Line haul bid process and how it works

That's my preference too. I know I can generally count on our other drivers to take care of business, but there are always a few bad apples. I did a relay a few weeks ago where the rear trailer on the inbound set had no lights on the tail. Luckily we were swapping at a terminal with a shop, so it was easy enough to fix but the very idea pissed me off. A mouse had nested in a taillight housing and chewed some wires, so that wasn't something that happened en route. That is something that even the laziest PTI would have caught. If we had relayed at some other place without the facilities to fix it quickly, I think I would have tried to get central dispatch to let me continue on to the other driver's destination and let him fool with the breakdown.

As far as linehaul bids go, I'm close enough to the bottom of the seniority list that all the schedules are gone before they get to me so I don't worry about it much. I like the extra board and can take my pick of those start times, so it's all good. I'm a wild turn driver which just means I get back to my home terminal daily. Most of the time.

 

You would be surprised;

1) Not everyone wants the long/er/est run/s.

2) Some drivers actually prefer to STAY in the city (????)

i've seen this happen where i'm at and at other companies i've worked at.

i have a philosophy that whether you have seniority/bidding or not, everyone kind of ends up where they want to be anyways.

i've seen new guys get a pretty decent, suburban run after only being with the company for 2-4 months.

 

There was a list at Kuhn Transport 220 drivers. I hired on at the very bottom of the senority list.

6 months later Im in the top 30. ALL others with the exception of the top 50 were replaced so the trucks keep rolling.

Unfortunately the company itself was replaced.

 

Funny nobody mentioned this... but it depends on the size of your barn, My barn had two line spots, each was full time but still extra board. If you are in a mega barn with more than 20+ drivers, you can move up relatively fast. Just stay flexible and don't wreck. The longer you stick it out the better your opportunities will get

 

^^^^^^^THIS^^^^^

i was able to get a suburban run after only 4 months.

 

Not to get too personal into what you make, but on average, what can a wild driver make a week?. Do drivers that stay out in hotels tend to make more or does that not factor into pay?

 

Right at 2K a week.

 

Thanks, that's a little over double what I make now.

 

Most people need to see they are worth more. There is always something better, just go get it.