Yeah they pretty much do the same to me. I'm all 48 but usually they keep me east. Last month or so has mostly been midwest and midsouth, that I don't mind at all, nice and flat, traffic isn't too bad and parking is not as much a problem as out east. Did get out to Eastern PA on one trip, then they DH me to NYC but that trip brought me back to Gary so I was off the east coast quick, no real complaints on that
Here is some food for thought regarding short runs. Since we are paid on a sliding scale, the shorter runs pay more per mile than the long runs. If you get a couple of DECENT short runs every day, you will make more money. Do the math, and you will see that I am correct. Note that I said DECENT runs, not the loads where you spend 1/2 of the day waiting to be loaded or unloaded. My point is that you can make a decent living without running 600+ miles per day.
As long as you can pick up and deliver the same day mostly drop & Hook you can make some money. But the minute you have to live load and UN load there goes your money. I prefer 800+ runs that is why I run out west when I am solo without a student. Don't like spending time bumped to the dock. prefer to just drop it and run..... Most of my loads are drop and hook with occasional live.
Best money days I have ever had I did 3-4 short runs all d&h, sliding scale plus the $25 for under 100 miles starts adding up really quick. Usually though it doesn't work out like that. Last time the east planners started giving me a string of crap I called my DM and got a nice Baltimore to CA run so at least he has some pull if they keep screwing me around.
Yes, they are great for a company driver. L/O, no sliding scale, so they can really hurt us, this is why many times I will not accept unless I see something with miles on the tail end.
Agree with u, those short runs are not for us, eat up fuel and waste time, take a short run and then get a long run after is good, or if you low on hours and just need a short run to use up the few hrs u have available b4 you take ur reset.
