PAM Driver - Ask me anything.

I've had probably around 2900-3000 miles each of the past 3 weeks. At least 5 days a week I've needed to drive as far as I can legally. Especially this last week. I've been limited by the 70 hour rule. So even though I haven't been driving 11 hours every day, the fact that my delivery times are making it so that I am having to drive again as soon as my 10 hours is up, even if that's 1 am, is stressful. That's what I meant by "driving my arse off". 3000 miles a week can be easy if you are on a regular sleep schedule.

 

are you on automotive dispatch?

 

Sorry, I don't know what that is.

 

you either are expedited, automotive or general freight. Automotive is the best of the three from what I have experienced. Expedited is good but mainly for teams. General Freight is where most solo drivers go and die. See on automotive dispatch you usually pick up where you drop off or very close to it. Your next load is already ready before you even unload. 3000 miles on this detail is the norm, they will run you like you said until you are out of hours (again from my experience and from the information I have gathered)... but just cause you are on it now doesn't mean it'll be this way all the way thru ure PAM experience. On automotive you usually have newer trailers mainly because that's the rule PAMela has for these super important loads and newer trailers means less problems. So all you PAM rooks out there whenever getting an empty try to get a newer trailer; this will better your chances on getting automotive loads.

From what I experienced automotive loads are loads that usually come out of Detroit, Laredo, Ohio and some parts of TN and PA. Motors, auto parts, empty racks; you know automotive stuff. PAM really cares for these customers, as it seems to me that they are the bread and butter of this company.

 

Thanks for that info. I'm not sure what category I fall into. I've hauled motor oil, soup, brakes and fiberglass insulation lately. Most of the time I'm already pre-dispatched before I'm empty I think. My load assignments have come almost immediately after I send in my empty call.
Also, the last load I pulled (I'm on home-time now) was brakes I picked up from Bosch. In the notes on the load assignment it said "you cannot pick up this load with trailer 14323". I called and they sent me to a nearby yard to get a newer trailer. You are right though that the auto part customers are very valuable to PAM. I can't say I'm really glad that GM and others are building cars in Mexico, but it does provide lots of opportunities for good miles for truck drivers.

 

How long have you been with PAMela?

 

Hire date was Feb 18, 2013.

 

Ah yes! The 1st 3 months!!! Enjoy them while they last sir.

 

Me and my brother have been running expedited. Got a load now coming from Cali going to Florida. Only thing I hate is its hard to get a load back out of Florida. But we have done some automotive too.

 

yeah PAMela doesnt do too well in getting out of the Sunshine State. One time we were deadheaded from Miami all the way near the I10 area just so we could get a load outta there