My Millis Experience -

Everyone -

A lot of negative stuff lately - not sure what's up but save that crap for your own thread.

Also a lot of "missconceptions" and "I heard from my sisters, best friends, neighbors babysitter" so it must be true! PFFT!

I am still a rookie at this job and I do not have all the answers. I can only tell you what I have experienced and see with me own eyes each day.

I have 60 days experience behind the wheel on my own and have ran about 27,000 miles since. I average anywhere from 2800 to 3300 a week. Yes that gives me mileage bonus when I do that. You can do the math and figure the pay. It works out to about 32 to 34 cents a mile. I have a very detailed spreadsheet I update each week and can tell you what I make per mile, hr, day, week and month. How much I drive that is not paid miles and my my hrly rate works out to be. I track it all. I can tell you when I buy fuel, my mileage per day/week/month. I plan and I track it all. I will proudly show it to anyone that wants too see it.

I cook 90% of my meals on my truck so I dont spend money needlessly on food and crap at TS. If you do that - you'll go broke since the average meal out here is at least $10.00. I spend money only on smokes and every now and then coffee. I have a company installed inverter - runs my microwave, electric skillet and coffee pot just fine. I can and do eat well on the road for about 30 a week that I spend at the grocery or WalMart while out here.

Millis has done everything they said they would do and then some. I dont argue if the loads a short run - I take it and run it. I am early for every pick up and delivery. Never been late yet - even with blowing two tires in the last week. You represent the company - dress and act the part. I dont wear crappy clothes when I deliver or load. I shower each day - brush my teeth twice a day. Yea I get comments like "going to the golf course today". I dont care - If I dont do it right - there is someone else that will gladly take my job.


If you cant plan well - STAY HOME! You have to plan your routes and plan time for "issues" that will come up. Map your routes and use others in the industry to assist you when you have questions.

I go to Weedsport, Richfield, Trenton, Eden and so on - same guys always sitting there! Why - they dont want to run - they want to sit and #####. Today for example I am on my way to Eau Clarie to deliver by midnight a load I brought up from Atlanta. I get a message to drop the load in Ritchfield. (that's 220 miles I am loosing) I dont ##### or complain. I drop the load and hit "ready for dispatch". There are 6 other drivers sitting there also. With in 10 minutes I get a load from Northern WI to NC. Another 995 mile run to deliver Sunday evening. The load time is set for between 4 and 6pm. I dont care - I grab fuel and head for the customer. I get there 2 hrs early - guess what???? I am loaded in 30 minutes and on my way. Yes there times if I get there early I have to wait - but many times I do not. Same with delivery times! I get there early so I can get a load back out early. The longest I have ever waited for a load was 4 hrs. There are exceptions and delays along the way - but I get miles because I dont complain and I run the miles - simple as that! And I get paid.

I dont take advances from my pay then ##### that my pay is too low as many others do. I didnt get into this industry to get rich quick.

I drive a truck with over 450K on it. However, I shine my rims, I added chrome to it, I wash it just about every week or two. I even spent down time at a TS waxing the truck. The inside is very clean as it's my house most of the time. I do my Pre-trips every single morning and make sure my maintence is up to date and correct,for that - this old truck runs good and gets me paid each week.

Yes there are drivers leaving Millis as there are other companies. If they are leaving due to e-logs. They are leaving the industry since it's coming to all companies - not just Millis. I have talked to several Millis drivers that complain about miles - but then when you get into talking to them - they miss appointments, delivery times and so on. How do you ##### about a company when you represent them like that. These are the same people that "if you handed them a $100 each week, they would ##### because it wasnt a new bill"!

Something my trainer told me - "You spend more than a day out here and you'll see two types of drivers"
1. Professional Drivers - ones who will aid you when you need help backing. Will offer you directions when your lost. Will call you on the cb when on the side of the road to make sure you're ok. Ones that will teach you more than you know if you just "shut up and listen"!
2. Truckers - will talk on the cb and make fun of you if you have to pull up more than once when backing into a spot. Will let you back into another truck instead of helping you. Will run you off the road and dare you to complain about it. Will pull right in front of you while you are trying to back in and then ##### that you almost hit them. They run 75 up to your ### end and then call you an ####### if you dont get out of their way fast enough.

Both of these you'll find in a company truck and as O/O. I get out at night and help someone back in - I let them in when merging, I wait for them to back in. But that's me and will always be me.

Our insurance does suck - it's also a high cost. But I have to have it so I pay the price for it. If you think that's just Millis - you're living a lie!

I get the offered a lot of weekends "do you want a load that will take you by the house" and delivers on Monday. Some I take and some I say what ever you have I'll take. I am single and my kids are older so I dont need to go by the house. I get load that go right by my kids college so I stop and visit along the way and my son's military base is the same way. So I get my face time with them but keep rolling also.

I talk to other drivers while at loading docks and ts. Some run their ##### off and others are dying for miles. I see too many Swift, Roehl, Stevens and several others sitting at truck stops. All waiting for a load. I counted 8 Rohel trucks sitting where I am tonight. The driver sitting next to me has been here all day - waiting for a load he said!

This job and this company is what you make of it and you put into it. If you play around, ##### all the time, dont want to run the miles - it will be the worst job you ever had. If that's you - then any job you have will suck just as bad!

Ok - off my soap box now! Sorry for the rant!

Be safe and have a great weekend!

 

I am making that before taxes each week and then some depending on my miles.

 

Very good points and spot on! I dont take home time like most do since I dont have little ones to take care or a wife.

Take those into account and ensure being away is really want you want to do!