Good or Bad??

Still no updates? I too am interested in this co.. I would be in a lease w/my curent co but I don't like the choices of trucks. Would be happy if they had a T/600 w/ the studio, but alas.....

 

I too would like to hear more, something I thought of that I didn't read yet does this affect your credit rating in anyway good or bad? or is like your cell phone you make every payment and it's not reported but you screw up and it's on all 3 reports???

 

I'll bite. I started with JCT in August. I have an International 9900, and I run solo. Understand that I don't try to get good fuel economy. I don't need to make much, and all I'm trying to do is enjoy my time out here. This is a copy of my two most recent paychecks, during which I took two days off to see my kids in California. Then I was working on getting home.
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Unit Order# Disp Ld Date Origin Destination Load Empty Rate Revenue Amoun​

L1675F 0713771 02 03/18/2009 Ft Worth, TX N Platte, NE 708 0 ​

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​

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0.900 $ 637.20
L1675F 0714601 01 03/19/2009 Lexington, NE Commerce, CA 1,330 58 0.900 $ 1,249.20
L1675F 0714603 02 03/23/2009 Mira Loma, CA Tracy, CA 378 45 0.930 $ 393.39
L1675F 0714603 02 03/23/2009 STOP/PICKUP, , 0 0 0.000 $ 40.00​

$2,319.79​

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​

​

​

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Earnings​

Unit Order# Disp Reb Date Description Amount​

L1675F 0714603 02 03/23/2009 UNLOADING PAY LUMPER $30.00
L1675F 0713771 02 FUEL SURCHARGE $84.96
L1675F 0714601 01 FUEL SURCHARGE $166.56
L1675F 0714603 02 FUEL SURCHARGE $59.22
L1675F 0714603 02 03/24/2009 TRLR WASHOUT WASHOUT $30.00​

Total Reim:
$370.74​

Reimbursments​

Unit Order# Disp Ded Date Description Amount​

L1675F 0713771 02 03/19/2009 SALIKS-FUEL -005RKO $ 232.23
L1675F 0714601 01 03/20/2009 CHEYWY-FUEL -081TLJ $ 252.77
L1675F 0714601 01 03/21/2009 CC UT-FUEL -052UNS $ 279.71
L1675F 0714603 02 03/23/2009 LOHICA-FUEL -040XCG $ 348.47
L1675F 0713771 02 03/19/2009 SALIKS-EFS -005RKO $ 0.75
L1675F 0714601 01 03/20/2009 CHEYWY-EFS -081TLJ $ 0.75
L1675F 0714601 01 03/21/2009 CC UT-EFS -052UNS $ 0.75
L1675F 0714603 02 03/23/2009 LOHICA-EFS -040XCG $ 0.75
L1675F 0715297 01 03/26/2009 180023-2287310-000 GRANWA $ 20.00
L1675F 00 04/01/2009 QUALCOMM USAGE $ 11.53
L1675F 00 04/01/2009 INS/LIABILITY $ 7.62
L1675F 00 04/01/2009 INS/OCCUPATIONAL ACC $ 36.62
L1675F 00 04/01/2009 INS/PHYSICAL DAMAGE $ 69.30
L1675F 00 04/01/2009 DRIVER'S LEGAL/CDL $ 3.98
L1675F 00 04/01/2009 AMERICAN TRUCK TAX $ 18.00
L1675F 00 04/01/2009 TIRE/MAINTENANCE ESCR $ 125.95
L1675F 00 04/01/2009 PERFORMANCE ESCROW $ 25.00
L1675F 0714603 02 03/23/2009 180023-1794020-613 VERNCA $ 30.00
L1675F 00 04/01/2009 DOWN PAYMENT $ 100.95
L1675F 00 04/01/2009 LEASE PAYMENT $ 559.47​

Total Ded: $2,124.60​

Deductions​

Net (L1675F) $565.93

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And the previous paycheck.....

Unit Order# Disp Ld Date Origin Destination Load Empty Rate Revenue Amoun​

L1675F 0712568 01 03/11/2009 Lemoore, CA Rochelle, IL 2,041 0 ​

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​

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0.900 $ 1,836.90
L1675F 0713271 01 03/16/2009 Anderson, IN Ft Worth, TX 928 266 0.900 $ 1,074.60​

$2,911.50​

Earnings​

Unit Order# Disp Reb Date Description Amount​

L1675F 0712568 01 03/12/2009 TOLLS SCALE $8.00
L1675F 0713271 01 03/16/2009 TOLLS SCALE $9.00
L1675F 0712568 01 FUEL SURCHARGE $265.33
L1675F 0713271 01 FUEL SURCHARGE $143.28​

Total Reim:
$425.61​

Reimbursments​

Unit Order# Disp Ded Date Description Amount​

L1675F 0712568 01 03/12/2009 BAKECA-FUEL -032JEA $ 305.39
L1675F 0712568 01 03/13/2009 ALBUNM-FUEL -020KJJ $ 309.46
L1675F 0712568 01 03/15/2009 TULSOK-FUEL -010MKE $ 207.76
L1675F 0713271 01 03/16/2009 REMIIN-FUEL -015OCD $ 287.76
L1675F 0713271 01 03/17/2009 TX-FUEL -090PUB $ 324.01
L1675F 0712568 01 03/12/2009 BAKECA-EFS -032JEA $ 0.75
L1675F 0712568 01 03/13/2009 ALBUNM-EFS -020KJJ $ 0.75
L1675F 0712568 01 03/15/2009 TULSOK-EFS -010MKE $ 0.75
L1675F 0713271 01 03/16/2009 REMIIN-EFS -015OCD $ 0.75
L1675F 0713271 01 03/17/2009 TX-EFS -090PUB $ 0.75
L1675F 00 03/25/2009 QUALCOMM USAGE $ 11.53
L1675F 00 03/25/2009 INS/LIABILITY $ 7.62
L1675F 00 03/25/2009 INS/OCCUPATIONAL ACC $ 36.62
L1675F 00 03/25/2009 INS/PHYSICAL DAMAGE $ 69.30
L1675F 00 03/25/2009 DRIVER'S LEGAL/CDL $ 3.98
L1675F 00 03/25/2009 AMERICAN TRUCK TAX $ 18.00
L1675F 00 03/25/2009 TIRE/MAINTENANCE ESCR $ 161.75
L1675F 00 03/25/2009 PERFORMANCE ESCROW $ 25.00
L1675F 00 03/25/2009 DOWN PAYMENT $ 100.95
L1675F 00 03/25/2009 LEASE PAYMENT $ 559.47​

Total Ded: $2,432.35​

Deductions​

Net (L1675F) $904.76
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There you go. Acutal earnings. I could save quite a bit on fuel, but I rarely use Flying J (where we get the best price) I have personal issues with them, and won't touch them unless I have no good options. Since Thankgiving, I've had weather related issues, and things like that, and still have had decent paychecks. I don't take advances, and I do watch maintenance on the truck like a hawk. Since August 13th when I got the truck, I've run 103,000 miles. How much it's possible to earn depends greatly on you.

As for benefits and things like that. You are self-employed. There is no other way around that. I've had some personal problems come up recently, and have had to test how well JCT will work with me. Thus far, they've done really well. The worst test may still be yet to come, but I'm hoping the problems don't reach that point.

This far in, I can't come up with any real complaints about the company. They've really treated me well. I can't guarantee that I will answer any questions in a timely manner, but I will try.

Oh yeah. The truck had 340,000 miles on it when I got it. I signed a four year lease. At the pace I'm going, the truck will be worthless once it's paid off, but I intend to stick it out. So far, this truck has done really well for me. It doesn't break down, and it will outrun a lot of trucks to a lot of places.

I've been to PA twice and FL twice so far. Most of the freight is between Texas and California. The problem with Florida is that you come out of there HEAVY. And I don't mean right near 80,000. NEAR 80,000 is normal. My last load out of Florida, I grossed at 84,000. And I chose to run it. (I needed the miles...) I worked the dickens out of it, and made a pretty penny in the process.

Also, if you have to sit for weather. You WILL lose money. I've gotten nailed twice this winter in Oregon for not chaining when chains were required. I got a ticket the most recent time. (I will NEVER run chains on dry pavement. I live in the northwest, and have lived in the snow all my life)​

 

I missed this one in my reply. They don't report to the credit reports, nor do they check your credit. For me, this is a major good thing. I went through a really nasty divorce a couple of years ago, and she really did a number on my credit. The collection agencies check my credit periodically. I've been biting away at the smaller ones, but the $15-20,000 hits are still awaiting money. I don't keep any money in a bank account, and I don't WANT anything on my credit showing I'm making money. If they think I'm going to file bankruptcy on them, they leave me alone and let me work out payments my way. I settled a credit card this week that I owed $1800, and I got them to take $240. (She DID file bankruptcy. I didn't even KNOW about a lot of these accounts. I could just make them go away, but I refuse to go the coward's way out. I figure I will pay something on each of them. The only big one I knew of is the mini-van that she notified me three months AFTER she let it get repo'd that it was gone!!!)

 

Does jct allow you to add accessories and feul saving devices to the truck.

 

Hey Grizzly, I know you are not really concerned with getting a lot of miles, but if you wanted, could you get 3300+ miles per week as a solo?

 

You asked specifically about miles. So I went back through my pay all the way to my first check, and here are my miles every step of the way.

4/8/09 1074 miles (load home)
4/1/09 2519 miles
3/25/09 3235 miles
3/18/09 3117 miles
3/11/09 2264 miles (load away from home)
3/4/09 1987 miles (load home)
2/25/09 1575 miles
2/18/09 4274 miles
2/11/09 3119 miles
2/4/09 2751 miles (load away from home)
1/28/09 5472 miles (load home
1/21/09 0 miles
1/14/09 2640 miles
1/7/09 4208 miles
12/31/08 0 miles (weather related)
12/24/08 3934 miles
12/17/08 2467 miles
12/10/08 2648 miles (left kids from Thanksgiving)
12/3/08 2414 miles (stopped w/ kids for Thanksgiving)
11/26/08 3895 miles
11/19/08 4308 miles
11/12/08 1185 miles
11/5/08 3678 miles
10/29/08 4062 miles
10/22/08 3459 miles
10/15/08 2646 miles (load away from home)
10/8/08 1683 miles (load home)
10/1/08 3812 miles
9/24/08 1936 miles
9/17/08 3769 miles
9/10/08 2478 miles (load away from home)
9/3/08 5301 miles (load home)

That's a grand total of 91,910 paid miles in 33 weeks (my first check was a zero miler) So I'm averaging 2785 miles per week, including my time home. Also, that's going through the heart of the slow season. I had a couple of breakdowns during that time, and lost nearly a week around Christmas time due to weather. Are 3300 mile weeks possible? I definitely think so. What you have to remember, though, is that miles are only a small part of the total earnings picture. How much fuel you burn through and how you handle your maintenance also play a big part.

Last week, I picked up a load of apples. The wind kicked my butt for most of the load, and I averaged 4.2 MPG. (it sucked!!) The fuel surcharge is based on 6 MPG at $1.50 per mile. Our fuel surcharge for the load was .13 per mile. (I think, not positive) Therefore, my expected fuel cost should have been $988.38. However, I spent $1122.36 for a total loss on fuel of $133.98. Or I lost .05 per mile to fuel loss. I normally do that kind of math for most of my loads. Many loads, I come out ahead on the fuel surcharge. Especially when fuel was high. If you watch how much you spend on fuel, you can work it to come out ahead. You just have to be smart. You can't run with the typical company driver "hammer down, and fuel where they tell me" philosophy.

Here is something else I think about quite often. Let's say I can save $4 by fueling at one location, but I get a free shower at a different one. (where I actually want to shower) If I fuel and save $4, but then turn around and spend $10 on a shower, did I save or lose? I see it as a $6 loss. Therefore, I may spend a little more on fuel sometimes in order to save in the long run.

Here is something else I've run into. We get a .02 discount on Flying J fuel. However, I've discovered that my truck gets .2 MPG worse fuel economy (on average) with Flying J fuel. So, here's a basic formula to see if it's worth it for me to buy Flying J fuel. As you can see by these numbers, in this example, it's not worth it. That isn't always the case. (depending on the actual price of fuel)

5.6 mpg # $2.28 per gallon = $.407 per mile on non-Flying J
5.4 mpg # $2.26 per gallon = $.418 per mile on Flying J

These are all things you have to think about if you're going to make money out here doing a lease. There are many, many more. As a company driver, it simply doesn't matter. But, I like having control over what actually goes to my pocket. I always hated saving the company money, for it only to go into the pockets of the bigwigs. (as simple as a headlight, for example. Change it yourself as a company driver and they win, you lose. As a lease driver, that money is in YOUR pocket!!!)

 

A very good question. Specifically speaking (according to the driver's manual and the lease you sign), no you can not. According to what you sign, you can do absolutely NOTHING to the truck. Don't touch the graphics, don't add lights, don't add anything. However, that said, I've seen an awful lot of things done to the trucks. The way I see it, I'm buying this truck. If I want to add something to it, they can bite me. Provided it can easily come off if I need to AND it doesn't affect anything to do with the warranty. If you trade in the truck, or turn it in for any other reason at any point and they WOULD have to do anything to the truck to put it back the way it is SUPPOSED to be before you get it (note, I didn't say how it WAS when you got it!!!!) they will charge you an arm and a leg. That is something VERY important to remember.

I happen to love my truck, and have no intention of trading it in. I don't care for the sleepers in the new ProStars, and I LOVE my kitty and 13 speed. Therefore, I will probably pay it off. The truck I had before coming to JCT had 1.6 million miles on it when the engine turned loose. I know how to take care of a truck, and how to make money with them. Therefore, I'm perfectly content in this truck.

 

Does jct use transflo and trippak scanning.

 

We use trippak. As a matter of fact, I just scanned in my trip I delivered this evening, and am now parked for the night at Sapp bros in Salt Lake City. I pick up a load in the morning a few miles from here heading for Fort Worth. Tomorrow, I get to send in my hometime request again. Somehow I agreed this evening to sell my house and move in with a female. (part of the confusion of my life. I would say girlfriend, but she's not. I'm not quite sure WHAT she is) I also want to be home for my mom's first chemo treatment. (which I found out this evening is April 23rd - the other major confusion in my life....)