new trucking family & we are STARVING! It has to be better than this!??

Hi Thanks for your input! & you can't be too harsh for me, because I know our situation. & who we are. lol & No, we did not just jump into this hard to learn business without thinking. lol We have been a mining family for over 11 years, we made very very good money, but I'm not sure if you all know that the Coal mines are going down fast!! His company closed the doors, he was laid off last year before Christmas. The unemployment office looks at what you are good at & had a gov't program set up for all the displaced miners in our State. There are a lot!! Well, my hubby operated big heavy equipment & drove the giant off road trucks that are bigger than a house & also large dozers, so the best fit for him was truck driving. It's hard to learn any new skill as we get older & set in our ways. lol He is a great driver, and doing well. I took business in College & have ran two small companies out of our home before my health went down. We know how to crunch numbers, & do our research. What I wanted to know from veteran truckers was what companies to trust, or at least be able to make a decent living from. Our end goal is to become owner operators, & I have a good feeling we will, one day. As for now, we have been through so long without our steady good income we are down to nothing! This Company so far is not paying well enough for the time he is gone. He kicks ### on the road & on his tarping, he never sits at truck stops he has one of the best work ethics I've seen, & this company knows that, they said they can see he is non stop, and they said they like that. he stayed over 11 years through thick & thin with one company in the mines, because we could pay the bills. One interesting Fact about us is we have NEVER went into debt for anything!! Living the feast or famine lifestyle of Coal teaches many to NOT make it harder when the doors shut for a month to a year. & We did not, we have made it through ever lay off without loosing a thing. Because we paid cash, & owe no one! Right now we struggle to keep electric, heat n food! uggg crazy! Hardest times ever for us personally.... I have an old friend who has been driving for about 15 years & just bought a truck through quality & leased on with a different company & he is Clearing after truck pmt, insurance, gas, n all 1800.00 a week. No touch dry van. So he is trying to get us interested in that. I LOVE the idea, & freedom. (but with a flatbed lol & It does not take too long to pay off a truck so if your smart enough to know what to do & get one paid off , and you make a separate savings built up for only truck issues, & needs, you will be good to go....2 choices, Buy new, chances are you will drive longer & have time to build up a good savings to fix the truck when needed, or buy cheaper used one, & face break downs faster :/ Also, My hubby is an amazing mechanic, he will be working on his own truck if we ever go that route. He fixed all the diesel equipment as it broke up on the mines...I like the idea, but I do not like the limited truck choices there, I may save & get our credit back to good then get one we love that will do the job. (again, one day) My main goal right now is to just get better pay, & benefits! The worst problem for us is we have had to go through our savings to make a big career change due to the Coal mines going south, and we can only hold on so long. It would help if we made enough to even cover normal bills & food now, but we do not. We can not possibly cut back any further than we are today, but all main bills are staying so many months behind now, we need a good steady income to catch up. & that is THE issue right now...Once we are back on our feet, & things are running a bot more smooth, I look forward to making some exciting choices. I think if you have the dedication & the work ethic anything is possible! Thanks again for all the replies! I love the input, I appreciate your time given to help us sort through this new adventure! Oh & to answer your question above about IC...yes, a contractor, doing our own taxes, & deductions. I've done it for years, (the taxes) for my small business... That stuff does not bother me in the least. & if all else fails, leave the company you are leased onto if they are killing you & you can't make it, then get your own loads, or find a better company. If you prepared & had a savings you would be able to pay the truck payment while you make that change. But that's just how I see it. again, what I am seeking here is the knowledge of good/vs bad companies to start with from the experienced, once you build a good foundation, the rest is all in how bad you want it. Thanks again!!

 

@JPenn, Hi & yes, he was trained through this company & his six months is over at end of November Only one more month to go! woohoo. lol Then if the 2 cent raise & miles pick up we may stay a while to learn more. But things will need to get better. We would never leave before our promise is up. They have been very kind ppl, just not great pay & miles yet, but we shall see & No I didn't mention the company, not sure I should just yet. I think a few have figured it out already though. lol walking on grass is a no-no! Thanks!