My May Journal

Training takes anywhere from 2-4 weeks. If you had previous experience probably less than that. It's all bout how long it takes you to get a grasp on things. Orientation is 3 days witha road test, skills course and paperwork. Nothing too special.

 

Yeah yeah yeah. I got emmall down here somewhere. I'll post em up in a few days. I've been getting sometime mileage the past few weeks. Don't want to jinx it.

 

Weeks 15, 16, 17, 18 and 19
August 31st - October 4th

I'm just going to sum up the past 5 weeks and show mileage. I will continue to post my happenings starting with next week. One week I went home on a Tuesady until the following Monday for some extended home time, and another week had 4 days off. Not too happy with all of the home time, but not complaining either.

Miles These Weeks:
Miles Driven: 11177
Miles Paid: 10759
Miles Difference: 418 or 3.7%

Miles Total:
Miles Driven: 39853
Miles Paid: 38505
Miles Difference: 1348 or 3.4%

 

Week #20
Oct 5th - Oct 11th

This week starts out with a new trainee aboard the truck. Student #18. We catch a run from Purina, in Denver, headed to WinCo in Boise, ID. I was able to meet up with a buddy on Wednesday night in Boise for dinner, then off to WinCo for late delivery. My trainee and I ended up spending the night outside WinCo and we got an early wake up call. We were asked if we could rescue a load in Eagle, ID and take it to its final stop in Meridian, ID. Sure wish some of these guys could learn how to trip plan. The rescue is only 15 miles but I got paid triple miles for doing so.

After the rescue we head to our terminal in Payette, ID and re-power a load going to Fred Meyer in Clackamas, OR. I really dislike going to Fred Meyer due to strict appointment times and long, long, long unload times. After 5 hours, we went into Jubitz in Portland to spend the night. The next day around noon, we get a load to pickup in Vancouver, WA headed back to Boise. We get loaded and stop in Ontario, OR for some shuteye. My student then drives us into Boise and we get unloaded. We ended up spending the rest of the day in Boise. Saturday we get a load from Payette to Rochelle, IL. We make it Monday afternoon and catch a small run from Rochelle, IL to Kenosha, WI that delivers Tuesday morning. Overall, not a bad week. This week includes an extra day from last week. Late deliveries really screws with my sleep schedule

Miles This Week:
Miles Driven: 3699
Miles Paid: 3519
Miles Difference: 180 or 4.8%

Miles Total:
Miles Driven: 43552
Miles Paid: 42024
Miles Difference: 1528 or 3.5%

 

Week #21
Oct 12 - Oct 18

This weeks finds us getting a load from University Park, IL going to Denver. Once we get into Denver and make our delivery on Thursday night at Safeway (oh goodie, another late delivery), My student will solo out friday morning and I get to go home for some home time.

Friday morning comes and my student solos just fine and I head home until Wednesday morning. Get to enjoy some college football and relax a bit with friends and family.

Miles This Week:
Miles Driven: 1116
Miles Paid: 1093
Miles Difference: 23 or 2.1%

Miles Total:
Miles Driven: 44668
Miles Paid: 43117
Miles Difference: 1551 or 3.5%

 

I only started doing this journal right as summer started. I have had a slow summer. I will be the first to admit that my miles have been below average. Heck, I only had 9400 miles for the month of August. Did I sit and complain and ##### to my DM about it? No. I sat down with her and my OCM and talked to both of them and let them know how I felt about it. I asked them both if there was something that I was doing wrong and if there was anything that I could do better in order to improve my miles. I was flat out told that freight had been slow and it was out of my control.

In this industry you cannot always have the best miles, best pay, best company. I am happy with May. Do I wish that the miles were better over the summer? Yes. I think that most every driver on the road wishes they had more miles. I had a couple of slow months. Why should I bail on May and look elsewhere? With my experience I could land another job with another carrier without issue. I just don't want to at this time.

Its like I tell all my students, May might be the best company for you, it might not be. That is for you to decide. If you leave, leave on good terms, because the grass is not always greener on the other side. If you choose to leave, I wish the best of luck to you and hope you find the job that fits you.