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Need some advice!!!!!

Discussion in 'Trucking Jobs' started by supertruckerporkchop, May 5, 2011.

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  1. May 12, 2011 #11
    Gears

    Gears Trucker Forum STAFF - Gone, But Not Forgotten.

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    Sounds like a plan, Chop.

    Sure do hope it all works out for you!
     
    Gears, May 12, 2011
    Gears, May 12, 2011
    #11
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  3. May 21, 2011 #12
    supertruckerporkchop

    supertruckerporkchop Light Load Member

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    May 3, 2011
    Galveston, Texas
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    Just a quick update, and maybe some more help/info from you guys.

    I'm pretty sure I've decided not to chance going back to flatbedding. I'm even debating on OTR all together. I've been hunting for local work, but nothing has tickled my fancy as of yet. I was considering trying to become a dispatcher for one of the large companies. I've email 7 big names that I know have hubs in Dallas but haven't heard back.

    Is it easy to transfer over to the dispatch side of trucking w/ experience on the road? I'm sure having hands on driving for a # of years would help me treat other drivers right, but wondering how to land a dispatch gig. I haven't found any otr dispatch gigs frmo Houston yet, most have to deal with HOT SHOT or Tanker. All the places I have talked to about dispatching has required 2+ years in their specific databases or freight. I have hauled hotshot, but no tanker.

    Any other drivers out there ever come off the road due to medical issues and gone into dispatching???

    Any ideas would be great. I'm even willing to relocate up to Dallas or even anywhere in Tx/Ok/La for a job. I think the cons out weigh the pros at this point with going back to work as I'm really worred about that day when my back gets aggravated again and I can't walk. Its taken a couple months to get back to feeling "decent" w/o narcotics and at this point, the WANT of being back on the road is driving me more then the NEED.

    I was also considering buy a dully and small flatbed and trying to do the local/tri-state hot shot thing. I have a VERY small nest in the bank and not sure if it would even be enough to get me going with it. Are there any hot shot drivers/owners from the Houston area that might be able to guide me on the info on this subject? I've crunched the #'s and I need to GROSS $1,600 a week to be happy running my own little truck. Is that reasonable, or am I way off and just hoping that make that much with a small unit?

    Thanks guys!
     
    supertruckerporkchop, May 21, 2011
    supertruckerporkchop, May 21, 2011
    #12
    Gears Thanks this.
  4. May 21, 2011 #13
    ‘Olhand

    ‘Olhand Cantankerous Crusty

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    first off good luck with whatever you decide to do--as for going in the office--(as you call it)--it can be very interesting and eye opening--I could go on and on--When mama 1st got sick(and our health insurer-########## us--long story)I eventually was forced to sell most everything--I went to work for a man I had known for a very long time--as kind of a combo operations mgr/safety director for his smaller(50 trks) reefer fleet--While I can say--I wasn't SURPRISED by any of the nonsense I had to deal with every day--It was MUCH more draining than anything I had done out on the road--the amount of fires I had to put out--that in my mind were either no-brainers--or no big deal--really surprised me--and the youngest driver in that fleet was 38--with the average age being about 48--and every driver had at least 10 years and many with much more--these folks were all pretty #### self suffecient--and had mucho reefer/produce experience--so from the outside looking in--seemed like a pretty easy gig--and while it was perfect for me at time(stayed home help take care of Mama during chemo etc)It sure wasn't anything I wanted a steady diet of--but that is just me
    For what it is worth....
     
    ‘Olhand, May 21, 2011
    ‘Olhand, May 21, 2011
    #13
  5. Jun 5, 2011 #14
    supertruckerporkchop

    supertruckerporkchop Light Load Member

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    So I made the decision to come back on the road. My back is holding up so far w/ only a little discomfort. If it stays like this I should be ok, but hoping it doesn't get any worse.

    Not a bad way to start the first week back on the road either. 3,385 miles. Mcconnellsburg, Pa down to LaPorte, Tx . Then after some bs and dead heading Ft Worth, Tx over to Sac of Tamatos, CA.

    Was able to unload yesterday and getting to relax in a hotel and do a reset. Hoping for a decent load out of CA tomorrow, but rates out west are still in the can :(

    All n all, not a bad first week. I made a #### good check and the owner didn't do too bad either after all expenses!!!!
     
    supertruckerporkchop, Jun 5, 2011
    supertruckerporkchop, Jun 5, 2011
    #14
    Gears Thanks this.
  7. Jun 6, 2011 #15
    Gears

    Gears Trucker Forum STAFF - Gone, But Not Forgotten.

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    Way to go Chop! Sounds like you had a VERY productive week. Glad you're holding up well too. Thanks for the update and continued best wishes...
     
    Gears, Jun 6, 2011
    Gears, Jun 6, 2011
    #15
  8. Jun 6, 2011 #16
    Heirforce1

    Heirforce1 Medium Load Member

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    May 16, 2011
    The Windy City
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    Here's a couple of potential options that I've come up with after reading your story. Since the major issue here is the back maybe a combination of a chiropractor and yoga may help you. Since the issue might be in your ability to maximize your flexibility this may be a better option. I found when going for a state exam in my home state, I found my flexibilty issues were in my hamstrings and yoga exercises helped me wonders. On the truck side tanker driving definitely no because with you having to check the heel left in the tanks and climbing on top of the tanker would be stressful to the back. Not to mention in cold weather your back would lockup. Maybe you should consider trying to get on with container freight as well should the flatbed become to stressful. Just some helpful tips and hopefully the back holds for jus a lil while longer:biggrin_25519:
     
    Heirforce1, Jun 6, 2011
    Heirforce1, Jun 6, 2011
    #16
  9. Jun 6, 2011 #17
    Rerun8963

    Rerun8963 Road Train Member

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    it is easy to "transfer over" to dispatching if its a small mom/pop place, other wise, what i have found is that most companies want a college edumacation.....i know, i have tried that route as well....

    but if you are given the chance to get into dispatching, go for it, just remember now "the shoe is on the other foot"...
     
    Rerun8963, Jun 6, 2011
    Rerun8963, Jun 6, 2011
    #17
    supertruckerporkchop and Gears Thank this.
  10. Sep 4, 2011 #18
    supertruckerporkchop

    supertruckerporkchop Light Load Member

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    May 3, 2011
    Galveston, Texas
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    Update......

    So I went back to pulling the step deck for my old owner. 3 weeks into it my a/c went out in CA. Put it into the shop, a week later got it back, took it DIRECTLY to T/A in ontario and had some more work done. All the while I was fronting the hotel bills n such. Even called around for my parts for T/A since they seemed not too worried about it. So then some other minor stuff breaks on the truck, ac compressor stopped working......I basically had enough at that point, so I told the owerner that its coming home and I won't be back in it until everything is fixed and is DOT legal.
    He ends up stiffing me on my last paycheck of $300, + the $600 I had in hotel bills, + thinking that he was going to fix the truck I left the cd player and sirius antenna in it....Now he doesn't answer his phones or txts. Won't even call the company where we was leased to and tell my dispatcher/broker what the heck is going on with his #'s.

    So in the mean time, one of my other brokers drivers wanted a "team" driver. Turns out that wasn't the "deal" I thought it was going to be either......

    LOL.......wtf......... I ran the first guys truck and was grossing between 6k and 8k a week. Come on now......I know the money the truck made and what it spent.......you can't treat a driver like that........or I suppose you can. The 2nd guy was trying to pay a LOW percentage AFTER the actual cost of fuel. What a FREAKIN Joke. With him I averaged .14cpm for the 2nd week, .25cpm for the 3rd week, last week works out to about .16cpm.

    Ok, I'm done #####in. Just thought I would update and vent on here. But I still only have 1 question. How does a person actually feel as if they are doing right/good by treating a driver like this. Not just a normal driver, but someone that takes care of the truck and runs it like he owns it? So much for looking out for the o/o and having them look after me!!!

    I'm trying to find a fit for me in a large company, but I've done things one way for so long that going to company driver at this point seems unbareable, yet.....the thought of getting ins for my back issue might be the only way to go.

    Nite!!
     
    supertruckerporkchop, Sep 4, 2011
    supertruckerporkchop, Sep 4, 2011
    #18
  11. Sep 4, 2011 #19
    Gears

    Gears Trucker Forum STAFF - Gone, But Not Forgotten.

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    Sorry to hear all that bad stuff you've been through. I think there's some guys out there that will accept that type of treatment and that is sad. I don't understand how a guy can treat his guys like that and sleep good at night. They certainly wouldn't put up with it if the shoe was on the other foot.

    There are good people out there, unfortunately, you've not been running with them. You will find a good situation, and when you do, that guy will have one good strong dedicated driver.
     
    Gears, Sep 4, 2011
    Gears, Sep 4, 2011
    #19
    supertruckerporkchop and BigJohn54 Thank this.
  12. Sep 24, 2011 #20
    supertruckerporkchop

    supertruckerporkchop Light Load Member

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    May 3, 2011
    Galveston, Texas
    0
    Just to update yall (if anyone even reads this thread).

    I signed a lease agreement today with a local Houston company. I weighed my options, did my research and finally took this deal. I know I'm breaking the cardinal rule in trucking by leasing a truck from the company that I'll haul for, but honestly I don't have much if anything to loose with this deal and I'm going to give it my all. Hopefully I can report positive findings and beat the system and prove its still possible, but we'll see.

    I'm going to keep VERY detailed records of everything I do/spend and make up a spreadsheet and prolly post it on a new thread in the future. My circumstances won't be the same as everyone else (no house, wife, kids) but maybe the info will help others in some way.

    Anyhow, yall stay safe out there and will post again in the future

    Chop
     
    supertruckerporkchop, Sep 24, 2011
    supertruckerporkchop, Sep 24, 2011
    #20
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