I can not believe what flatbed loads are being offerd for!!!

Too heavy? Your spoiled...

Take a 48000# load, I'll put you on my deck, I'll still be under gross by 8k and you can save the wear & tear on your truck. It will only cost you $7/mile

just make sure your within 200mi of Fort Worth... I gotta get outta here..

 

Park the truck, hop on a plane and go home till you line something up.... the airlines charge less than $7 mile to haul you home LOL

 

Today i put on the heaviest load in months. It is 45,000# of steel beams, but paying over $6 mile going 360 miles (roadwork jobsite) and then i will DH home tomorrow (255 miles)

 

Got me thinking!!

 

LS has a few from Dayton, TX going to KC and a few from Sulphur going to Marble Falls, TX

 

Not taking sides to back my brother, but I have to say from experiencing both, he couldn't be more correct. Managing operations is so far removed from driving, and being good at one does not directly translate into being good at the other. Making sure all your "i"s and dotted and "t"s crossed for a couple drivers is one thing... doing it for an entire specialized division requires a completely separate skill set. Honestly, I was of the same mindset before moving inside. Now caring about what you do, who you work with, and having personal pride and high self-expectations are critically important and IMO the thing that differentiates between those good DMs and the poor ones.

Managing operations is like trying to herd cats (no disrespect meant to drivers). As a driver (myself included) you're focused on your self-interests; keeping yourself moving and informed as much as possible. As a driver manager, you have to do what's best for the fleet as a whole. The best way I can describe it is going from "streetview" on google maps (the drivers' perspective) and zooming out to a regional view (DMs POV). Now it's not about keeping one person satisfied but many, those who you pay and those that pay you. Here, it is much more about your ability to think on your feet, manage relationships, plan ahead, think and analyze situations critically, and be organized. You are given much more information and how you act on it is what sets you apart as a DM.

When I drove, I had the pleasure of working with someone who knew what they were talking about and was motivated to do the job to the best of their abilities. I've developed a deep respect for what my brother does everyday. I've "ran the show" for a day and it was stressful as $#!+ and he had it all teed up for me. It is no walk in the park, and most drivers haven't had the opportunity to work with someone who has the experience or drive to perform like my brother does.

So with that said, requiring drivers to work in the office or office staff to drive OTR is not only unrealistic but also foolish. Not everyone has the ability or skill set to be good at every job. Just because I trust certain drivers to pull the high wide and heavy doesn't mean I would trust them to run the operation side of the business or certainly vice-versa. There is much more to both job descriptions than holding a steering wheel or dispatching drivers.

 

Well said.