Abilene Motor Express....A New Place To Call Home

I ran into something similar at the company I left in October. Except dispatch told me that once a hurricane hit land it was no longer a hurricane, just a rain storm and I was to keep moving. I moved allright, to another company....

 

Most of them in there now are so young they still got their mamas milk dripping out of their mouths. I’m there every day almost and I couldn’t tell you who these children are. Only people in dispatch that I recognize are Victor, Bubba, CAM, of course mine, and a couple more that are now account reps.

 

Those porch dwellers have been there since 2013. Some of them are even the same ones! Now, I’m all for wanting longer runs. And I have been known to refuse a short, crappy load. If you’re coming off home time and have hours only to consistently get short runs, it makes you think. My usual come out load was Chesapeake to Berea. And not an early delivery. 5 pm or 6 pm. I would have to go pick up in Chesapeake and I’d run as far as Beckley. Then have 14 hours to contemplate before having to head out again. Then I’d either pick up right in Berea or Columbus and head right back to the yard or Chesapeake. Every. Single. Time. THAT is unacceptable. Could I have made it in one sitting or closer before shutting down? Sure. But why? I ran I-64 so much I could probably do it blindfolded. I told my DM that I signed up to be OTR, not long distance local going to the same exact places all the time. Once I got a better DM, I got better loads. Not JB loads, but some better ones. Couldn’t buy a west load or even TX. Always got the spiel about we can’t get you out west and back in 2 weeks. Really? Someone on here proves you can. Pretty regularly, I might add. But, it’s all good. I may not make as much as I was, but I also choose not to work 7 days a week and spend time with my family. My mother passing made me realize that family is the most important. I just wish the company would stop treating locals (those who actually do work) like pieces of dirt under the feet.

 

My honest opinion is the average length of haul for a solo otr driver should be 1000-1500 miles.

 

Sounds like a good move... lol

 

0900 appt time and on time and get told to park it cuz they don't have a dock door for me. Next 4 trucks come in and back straight into a door. I don't get it. Starting to think they don't like the broker which is XPO, so Im being made to sit. Started my clock at midnight so my 14 going to come around fast.

 

Has anyone noticed that when you search for the Abilene Motor Express website the first suggestion that pops up is Knight Transportation? Hope that’s not an indication of which way things are headed.
On another note, what percentage of loads that you haul are dry van vs reefer loads? Just curious what everyone has encountered.