Aggressive driving won't make you any more money

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by Diantane, Mar 4, 2016.

  1. Crossroads

    Crossroads Light Load Member

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    If you are only making $200 for 600 miles, you might consider working elsewhere. I don't know your experience or situation, but .30 mi are very low wages.

    Then again if you are happy so be it. There are good paying jobs out there, it takes some work to get in there, but .40 mile should be considered as bare minimum. If you OTR with 6 months or more, and not making at least $50K, it might be time to move on. Good Luck
     
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  3. HalpinUout

    HalpinUout Road Train Member

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    I'm happy for your brother, but I could careless...

    Lots of jobs pay lots more money than trucking... I think everyone is aware of that...

    Most of us do this because we like to travel, be alone, and numerous other reasons...

    Money doesn't always bring happiness
     
  4. Thegasman

    Thegasman Light Load Member

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    I was on 294 in Chicago yesterday. A 4 lane tollway in both directions. Plenty of signs that say trucks use 2 rite lanes. In the far left lane there are 2 Semis just fartin along. That nonsense makes my blood boil. No excuse for 1, let alone 2 trucks to be in the far left lane of a 4 lane highway. So wanted there to be a cop up ahead
     
  5. Steve62

    Steve62 Light Load Member

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    If you are driving for $200 a day you should be slapped! I would not get out of bed for that. 600 miles is an all day drive, 200 really ??
     
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  6. ethos

    ethos Road Train Member

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    Typing is very easy but 180k is over 85 and hour. Just saying.
     
  7. Steve62

    Steve62 Light Load Member

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    Northern BC
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    I am a new driver one year, bought a truck in Oct. O/O
    I make far more than that.
     
  8. 1278PA

    1278PA Road Train Member

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    To me the best benefit of being a truck driver is you dont have a boss looking over your shoulder or bothering you all day. Sure you have a boss but he/she is not around you all day.
     
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  9. GasHauler

    GasHauler Master FMCSA Interpreter

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    Vegas/Jersey
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    Here's a situation I used to get in and it drove me crazy. But the only thing you can do is turn up the radio and hang behind until the problem is gone.--

    You're driving your truck out in the desert or any other place that has two roads. Every once in awhile the two lane will have a passing lane. If you're going slower then it's the place to let those go by. But what gets me is the family RV where the driver has no experience and is taking his time. So you come up on this RV when it's just two lanes. You slow down to maintain your distance and you soon find out this RV is traveling about 45 mph in a 55mph. That's ok because the two lanes will be three and that extra lane is for you to pass. You know that Mr. RV is taking it real slow because he hasn't been in that RV very long so he sides with caution. All fine and you wait. Here it comes so you pick up speed to pass but wait a minute so is the RV. He feels safer now he has the extra lane so on he goes. You can't pass him because you're loaded up and you start to run out of lane. I've even got up to the side where he saw me and he still didn't recognize he was the problem.

    Situations like that you just kicked back and let it go. It will save your stomach from getting big holes in it and your nerves will be better too.
     
  10. TROOPER to TRUCKER

    TROOPER to TRUCKER Anything Is Possible

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    The OP seems to have jumped back in the Carolina Cargo truck
     
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  11. Zeviander

    Zeviander Road Train Member

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    Actually, it will. Except at the cost of increased risk of accident due to negligence or fatigue.

    Nearing the end of my run going OTR, I started pushing to the extreme. I would track my average speed. Take the minimum required breaks in order to keep it up and drive the most within the 16 hour window (Canada HOS). When I went on a trip to Ontario, I even went so far as to speed (93-95 km/h in a 90 zone) to keep my average speed up around 87-89 km/h so I could make it back home without running out of hours.

    Then I started running earlier and earlier into the mornings since I wasn't getting good sleeps anyways, I thought I might as well just go drive after the minimum 8 hour break. And hey, with all these minimums, I could make more money!

    Running the governed 105 km/h limit. Passing others on the highway. It just got to be too much and I was a few weeks away from what I anticipated to be a nervous breakdown, but luckily I got a regional position and get home every night. Now I sleep fine, work harder than I ever did before, but take my time with everything, and get it all done safely.

    New drivers, honestly, should not be paid by the mile. It forces them to push harder than they should. Thus burning out far quicker and likely taking someone or something with them.
     
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