Shaffer Experiment

Yeah. Your opinion. Keep my name out of it. I'm done with you. Have been done with you.

 

Here's what I don't understand... And this is a friendly debate, because look at any of my post, I don't bash anyone for who they work for. Who am I to judge what works for them.

But u stick up for them cause they pay .48, but we know why one of the reason they pay a higher cent per mile. But yet u don't work there anymore. U mention u didn't like your life there, I totally understand that... and u left for that reason. Ok that part didn't work for U.

But on the other hand someone that works for a true long haul company and maybe doesn't make the higher cent per mile but doesn't have all the problems that come with a short haul or medium haul company, but yet u bash them for that... So what good did the .48 do for u if it didn't work.
There are other factors that come into play other than cent per mile. And that's going to be different for everybody!!!!

All I'm saying is... I always live my life for what works for ME... Not what U think works for ME!!!! I just don't understand why sooooo many people get so work up over these companies... Your always going to get mixed reviews from all them... Everybody has different wants from a company. I don't think I'm a better person than somebody that makes less money than I do... Just like someone that makes more money is a better person than me.

 

I agree. I would much rather run 3500 miles a week with long runs then do 2500-3000 miles with nothing but short haul. The less time at shippers and receivers the better for me. It's so much easier racking up miles running long, short haul is exhausting. I will also take less money to have an APU, frig, and inverter over a basic truck. To each their own. Everyone values things differently, doesnt mean one is better than the other.

 

It wasn't "Shaffer" that was the reason why I left. It was the whole OTR company reefer driver that sucked for me... the lifestyle. Shaffer always got me home when I asked/was due 100% was the time and was on pace to earn over $50k a year when I had less than a year experience... which I felt was great and I was happy for.
They never let me sit and always have me miles.. so as for being a company OTR driver and making money it was great.
However I left for personal reasons, not because of anything bad Shaffer did but because after I got a year experience I looked for my own best JOB that would make me happy and earn more money.
Now I'm picking my own freight off a load board, paid % and do mostly all drop and hooks. Total freedom I have now and the ability to earn MORE with working nearly half as hard.
Last week I did $2500 after fuel and fixed costs on less than 2000 miles.

Everybody should do what makes them happy.
This thread was about numbers, I was stating a FACT that Shaffer pays more and you get the miles. If an APU and inverter is worth giving up .06 or more a year then hey go for it.
There's drivers with experience working for TransAm for .32 but they have auto Kenworths with APUs, refrigerators etc and to some a fancy truck is more important than money.
But when you made that decision it's you taking a pay cut for fancier equipment.
I mean I myself am leasing a Kenworth when I could have gone a shaker for less $ but I am paying for it and that's my choice.
I view it similar when a company driver works for less pay for a truck with more stuff on it.. it's you paying for it just in a different way.

From a purely financial I think Crete/Shaffer is a great OTR company because they actually run you and at a rate better than most all OTR company drivers. Which after all is the most important thing in my opinion, it is a job after all.
Yes you have a 62 MPH truck and aren't going to be getting coast to coast runs. Those coast to coast runs pay LESS so if I want a company that does those runs you'll earn less per mile.
If someone loves long runs that much it might be worth it to them.
Everybody is different, this is a lifestyle after all.

 

This thread went to hell

 

Another way to look at things is hours worked with also a consideration of the hassle level.
I worked for Crete. Many years ago the average length of haul was over a thousand miles. Now it's about 600 miles. In the past, we were offered a few loads to choose from. I usually took the longest ones. More miles. Less dock sitting.

Anyway, a lower rate per mile doesn't necessarily mean someone is taking a pay cut. You really need to count the amount of hours you're working, including sitting in docks, etc.

Furthermore, if you have extra time on a longhaul, you can spend that time at a truckstop catching up on chores and getting a meal and a shower. On short haul , you may have few places to choose to stop, because you may be passing very few truckstops, if any.

I preferred the longhaul. Plenty of time to sleep, wash clothes, maintain my truck, and still easily make my appointments on time.

Shorthaul is alot more work and appointments to make.

 

Always wondered....what does the word hogwash mean

 

Oh dear, I'm only on page 13 and can't stop laughing.

 

Well, it got all serious after the cows. Wish I would have just stopped reading then. I'm on a dedicated run making $220 a day on 350 miles. But I spend my weekends working on the truck sometimes. Everything has a trade off.

I couldn't imagine running 140k miles a year. My hats off to you company guys.