Less Money for More Miles

Easy. Just don’t do CPM. They’re giving you short hauls to increase the profit from the truck knowing you won’t be compensated for the work they are charging the customer.

 

Although my experience is limited. I have noticed that in the East loads tend to be shorter than in the West. I run the Western States and many of my loads are in excess of 1000 miles, and that's keeping to the West and not going back East. I'm not forced dispatch but try to not turn down a load unless I have good reason. Something more than I just don't want to do that load. In return they tend to keep me in the areas I like best (WA, OR, ID, UT). Or, they'll run me to SoCal and give me a load going right back up. I've been there long enough I know many of the planners and they know what I like and don't. Sometimes they'll call me up and ask me to handle a load they are having problems with finding a driver for. So, I'll do what I can to help them, in turn they give me alot of loads I enjoy. It seems to be an I'll scratch your back if you scratch mine kind of thing. I do go back East on occasion when needed. I'm seldom able to get back West as quickly as I'd like. But, they'll get me back West when they can. It's not perfect, but no job is and overall I'm happy where I am and doing what I'm doing. IDK. I don't know the dynamics of Werner, but I know at Swift, cultivating those personal relationships with the planners seems to help me get loads I want.

 

Might want to look into pulling a reefer. Usually the average length of haul is a bit longer. If you are in their hiring area, Magnum might be an option to check out. One thousand plus mile loads were fairly common, with 400 milers being about the shortest you will see.

 

Dollar General would discourage anyone. Big M, Dupre, KLLM, Ashley Furniture, Frisards, any of them would beat Dollar General. Werner used to be known for longer than average trips. They constantly are hiring for Dollar General account. No one stays on it. I’d bet $$$ they’ll offer you something else, instead of losing a Driver. Check the big paper Shipper in the Industrial Park. See who’s trailers are there. Try to find Carriers that have Customers in Hattiesburg. Nothing wrong with 400-600 day trips. It’s the stops involved along with the labor in the heat, vs. a Drop and Hook, or easy one pick, one drop Load. Werner makes a lot on Dollar General. It’s a lot for a little. By comparison, a similar job at CVS Drug Stores pays $27.00 hr. to start. Big billboard vin Toledo yesterday. Rate per mile, or hour, all that matters is Gross weekly pay, and what has to be done to get it.

 

Find a no forced dispatch company that pays percentage

 

Face the truth. Werner has you on regional. They’re lying to you that you’re OTR.
My first wasn’t good. But I stuck it out for a year. Just to show I’m stable. I swore I wasn’t going to put up with BS again. Went through 5 more in next two years. Then found where I’m at now. I is a happy camper after 1 1/2 years. Dry van. Out of Denver. Always come right back with backhaul. Get the miles. We require at least 3 years experience. Need it. Get some tough deliveries. Brooklyn, downtown Boston, construction sites, some places not intended for 53 footer and condo truck.

 

Danny Herman Trucking by reputation only has long haul loads. I don't know if it's forced dispatch. i don't know if there is any guarantee that you will never be given a short run. To be honest, I don't think it's reasonable to expect to never be given a load less than 1000 miles. Most trucking now is regionally based because product goes from one distributor to another along a system of DCs until reaching individual stores. Yes, longer distance runs exist, but to expect that exclusively seems a bit unrealistic, to me.