Going back OTR

Crete you can bring your rider with you to orientation and start day one i did it. Probly get started around 55cpm run all 48 min 21 days out

 

From your list US Xpress has newer equipment in my mind but some of them I dont know so.

 

I’m probably going to write what the OP already knows, but OTR ain’t just Van or Flatbed. So, for those wondering if staying out weeks at a time or longer is worth it:

Ran into an Indian River senior “team” of husband/wife in Clovis, NM one morning (all dairy out there). They ran identical tankers dedicated round trip to San Antonio, TX. Good assignment and money (given dairy doesn’t pay great; but they were well above almost any trucking average X 2). Seven years in. Linehaul.

Nice equipment. Big money invested in company facility. But most IR dairy tanker drivers look like it’s the best they could do. Not impressive. (I killed time last year running dairy between real jobs).

IOW, if you live in the middle of nowhere and inherited a house with a couple of acres, kids grown & gone, dairy tanker is easy especially with new equipment. Haul ### in a 75-mph truck (not IR) to a city, wait for someone else to unload & tank wash, then return empty. Run 2-3 loads per week out & back with several days off.

Someone else also loads the trailer. Driver hooks and leaves. Drops on return. No physical work.

So it’s ideal — this type work — with a passenger. Downside is tanker isn’t a smooth ride. And going over gross is common. Sometimes every load (producers pay). Sleeper minimal.

But easy to park anywhere and 50% empty miles. Pass everyone. Mainly rural Interstate once W of Mississippi River and into ordinary cities, not just major metro. Pay is miles only. Push hard.

The food grade tanker work that looked better was “specialty”. Food additives and such. Drivers, equipment & attitude was first rate. More work in load/unload. “Custom Commodities “ was whom I saw most often. A friend also in tanker talked to them and was impressed.

Problem with some tanker work (liquid & pneumatic) is personnel restrictions at some load & unload points. Second person is ideally rated as a co-driver with all paperwork. I’ve met couples where wife had it all, but hubby ran as solo.

Tanker has a helluva lot less headaches & lowlifes than door-slamming.

Haz-Mat can truly pay well, but it’s a world of its own. Other types don’t pay as well, but there are some niches worth investigating. Learning how to operate a tanker that self-loads & unloads is a barrier. Can be a steep curve with pneumatic. Not everyone can do it. (Keeps out the riff-raft). And since the equipment is far more expensive, no BS from Dispatch.

A newer, younger guy owes it to himself and his family to specialize as a driver . It ain’t happening unless he’s Johnny-on-the-spot. Not easy to ever replace him. Getting the truck to one place or another isn’t why he’s paid what he’s paid. A valuable product delivered on-time and as requested . . THAT is a professional driver.

I’ll put it another way. No one is rude at your delivery point. No sub-normal IQ types to screw up your day. They’re happy to see you, believe me. The whole place shuts down without your load. Oilfield or automotive manufacturing. The Ship/Receive office may not be your contact, don’t follow those signs. An escort to unlock access area. You’ve just shown up with a key ingredient, and there can be no mistakes. (Feels ###### good).

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I'd scratch USX off that list. They are not a great solo company. They'll keep you on the east coast.