East coast VS. West coast? What difference does it make?

Yep! I'm the man!!

It's like Landshark says... Your getting paid to chase the freight. So as long as the freight pays well enough, I don't get my panties in a wad.... That is unless I experience a unexpected discharge!

 

If your a company driver being paid by cpm, then things like tolls, low freight rates, NM, OR taxes or wear and tear on equipment is for the most part not really an issue. Having said that, you do have to make sure your logs match your tolls, and an abused truck will be in the shop more, making no money so even if your a company driver, you should care about your equipment. If your a o/o then a lot more comes into play and generaly comes down to what pays the most, what tolls you'll have to pay, is it gonna be hard on the equipment (such as scrap yards, running thru mountains, is it going to gouge the floor, smell up the trailer, etc, etc) and will it set me up for a good load getting back out of there.

If your a company driver in the east being paid cpm, the things to consider are less truckstops (especially if the company has a fueling list) and while you can normaly find a place to park somewhere, if you need fuel and a shower, then it becomes a pain. Sometimes the length of hauls are less so you'll spend more time at shippers and consignees.

If your a company driver out west, the things to consider are you'll have to chain up in the winter (although I hear a lot of drivers sitting at the Reno truckstops that say the company don't make them do that). There will be constant up and down shifting. When you get into the heart of San Diego, Los Angeles, Bay Area, Portland or Seattle, it's just like any big city. There is no "I didn't know that" with the DOT there. The western states DOT expect you to know the rules, your truck, and definatly know your paperwork better then the eastern states. If you flatbed with a tarp, the winds out west can be a real pain.

As far as driving goes the midwest is generaly the easiest in my opinion, no hills, truck gets great fuel mileage, plenty of truckstops, but I like everything west of a line from Fargo to Laredo and that's just because I'm a nature nut and love the senic views.

 

Call me wuss if you want, it's, ( supposedly ), a free country.
I spent over thirteen years in uniform. I've been shot, stabbed, blown up, blown down, run down, run over, gassed and poisoned. I have no desire or need of further challenges nor do I feel any need to prove myself to anyone.
I drive a truck because I wanted to follow my Fathers footsteps and I both enjoy it and take a lot of pride in doing the job of moving the freight that is the lifeblood of the country.
I've encountered, for the most part, disdain if not outright hatred from most people on either coast and in every city I've driven a truck in. If they don't want to see trucks there, thats fine with me, let 'em starve and go naked!

 

Could not of said it better. Open roads/less traffic, Well L.A. But thats the only bad part of the west, and its not as bad as running I95 from D.C. to N.Y.C.

 

Spread some thanks around for once, tightwad...........(grin)

 

Gee, pretty much anyone can pilot a truck down 6 lanes of open road.

I say if you can run Chicago, NYC, Boston and Atlanta thats a test of skill (even though its unskilled labor)

I must say I cant remember the last time I had to "Chain up " to go anywhere on the East Coast.

Im sure West Coast is great, I havent had the pleasure yet. but I think if you can mange the traffic and weather of the East Coast, everything else is easy.

 

Ok I don't mind Ca. Its easy when you grow up there. but I can't deal with the north east at all. I don't know what it is but I don't like SNOW! and it seems anytime I head that way its snowing! give me the south anytime east or west as long as its south!

 

I can deal with Chicago, Atlanta, etc, but did not like the one time I was on the east coast. Baltimore . . . that was enough! Was out in the bay area once, which wasn't completely horrid. For me, the thing that would keep me from California is all the stupid laws, etc.

 

Who cares, load my truck and tell me where it goes. That's what I get paid to do. I don't like any of them cause none of them like me so what's the difference.