Crete Carrier: what pay is actually like in the 21 day dry van fleet

Would be better to post gross pay instead of net because everyone’s deductions will be different..

Another point I will make is about managing time to avoid 34 resets. Mathematically it is more productive to run your hours and take a 34 when necessary..

 

I never take 34’s..i strictly run recaps and still run anywhere from 11,900 to 13,000 mi a month..

 

I agree with you about 34s. I also align with OP's strategy about running with balance. Most drivers run out their clock every day, and I don’t see the need to do that unless necessary. Longer runs, I break it up evenly. I do think that if a driver takes a 34, and then has to run recaps the next week, it's important to get at least 8 hrs back the first day. A 34 is good to reset the mind though.

 

I personally can’t avoid doing 34’s unless I take loads with a lower daily revenue. Example. NC to WA and then drop down to SoCal I’ll burn up a 70 in 6 days.

I don’t think I’d call it running with balance if your strategy is to run 7 days a week for months on end..

What I suspect is their company gives them more time than necessary on long cross country runs, say 5 days instead of 4.

All the strategies one can think of are nice but in trucking as you know..plans can change hourly, lol.

Example..you take a load and there’s a snow storm predicted ahead..are you going to stop after 8hrs or run hard for a couple days to try avoiding it..

 

Oh I'm definitely going to avoid that snow storm if I can.....if I get caught in it, that'll make for an unnecessary long day. I do think if you run recaps for a month straight, you definitely won't have work like balance, it barely exists as it is lol. In terms of availability of hours and being able to run loads was more of the direction I was going with that.

 

@lonewolfgringo
If you’re needing a 34 every week then you are earning at your full potential and those weeks should show a higher paycheck.

No matter how you slice it you still end up taking a 34+ during the week. Example, you drive 8 hours instead of 11 every day for a week..that’s 21 hours you lose just to run on recaps.

It’s nothing more than psychological thinking that you’re losing money taking a 34 when in fact you’re making more.

Don’t obsess over it. Do what I do. I decide how I’m going to run for a particular shift over my “pre-trip coffee”. Even then my best laid plans can change, like a highway closure up ahead.

 

This is veteran driver thinking here. It's a combination of the psychological thinking, short attention span, and inability to sit still. I usually get a 34 on either Saturday or Sunday. Last week, I ran 3800 miles Friday to Friday. Clock was cooked. A driver isn’t going to run 3800 miles every week, but you make a valid point about max earning.....it ain't getting much better than that number..... I'm sure there is going to be some big ego member that will say they've ran more than that.....we all have. Thats not the point. Taking 34s is a good thing in my book as well. I also think a driver is less of a headache for dispatch if there is an abundance of hours available on that 70.

OP, let the actual dispatch tell you how to run it. All you gotta do is be on efficiently time, don't necessarily gotta be first.