are a product of our own efficiency, just in time deliveries really prevent loads like this, and the railroad industry competes head to head with trucking. I have only had 1 load over 2000 miles in the past year but that had 3 different stops on it. I am on one right now that is 1800 miles with only 1 stop. But everyone has moved to the "just in time" delivery system, which puts hell on truck drivers and companies.

 

OTR is dead as far as long haul is considered. That's the primary reason I went regional. I'm not going to spend 21-45 days away from the house getting only 2500 miles a week...that's total BS in my book.

Especially since I can do the same thing, and be home 2-4 days a week.

The area you are looking in, will be difficult at best to find a dedicated run like you are wanting...I spent the last 18 months doing the same thing. I live about 4 hours from you.

Long haul has went the way of the dinosaur, the new hours of service has seen to that. Most companies are setting stuff up in relays now to insure timely delivary.

I can't tell you how many times CFI screwed their solos with this BS, on their Con-Way team loads. But, since they are one and the same now...I guess it will occur even more often now. Glad I'm not there anymore.

 

To answer your question simply; yes there are. I read in another post you made that you are going to go regional. Have you decided which you want to do yet? I may be able to suggest a list of companys to look at for long haul solo if you'd like.

 

I know Swift gets a lot of laughs out of people, but compared to JB Hunt, they were long haul all the way. Their system is probably the best out there, forget the drivers and listen. Your time out and your ETAs work for you. I always got 2800 miles or more a week staying out 14 days, and if I stayed out 4 weeks, my loads were either 1400 or 2400 miles each. When you get to a certain area, you are taken in by different dispatch and whether the load is 50 or 250 miles away, they will put you on it.

I didn't realize how good the system was until I came to JB Hunt. Swift always know how much I had on my 14, and paid attention to my ETAs. As soon as I hit a dock and someone came inside to unload, I did my unloaded call because it almost never took more than 90 min/2 hrs. Whatever they charge customers for taking too long must really work.

I know they used to suck, my friend worked there before I did and had a terrible experience. But they are a company that is better to their drivers. You do them a favor, then ask for something you get it. I laughed and cried at times at how they would deadhead me home, T-Call me from Dallas to Detroit, or whatever I needed. Yes, I did them favors by answering and completing any load regardless of the legality, but at least there you get something out of it instead of being treated like an idiot.

With the new HOS coming, I'd go to a company like Swift and get some miles with it. Unless they changed it, they paid .34 for 6 months exp all the way up to .42 I think and you get all kinds of extra short haul and layover pay. I made over $1/mi on short hauls, and they even paid $75 to pick up in downtown metro areas.

Whatever anyone says, if you want nice easy long hauls that's what I know about Swift. But check into the pay, they have new owners. And if they still have Trip Paks, that is the main reason I left, my wife pretty much made that decision before I did. They lost a week's worth of trips, and I didn't have any copies. I kept copies after that, but there were still some weeks of no pay followed by a highly taxed 5000 mile paycheck.

 

RE Garrison out of Cullman,AL(mainly teams but do hire solo and run mainly west and northwest)

Danny Herman Trucking out of Mountain City,TN

3KB out of Altus,OK

I would start with those 3. I know of a few more but they don't pay so good. They are the "chrome and lights large car" companies, and I'm sure you know how that works out.