7 on 7 off or 14 on 7 off for newbie?

Working 6 months out of the year or 8 months...

The one year experience may look good on paper, but what happens when they ask you how many miles you've driven? If you average 2500 a week, the 7/7 schedule, working 6 months will net you around 65,000 and the 14/7 schedule will jet you around 86,000... a little low for a year if you average that by 12 months.

Good luck though if that is what will make you happy.

 

Get a job in the food service industry then.....you'll have a set schedule , and only run the route/s that you bid to run. Depending on how they run , you could get a schedule that runs every Sunday/Tuesday/Thursday or Monday/Wednesday/Friday etc. Do the math.....three days a week x 4weeks = 12 days a month....even if you run 4 days a week its still only 16 days out of 30.......

 

I worked there. I think for a grand total of 11 days. It was more or less a dare and I wanted to see if OTR was different these days. They were kind of pushy but I let them know I called the shots. They say non forced dispatch then have you signed to a driver manager (dispatcher) They have a fuel manager that only allows you to get so much fuel at different stops. They'll have it figured out to the penny. (example: 59 gal at one place and 42 gal at another along a route you might not want to take) They have a safety man who you'll need to call every time you get a hazmat load. He will want to know what you're hauling and all the codes that goes with it. He will ask if you have your little orange book in arms reach and if you're wearing your seatbelt. They want you to keep tools with you they they don't furnish such as extra long jumper cables, tire gage etc. Keep in mind they are debt free. They still try to force loads on you but just tell them you'll wait on the load across Texas and give that New Jersey multi stop load to another idiot. It will be like magic 30 min later flashing on your Qualcomm. (Arizona, home terminal drop and hook)
They try to sucker you in to that per diem garbage so they can pay you less. They advertise .45 a mile but that's on a short hop. Maybe 150 miles. Most runs pay .34 a mile but with per diem they'll give you .21 cents then .11 in another section of your check. This means you can't claim your $59 a day per diem at years end and they steal a couple cents a mile for whatever reason. They don't want you driving between midnight and 5am. You'll need to scan all of your paperwork in order to get paid. I did make it home and they paid for my hazmat fingerprinting (cash money) I think I made $800 gross the full week. They probably are ok for a OTR company but it's a lifestyle I couldn't get used to with all the hand holding, paperwork and Qualcomm. I felt like I was in preschool again.

 

There's absolutely no such thing as no-force dispatch! Sure they won't give you a hard time if you refuse and maybe won't even say anything, however good luck getting another load! Once you refuse a load you are put at the bottom of the list because there are too many other drivers out there that will take it. Once you are at the bottom of the list they will weed you out until they have a group of drivers that will cover their needs. They will then sit you out and starve you until you quit.

Hey man, its great you want to work for Knight and even better you don't need money, however don't believe the hype! Their going to tickle your balls and tell you what you want to hear until you have gone through orientation.

Another thing about Knight that is different from other companies (that they don't tell you) is that they work off of seniority. They senior drivers get the miles and good runs. It takes a long time of butt kissing before you will run good loads and miles. Most newbies don't know any better so they don't notice.

If you are deadset still on Knight I highly recommend you go into the refrigerated division because your chances of getting miles will double. You will be able to haul anything refrigerated or dry. Can't do that with a dry van.

On a lighter note, once you have completed their 12 hour physical you will know anything and everything about your body and if there is anything wrong with it!

 

I want to work 7/7 and Knight will do that as long as you are willing to slip seat (share the truck with another driver) You drive OTR anywhere in the 48 and head home and then you are off for 7. Basically a part time OTR JOB.

 

How's it going Rollin87? I am going 7/7 also when done with my training. I was told I would get 2600-2800 miles on my weeks. They said they need to keep the miles up on the 7/7 to be sure the truck is back for then next driver. Would like to hear from someone else how they handle gear in the truck or do they take it all out every week?

 

as a slip seat you take all out so pack light for you runs keep in mind at knight the will put presur for you to take a load for some one out and cant make del. they do get you home in a good time it might be a day or 2 late or a day earley i worked for knight for a year and trainer for 6 mon. knight keep me going and going got all miles my logs would let me now taking truck in shop can be a bad time or long time depends on were you take it all i can say is good luck on the 7/7 14/7 and be safe keep your eyes open and dont idle that truck even in 117 az weather dam its hot

 

why not idle the truck? If there is not an APU the Air needs to be on to keep cool.....

 

I can respond if I want....

Nanneee Nannneee Boo boo....

Mikeeee