Anyone experienced with Shaffer?

Thank you for the encouragement. I’ve been looking at a few companies but it’s hard because we have 2 dogs. I keep telling myself “if the money is good at least then we will stay” but it will suck in the winter if east coast is all we run. Ahh, decisions! I’ll probably give this DM another two weeks and if it doesn’t change then my husband will probably have to go over the DMs head and see what’s up since he’s more frustrated than I am at this point. But hey, the miles are there, even if we’re stuck at a shipper literally every single day since the loads are so short.

 

I just started with Danny Herman Trucking. My final two choices were between Shaffer and DHT. Reading your post makes me glad I went with DHT. My first load was 1600 miles, the one I deliver Saturday is 2000 miles, and I am pre-planned on my third load for 1500 miles. CPM is much lower, but with incentives for driving over 12,000 miles a month you get an additional 6 CPM When I ran the numbers for what I was likely to make at Shaffer compared with DHT, the numbers came out very close. Shaffer may have a slight edge, but I decided that DHT has the kinds of loads that I like so I chose DHT. From orientation in El Paso, Texas, I went to South Carolina, then picked up in North Carolina bound for Arizona Next load is Arizona to Alabama. I'm really glad I chose DHT. DHT trucks are mostly Kenworth. All have APUs, but not refrigerators. Decent trucks.

Edit to add: I have been watching for Shaffer trucks on the Southern and Western lanes on this trip, and I have seen 10 or less in over 3000 miles .

 

I have a serious problem with this. Trucking is about taking freight to where it is needed, not about site seeing. There is not a lot of reason to pick up a load of meat and drive it across country. You pick it up from the plant and take it to the city. A company that lets you ride with your husband and two dogs is being very kind to you. The average trip is now about 350 miles. I would say you have it pretty good where you are.

 

You’re right, it is a job above all else, which is why we feel uneasy about even complaining as long as we get our 2500-3000 miles in a week and they keep us moving. But one of the joys of trucking is sight seeing the country, at least it is for us, which is why we chose OTR lower 48 and not a regional or local. We were told by our recruiter we would be all over the country, obviously that’s not true if we remain solo rather than a team. Honestly, we will probably just ask for our home time in California/New Mexico since we have no desire to go back to Florida. Gets us on the west coast even if it’s temporary .

 

Check out "Pops Trucking" on FB.......He is a 2x Shaffer driver and if I EVER need assurance that I DO NOT EVER want to latch onto a reefer,he is more than enough verification.

 

I was having a similar thought....but you know, freight is much heavier east of I-35. The reality is you will always do more loads in these areas. We are in the era of rail, team driving, and big companies that have gone more regionalized. I know with some companies, if they do send a solo out west, it'll be the driver they can rely on most.

 

May trucking give you good long runs as a solo driver. Average length of haul is 1200 to 1400 miles. You will see a lot of the northwest which of course is gorgeous..and a lot of western driving in general. Depends where you live if you will see a lot of the southwest..been there a few times They hire pretty much everywhere and allow pets. Pay is on the low side 36 cpm to start but maybe 40cpm with experience. I think they are offering a sign on bonus right now. Not any mentionable extra incentive program is a downside but you will get the miles and see almost all of the country. DHT sounds good but sounds like their runs get monotonous

 

We’re starting to think that too lol

 

It is common for Crete and Shaffer to keep you on the east coast, especially if you are based there. They try to keep the west coast loads for the drivers that live there to get them home. Nothing personal and nothing your DM can do about it. He can only give you the work that the load planners assign to his trucks and the load planners won't change how they do things for one truck.

Overall they are a good company but don't expect long miles with them. It is common for you to get what looks to be a long haul only to have it T-called at a terminal so a west coast based driver or team can grab it, or so they can throw it on a train for the long haul. Based in Florida expect to run the southeast almost exclusively and when you do make it to the northeast you will stay up there for a week or two. About the farthest west you will get is Iowa or Wisconsin.

As for asking for home time in California or New Mexico, do they still do that? I though they discontinued their "travel agent" home time policy almost 10 years ago. They used to let you take home time anywhere in the country, assuming they could get you a load going there, but I heard they stopped doing that. If they still will accommodate that, it is worth a shot to get out of the rut you are in.

Shame on them for advertising a 48 state OTR program when they know their business model does not support it anymore. This is why truckload carriers have almost 100% turnover, they can't be honest with you from the start. Had they told you what to really expect you would have kept looking for another company to drive for. Some drivers like the regional work, me I never did when I drove but I did it because it was where the money was in car haul.