Watkins shepard

You see the ads, and the claims. Much of the additional pay is what is termed accessory pay. Unloading, additional stop pay, lay over, break down, and the list goes on.

You can make the money, even in this down economy. But it will be difficult if the company doesn't have the freight. And freight is very tight at the moment.

I'll make about $40k this year. A hell of a cut over previous years.

Most of the "crap" talk you hear. Comes from 2 kinds of drivers. One has truly been treated like crap, the other is doing a lot of sitting due to slow freight, and his bills are piling up.

As for the "not getting miles" comment. This will vary by the driver. The majority will tell you they need at least 3000 a week to make it. Some need even more. Note the term "make it". This occurs with debt. Generally lots of debt, and has little to do with their actual lifestyle except to point out they have lived beyond their means for too long. Another reason...discussed later.

While a minority, like myself. Don't give a rats ### if we see 2500 this week. I got 1800...and I'm happy with it. I'll make it up next week. I just needed some time off this week.

In my "personal" opinion. If I am going to drive OTR, I am going to demand no less than 3500 miles a week. That's the only way I can justify being gone from my house for more than 7 days at a time. Many other drivers fall into this catagory, for good reason. It's NOT a fair trade, if the company doesn't pay you for staying a away from your family.

Per mile is bull#### if your not rolling.

 

basically it comes down to all the truck schools are B.S. ing everyone.There saying there is a shortage of drivers, this was true 4 years ago but no more and there still saying this.
The truck schools advertising this still, should be sued for false advertising.There is no shortage of drivers at this time! It is the other way around,
the only reason W/S started there school back up is because drivers were quitting left and right on them after they announced the 1 cent pay cut, this along with the 34 hour resets every 2 or 3 days and the $5 unload pay and the "load on friday that delivers monday thats only 500 miles away"

 

I can vouch for the trucking schools advertising "learn today, drive tomorrow, jobs in high demand!" line of bull. The local paper is teaming with this false information. Could you tell us more about the "34 hour reset?" twucker? I've never heard of this, but like others I'm sure, think it's bad for business. You have to love how corporate types try to take a situation that wasn't broken to start with and "improve" upon it. It really helps... it happened in the medical field all too often. As rookies, we often accept the position of.."Man, I've got to eat this month, and I don't want to go to jail for default debt...this company is telling me I have to do this and that, I want a job, I guess I HAVE to do this." By the time we get started we've bought a job at a price we can't pay back in 2 months working there. If there were some other ways to break into the industry that didn't require paying or playing their game, it'd make life a little more fair for those at the end of the line. Now in a couple of years time, yes...anything less than fast wheels and short stops will not be worth the bother, but getting there brother, they bill us to kill us.

Staying out should mean staying $ but the two arn't always stablemates. Your rent/mortg. isn't going to change, food has to be eaten, bills have to be paid, your wife and kids (if app.), and gas money for getting everyone everywhere. Take $900 for rent/mortg., $600 for food for the crew, say you pay $700 for bills (water, elect., cars and registration, ect. ect.) the wife and youngsters take $600 month for clothes, medical and necessities, and $400 a month in gas for everyone...((this is all pretty conservitive)) and without doing any more math on your part you arrive at $3,200 before anything else I might have forgoten for the month, oh you wanted to save some money?? Sorry, Charlie. Seriously though, it's expensive even with you not "there" these days. Staying out all the time opens up other financial concerns too, family security, who's watching the kids, who's watching the bank! If you've got a great wife or gf you wont have to worry, but if not, your hard earned $ will be long gone before you get back and you'll still have the better part of that amount to contend with when you get home.

Danc brother, where are you finding those .50/m rates... straw and sod had me making closer to .24/m...but I didn't have to sleep with the stuff. I never had to sleep with hay bales either, but I hear they play banjo music all night long...I'd have to make at least detention if I were sleeping with them.

 

Not me ! I was saying I couldn't live where he lived...even for .50 a mile.

I'm rather found of cheap beer, cheap hookers, and cheap cigerettes. So I don't need but .31 a mile

 

Question for you all, anyone had any trouble swapping CDL back to their home state (specifically CA) after going through W/S's school?

 

hehe good luck with that, not sure if anyone other than o/o are getting those kind of miles consistantly.

 

How does one accomplish such things?

 

It's pretty much a simple trade out plus fees, unless you have hazmat. If you have hazmat and wish to keep it, you have to take the written test....again.

That's why I won't do it any more. Most companies place a dollar amount on a drivers earnings. Once he/she reaches it, loads are diverted to other drivers with less miles. Regardless of whether they want them, or not.

I can get 3k a week (if I push) as a regional driver, home on weekends. I #### sure ain't staying out for 2-8 weeks, for less money. Hell will freeze over first.

Just go to work for any of the major companies and they'll give you multiple lessons, once you reach top pay. Maybe sooner.

 

I'll argue the statement that you can't get anyone after hours when your truck breaks down. My wife and I have NEVER had a problem getting someone on the phone even on the weekend.