my paul inc adventure

I took a different way out of Washington state, and that was using I-90. Fueled in Spokane, parked it for the night outside of Missoula, MT and burned off my reset there.

Left Missoula and stopped in Gillette, WY. Made a scenic detour to Mt. Rushmore, and parked it in some toilet in Nebraska off of 80. I'm now sitting in Salina, KS waiting to deliver tomorrow in Wichita. (Salina has a Pilot and that's where I can fuel without an extra authorization from the fuel in department.)

 

I kicked the load off on Monday, and had been hooked up all week, by that I mean 5 loads in 5 days. Yes they were Kansas and Oklahoma loads, but my wheels were turning so its all good to me.

Some insight I picked up from a driver that has been here longer than I have, and that is Paul is probably more considered as a starter company because of the lower pay.

As I understand it, the pay goes up a penny after a year, meaning there's no normal pay increases, but it IS 38 cpm loaded or not.

I like the family atmosphere here, so pay ain't **** to me, DM knows me by name not my truck number. I will take respect over large pay, because money isn't everything.

I asked her about the grumble bunnies complaining about no loads, she flat out said you aren't afraid to work, therefore I assign loads to hard workers.

This just goes to show that if you do your flippin job and stop complaining you will make money.

My oversize load paid me almost $850 take home. That ain't nothing to sneeze at for 4 days work. I don't know of many other places (besides the oilfield) where you can bring home $850 for 40 hours.

 

The week before last I ran 5 or 6 loads in 5 days, and brought in $1200 plus. Granted a big portion of that was the return from Washington with lumber. 3,600 miles total for that week.

This last week wasn't very eventful only netting 3 runs, but one was a long trip out east of Baton Rouge.

For the start of this week is the reload from Louisiana to Pittsburgh PA. Unfortunately, a 34 hour restart will have to occur after delivery, so this week might not be impressive either, we shall see.

 

I agree the 38cpm isn't attractive, but they are a non force dispatch company. 28 is taxed, the remaining 10 is per diem. Yes you CAN make better money elsewhere, but I like where I'm at.

 

I gotta start somewhere, plus with a very crappy psp score, I'm kinda screwed on where I can work at the present moment.

Flatbed is keeping me in shape instead of being round.

I actually enjoy thinking and working and figuring out how to secure stuff.

 

I might have enjoyed it if I hadn't needed communication from the company for paperwork. The flying j isn't impressive with the food choices.

 

Unloaded the pipe last week. Reset in Cumberland Maryland with an old Army buddy. Picked up a load of wire mesh south of Pittsburgh, and I didn't make it 3 miles before the load shifted at 25 mph. Big wrecker called out to push the load back somewhat straight, went back to the shipper and had the load properly banded together (I was the 3rd load that day that had issues). Took that load to Independence Kentucky, and reloaded in Anderson, Indiana with steel coils.

Took an early reset over the weekend so I could drive all week, as the previous reset was a Tuesday and Wednesday reset.

Unloaded the coils Monday in western Oklahoma, reloaded with drywall for San Antonio this morning and got that unloaded. I'm currently reloaded with rebar headed back for Oklahoma tomorrow.