JCT

I'll chime in here and add our two cents. My hubby drove for CRE for two years before we made the move to JCT, prior to that he was a software computer consultant for over 30 years. CRE was an eye opening experience. Oh... we got driving experience, being treated like crap, less than crap... but made NO money.

We have made more money in this first month... NET $5,277.00 AFTER taxes than ANY of the months working for CRE. We ran 13,000 plus solo miles in 5 weeks (include 2 days down for being shutdown in blizzards)... which is not as much as some of the guys here, but we are happy with what we are getting so far. We don't sit long and like LMB we take advance of the time to catch up on laundry, cleaning the truck or relaxing. LOL... we don't know how to relax... we haven't been able to do that in over two years. Now with money coming in that we can not only live on, but put money away we can plan for RELAXING downtime, 4 days coming up in a couple of weeks!

JCT does not hold your hand, but they will help you in any way they can. We prefer the not holding hands approach. You get your load assignment, you plan your route, you run the miles. Communication is key. You don't have to talk your DM's ear off... just give them updates like they request. Every run is different... the produce runs are a bit more work when you have 5 pickups and 3 deliveries, but then you have loads which are drop and hook both ways. Some days go smooth as silk... other days run into the next... it is just the life of a truck driver.

I don't drive, I navigate, communicate... I am the secretary, fact finder and social planner... the social butterfly of the two of us. Personally... parts of this lifestyle I love... others I hate (no daily shower... oh how I wish!) as I am a creature of comforts and spoiled... so for ME this is a darn hard life, BUT we don't like being apart and want to build our retirement egg together. JCT makes is easier for me to handle this lifestyle because we are getting AHEAD... there is a future. The guys here are pretty great too... (don't let that go to your heads boys!).

Maybe this post isn't filled with driver technical stuff... but it is the perspective of a driver's wife who is out on the road with him every day. As Alan said... JCT is not for everyone... no company is right for every driver... you have to do the research, know what YOU want and find the right match.

Hope this helps!
Dabs

P.S. Heading to Tulsa tomorrow (anyone else going to be at the yard?) with our next drop and then load up and head out on to sunny CA! LOL... we figure Oregon, Wyoming, Nebraska... LOL. 2 blizzards so far... but hey, we still are smiling....

 

man,,,,just love checkin in on this post!!!! the fuel routing has been one of my biggest concerns, and here again i get the exact answer i have been looking for, once again,,thnx for all the posts and valuable info here,,its taken so much of the guess-work and worry out of the equation,,,wish i could get there next week,,but still up for the jan 18 class, any news on cascadia/prostar availability?, would love to cowboy it up and get a "hood" but trucking has changed a lot in the last few years,and even for most of us current co. drivers, it is all about fuel economy.,,,,annnywhhooo,thnx for the info again.

 

Use Jcts Mac 23, to begin, look for the cheaper fuel and plan that way, as stated usually there is a loves, ta ect nearby. Within a few weeks u will know our running lanes pretty well that u don't even plan u just know where cheap fuel is! Trust me u are going to learn the interstate system pretty quickly, but then again you are expected to already know that! The Mac 23 gives u miles between cities with a FJ so a quick way to tell, or plan your day. There are no tax purposes involved, u get paid the national fuel surcharge each settlement based on your trips that week. Don't even worry about it, what the states do is added to the cost, doesn't involve us. U have heard us say don't fuel in cali, thats due to state taxes, by before u go in, top ur tanks, hope u have enough to get out, if not buy only enough to get out.

As a new driver with JCT u are given three to four weeks without a truck payment, and ur first full tank. Plenty of time to learn and make mistakes and learn from them!!!! When u don't learn it will get costly! I would say it is a privilege to drive for JCT and one not to be taken lightly, concentrate on proving you are a professional, Superior Customer Service Skills, On Time, ability to communicate in a professional way with the people at JCT, our drivers, and our customers. Also what u do out on the road is noticed as much as in the yard! Also expect things to go wrong, our team is there to help! Ok I'm done

 

I want to personally thank everyone for buying those little hoods!!!! It gives us Cowboys more room to maneuver Happy New Year!

 

Hey Ya'll
1. Mr LMB I thank you for your answer & Information thanks!!!
2. Mrs dabs I thank you for your Answer & information also, because If I go o/o I will be going SOLO so thank you
3. MR Alan613 thank you I have checked out JCT they have their good points and their bad points, as I said before when I get a chance with my work schedule TIME I will read most of the Post with in this thread!!! Thanks!

 

As a former "cowboy" thank you to the ones who still drive the "hoods" for giving us hours of entertainment wathcing you back into the "tight" spots.
There is nothing as funny to watch someone that doesn't know what to do with that big ol hood.

My first drop with my prostar was in Cali. As I rounded the corner and saw the dock my first thought was " oh crap" as I'm sure this Pete behind my thought. My prostar, 1 shot Johnny, the Pete? Lol 15 min later..... He had to ask me to pull out so he could get in. Lmao.

Oh yeah, one other thing. I left some extra fuel at the truckstop for you cowboys....

 

Thanx fer the xtra fuel..picked some of it up.
I wasn"t greedy, left some for Vette

Glad you are liking your new ProStar. I will sadly be swapping this ole Pete for a ProStar in February. I really like the long nose trucks, but...times they are a changin"

Got a load that will get me to the house and spend New Years Eve with my honey.

Thanx to everyone who took time off over Christmas and left us work-a-holics all those miles. Loads and loads of smiles...I mean miles...

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL !!

L8TR

 

Panhandle

You won't be sad when you start making an extra 2-3 hundred bucks after the trks broken in and getting 1 mpg or better than your w9