Stevens Transport aviary

Running aliance can be tuff. My break even point is 1300 miles. We all know when we take time off the payments continue. It is up to you to budget for that. Either you set money aside or you accept the negative weeks.

I took 2 weeks off at the end of dec. I held my last trip for a week to cover the payment due that week. Then the week I returned a transfer of $700 from home time and I am never behind.

DM's have very little to do with getting your loads. They do handle the repowers.

It is the planners that set up the loads and the regional dispatchers that fix the computers stupidity.

My last week, 2512 miles. Normal for january for the past 3 years.

 

If we had been able to wait to take time-off when we had it planned for, we would have had the money in the acct to cover it. Unfortunately, we had just stripped the account to pay our daughter's expenses to move from Chicago to Boston for a new job after being out of work for 4 months. Didn't even have miles to hold because I was running solo and had to lose miles in order to get to Tenn. We were able to get cash advances to help cover our expenses while we were off, but now we are 'digging' out of that hole. But, I don't regret taking the time off to be with my sister and family while she was dying. Money means nothing compared to family.

 

My circumstance is slightly different than a budgeting error. I was told one thing, but another thing happened. I also was never told that I had to authorize for my time off account to be used for payments...I thought it was automatic. I wouldn't even have said anything if this was my fault...or just a lack of miles. My break even point is slightly over 1000 miles...not including fuel.

Things are already starting to look up tho. I finally got that load assignment...pick up at Perdue in NC and deliver at Costco in Morris, IL.

 

From Christmas thru the middle of January can be real touchy for freight.
I took 10 days off over the holidays, but I put $350 per week into my TO account, so it doesn't hurt to take some out.
My first two weeks back were sketchy. Barely in the positive, but I'll transflow 4200 miles tonight for the last week.
There are ups and downs, but that's the way it is in any business.

 

So Emulsified, do you lease from Stevens?

 

Oh and thank all of you for all the information.I started a little thread to say thanks and give a little background on myself.

 

Yes, I lease.
My numbes are posted under the Alliance thread.

 

Cool.I'll check it out.

 

Flight it is a learning curve, and always ask and verify. Never assume anything is automatic. Still sense the bitterness. It will eat you alive if you let it.

Truckershoney, I know how hard it, and family does take priority. I know how hard it is when we have no reserves, and living week to week. Was there the first year of alliance. I learned, saved, worked with bonnie thru a ruff spot and now I am debt free.

Got my first two drops done, and now I am at the TA bloomsbury NJ to wait for my two drop tuesday. Installing new pumps so the cluster is even worse. But the parking is free again.

 

If I remember correctly, $0.33 cents per mile was taking into consideration the truck lease, APU rental, qc rental, etc. etc. etc. Including the $0.15 cents per mile for the maintenance account and all of that.

This however DIDN'T take into consideration taxes. So even though flight may get $669.00, he'll pay in about $150-$200 (estimated) taxes, only bringing home $500 - not really a good week for 2,000+ miles if you ask me. You'd be better driving company and getting paid $0.26 cents

Just my .02 cents