Questions from a noob

prime starts out at .38/.43 but if your max speed is 58 isnt that really making less due to other company's running more miles per day your lossin like 100 miles a day

 

My impression from this post is that trucking is not for you. Especially with #4.

Expect a high paying job from an associates degree earned from only two years of college is another indicator that you do not have a realistic perspective of today's work environment.

Mikeeee

 

Doesn't really change your paycheck. The appointment times are the same whether you drive 58 or 68. It's just aggravating driving so slow on the interstate, especially when the speed limit is 70 or 80.

 

I don't either; 57/58 is just too slow on the interstate.

 

It's dangerous too. It is safer for traffic to go the same approximate speed.

 

Running a 600 mile load with a 60mph truck will take you 10 hours. With a 70mph truck, a little over 8 1/2. While it may not affect your appointment time, it does lead to more fatigue on the driver.

And if you're with a big company, like I am, I might get dispatched on a 1200 mile load with three days to get there. If I get there in two, there is usually a yard in the area where I can drop and hook a day early. Not to mention all the drop loads we do, like Walmart, Sam's, Costco, Cabellas, etc.

So yes, it DOES INDEED affect your paycheck. Getting to a consignee early gets your next load early. My company knows I almost never get the load on time, I'm always early. They work off my ETA/PTA and almost always have me preplanned. Gets me 2 or 3000 extra miles a month... do the math.

 

I'm a shade younger then you, and I'll say, this industry isn't for you. I work for a hay/silage/compost/grain company. My boss would listen to you one time and say GTFO. We do most of our own maintenance, its long hours year round, its tough. You just don't sound the type.

 

Good thing you don't drive in the UK, all trucks are governed to 60MPH. On local 2 lane roads the maximum truck speed limit is only 50MPH (40MPH in Scotland!) despite the legal limit for cars being 60MPH. Certainly makes for some serious traffic backups...or desperate overtaking attempts.

I usually drive 60MPH in my car anyway simply to save on fuel. When gas is nearly $7 a gallon you tend to drive with a very light right foot.