Werner, Western Express, or ?

No kiddin'! Anyone who actually likes what they're doin' will catch all kinds of labels from the TTR crowd... none of them nice.

Different strokes for different folks... as long as you're satisfied with what you're doing it's all good.

 

I know what you mean Ladyflatbedder. I drive for USA Truck. I head all the laughs and snickers when getting a scale ticket at Ts and get asked what company. I knew I was going to be laughed at once cause so many super truckers were standing round the fuel desk. I said I drove for USA Truck, knew I'd hear laughs, told lady at fuel desk needed to cash com checks, well 2. They have $1000.00 limit. Did one for $1000.00 and another for $250. One trucker said your company gives that large of cash advance. Told them nope my pay for week after taxes. Included in that was a small bonus for $200 for referral bonus and other $50 was scale tickets redeemed etc

 

They all shut up and you could hear a pin drop. Just walked out and got in truck to deliver as they sat there finishing their coffee

 

Check Schneiderjobs.com and see what's open in your region. They seem to be recruiting hard out of California and Arizona

 

You're not the first USA driver that's posted some good paychecks there. Years ago I got laughed at for pulling some Fleming Foods trailers, which was a logistics account. Fleming Foods was a terrible company in itself, horrible company, but I was making average a grand a week which was real good money then. I laughed all the way to the bank. Some of the drivers laughing at me weren't too happy when they found out I wsa making more money than them.

Must admit, we were "high-fiving" when Fleming went bankrupt.

 

That's about what me and my CO driver each bring home a week. These drivers can say what they want, I won't lose sleep at night. And USA is a good company I tried to get on with them myself. The van buren terminal is 5 minutes from my house.

 

Well.. first, I have only ever been on dedicated accounts with Werner... I got on the intermodal account right off my trainers truck.. it pays .34cpm plus accessorie pay , such as safety pay, stop pay, etc... I averaged 2800 to 3000 miles a week.. my take home was consistently between $900 -$1200 a week... I had a couple checks that were hire, but that was when things went smooth, no delays and was able to get in an extra run or two...

I just switched to the menards flatbed account... it pay .36 plus accessorie pay.. safety, stop, tarp, etc... on this account there is also a guaranteed minimum... so if you cant get loads and miles in you will still bring homeat least $800..

I know, $800 is not much.. you make more when you run loads and get your miles in... but, if there are delays that prevent you from getting your miles you have that to fall back on.... we run two loads a day.. a long run, well.. not OTR long.. about 3 hours out, then a short run... of course, it is slip seat so it is import that you get your loads done on time, fuel and get back to the yard for the next shift... so, if you get delayed on your long run, thee may not be time to run your short run... so.. your off early... I cant really say just yet what my average pay will be... I just started and still learning the ropes... I am getting faster at untarping and un strapping my loads, so I can get unloaded faster and rolling.. but, still got some improvement I can do....

I do like the account... even in bad weather... there is a lot more satisfaction in what I am doing.. the other day I had to untarp a double tarped load in the wind and rain... got it done.. and felt pretty happy with myself...

The guys have been really supportive... when I first showed up there were a couple that had their doubts that I could do it... I am only 5'2" and 135 lbs... so I understood there concerns.... I think they were worried I would always be asking for help... but.. I hold my own... it does take all I got sometimes... but, they see that and appreciate it...

There is a real team feel to this account and I like that... if I am gonna get back to the yard late I text the guy I slip seat with.. he does the same for me... if he knows he wont be back till 3am... then there is no reason for me to get there at 1:45am...

 

That is one thing I learned... there is more to doing the job and making good money then just driving the truck..

The thing with the account I am on.. is you gotta run hard.. not gonna last or make money if you dilly dally... I start at 2am.. and once I get my load and rolling I only stop once, within the first 50 miles to check my load securement. ? Then I roll straight through... if you dont, then you can get delayed which means you wont have time for your second load... I also learned, that as soon as you get in the yard, get your tarps and straps off and out of the way as fast as you can.. cause they wont start to unload you till you got it done....

I have a system now.. still needs tweaking... but, your learn new ticks all the time... or, another drivers shows you so ething... like last week.. our rub rail suck, they are dented in.. so it was a pain to get the strap through without a fight.. well, last week a driver told me it would be better to just not fight it.. and unwrap the whole strap from the start.. seemed like it would take more time to me... but, nope.. he was right... I gave it a try and saw the wisdom in it... and is shaved some time off....

I know with werner.. it seems like feast or famine... there are drivers who do well.. but, I do know there are drivers who seem to have a tough go of it... sometimes, I see where it is their own doing... late loads will hurt you.. you got to get established early... once dispatch knows you can deliver.. they will depend on you and you get good loads and miles... it seems harder to turn it around if dispatch has no faith you or you have gotten on their bad side..

I think that is how it is with all companies.. not just Werner... I think a lot of new drivers get off on the wrong foot cause when they first get their truck.. they are not that good at trip planning and time management... so they get off to a bad start and have an uphill climb...