Finally got my own truck

I got that, and again it's a small percentage of the overall trucks on the road. As far as rates are concerned it's one of many factors into rates, but not the only factor or largest factor.

 

Nice update.

How much tonu did Millhouse pay? Ive heard a lot of bad stories about teams getting screwed by exactly what you described. Hot freight, hire two trucks and hope one gets there ASAP. Screw the other. I’d probably make them put on the rate con $500 tonu if show up by the agreed upon time or for cancellation of any reason.

Have you thought about renting a truck and putting Rob in it? Maybe find a rental for like 600/week and .12/mi? Sounds like the company you lease too isn’t setup for teams and the spot market sounds tough for them. Especially with you trying to book the loads plus drive. You gotta sleep at some point!

It would be hard to make money renting but if you did and were profitable for a while then would give the confidence to buy another truck. I’ve thought about putting a team on a truck but never could find one. Maybe it’s good I didn’t. Seems tough out there unless your on consistent team oriented freight.

Keep your head up!

 

@BoyWander have you looked into doing other work?
Maybe it is time to put some feelers out to other compagnies who need a good team.
My concern is that how you are working now ,when the economy takes a dive( at it will at some point), your market will disappear.

 

Do you have your own authority and trailer? It seems like you can never get any good loads.

 

Just throwing my 2 cents in there. I don’t think running team via the load board is a good idea. The same way if you try to run tanker or heavy haul via the load board,there won’t be much. The more specialized something is, the less likely a shipper is farming that out to a broker. If you really want good team freight you should find a carrier that does that kind of work.
I don’t know much about them but Forward Air, Tri-State Motor Transit, companies like MBM/Mclane Foods have team lanes, and some of the LTL guys hire contractors for team lanes. From what I understand, Forward Air and Tri-State have decent money on their runs.
Otherwise, if you’re other driver is a good one and you have the rescources, put him in another truck. When I was in training at Knight, one of the trainers wanted to team on every load to make more miles for himself. It was miserable. Teaming with someone, even if you have a good relationship, will burn someone out pretty quick.

 

When I atarsta I teamed. It is hard. My last team driver, we would shut down the truck for four or five hours a night, so we could both sleep. By the fourth day your sleep is bad in a moving truck.

 

For some people, sleeping in a moving truck is not a big deal. I am not one of those people.

 

It might have been the shocks we're old on a 650k 9400i.

 

My problem is not the bouncing part, it's the trusting another driver not to kill me part.