Is this a bad or good deal for OTR Flatbed?

That dead head seems very high. Would be normal for rgn, not for flatbed tho. I’ve had few weeks where my deadhead was 300 miles a week or so, that was during tariff nonsense tho. If you’re looking for company to drive for in the future you can check out OCMC. They pay percentage, you have to bust ### tho, you load and deliver almost every day tho. 3 weeks on the road, 5 days at home. You can consistently make 2300 a week, they do require experience tho. It’s Eastern European company, however they’re decent folks. Owner is ex trucker, and they don’t micromanage or babysit you like a child.

 

He has a main customer that is 460 miles away from the yard that is 70% of his business. That’s most of the dead head. You go pick that stuff up, and distribute it out throughout the U.s. the rest is load boards trying to get back home from those deliveries to be ready to go again for the following week.

 

Got it. I’m guessing you can predict your weekly income if you’re doing same stuff over and over. And of course you’ll get faster when it comes to loading and unloading. Also you’ll figure out how to manage logbook. When it comes to logbook you can show 30 minutes for load, 30 for delivery. You don’t have to be on duty for the whole time you’re at the shipper. Learn the tricks of the industry I guess, I always drop my tarp and straps and tell the forklift person than trailer is his when he’s ready, than I roll my tarps and straps on the side to save time . Get a strap rolled to save time. Etc. give it a month or two to see if you can make things work in your favor before jumping ships. Many companies want experience when it comes to flatbed.

 

Think I will be averaging $1,200-$1,300 net pay a week. Loading and unloading I am pretty efficient at once I have done the load once, tarping is the new one for me. I have some flatbed experience locally so that part is easy for me once I understand the securement.

Struggling though working 60-70 hours a week, only home one night a week if that, and thought I would be making better money.

When he told me it was .65 per mile I missed the part about deadheading, but he definitely didn’t tell me I would be doing it this often. First week I made .58 a mile when I included all miles, second week was .64 per mile because I hardly dead headed, third week was .57 a mile, this week will be .56 a mile.

Wasn’t very happy when I was doing loads in Alabama and Mississippi and tarping there in their heat and humidity after dead heading a lot that week, plus my clock ran out so I was forced to stay in the truck for my 34 instead of making it home in time. Definitely more conscious of the clock after that one.

I was making more money doing Uber with less responsibility, less liability, home every night, and showering every day

Hope eventually this leads to better things or he just takes care of me better when he truly knows he can trust me all around and I get things done correctly, on time, etc..

 

Unfortunately, except for that deadhead you're doing, general OTR is exactly what you just described, but without the one day at home. After I left the guy with the bouncing checks and went to Swift, my first time out, I was out for 4 months, then 3 months, then 1,2,3 months. When I went with Universal, I stayed out until I had a Dr appt or something, and they still couldn't get me home for it and had to be rescheduled. These are the dues you pay when starting out, and it's not going to be easy If he doesn't have any other jobs there that will suit your needs then..you need to either find something that does, or as was mentioned, grin and bear it for your year's experience, and then move on to something that fits you. If Uber is attractive to you, then you might have left the best job for you and your circumstances. Flatbed ain't easy, and OTR only makes it tougher. Hope you make your mind up soon.

 

Is that 1099? Where are the deductions

 

Yep 1099. Deductions are done quarterly.

 

No. I am an employee. Not 1099.