Pilot leasing

Is the trainer there still the retired cop?

 

No you ride with another IC, I don't know about the company side.

 

The guy that does orientation. I used the wrong title

 

My buddy on the IC side works that area as will i. The company guy is out of George West, so those numbers are from that general area.

 

Yesterday was my first day, it was all Safety, today is all the other stuff. But the safety guy wasn't a former cop.

 

Sounds like a pretty poor deal to me. I pull down similar money as a w2 employee getting paid 25 percent, didn’t have to buy any of that stuff and if the truck breaks I just tell the boss what needs to be fixed and go home. No worries about paying to fix whatever widget broke.

 

The best part of Bridger, I guess pilot now, is that if you can make money there you'll be an oil hauling god anywhere else

 

Just make sure you go in with eyes wide open. I had a buddy who went with them and thought the payment was only for the tractor but it turns out the payment is for tractor AND trailer. So, you're paying double and not just the tractor. Also, you may have some flexibility as far as schedule but the work has to be there when you want to work. There were many times where work wasn't there when my buddy wanted more loads. He's been telling me, it's been getting really slow lately and only made several hundred for the week. You also have to consider fuel, which is another expense to your profits, if there is any much left over. His truck went down several times so, he wasn't able to work while in the shop but STILL had payments. This is all in Kenedy area. Do what you have to do but just sharing what I hear and use the info to help your decision.

 

Yes, you still have to pay, just like your rent or house, car, credit card, or if you finance your own truck.

I've not been able to go to any bank and say "Hey I'm out of work I'll pay you when I get some money just don't take my stuff"

I'm not picking on you just the statement.

Your not paying double because you can't haul crude without a trailer.

I don't know your friend but I know people, most want to work days they don't want to work weekends and they only want to work 12hrs a day, if this is someone's idea of being an Owner of any business, Please stay an Employee.

Truer words have never been written.

 

Just an update

Been here this whole time. Moved the truck around and currently have worked myself into a nice little run but wasn't easy.

Overall, this is not for the faint of heart, it's tough and getting tougher. The new lease trucks have a rediculus price per week. I was looking into them.

I'm saving now for my own truck probably be gone buy January.

As for the money, the rates are significantly lower than other companies. Adding up to several hundred dollars a day.

I've meet several guys who have been here for years for what it's worth.

If your thinking of coming here for a start here's my suggestion;

1) have some money saved to start at least 1 months bills and be 1 month a head
2) live in the truck
3) if you want to be home everyday make your home close to the oil field
4) if your hiring someone ignore 2 but 3 still applies
5) watch your fuel
6) be willing to move the truck around to find better runs and bug dispatch to keep you on them if possible

Before your on your own

You have 5 days minimum of training, the first day out of orientation you get your truck and trailer, theoretically.

You have to go over that unit with a fine tooth comb and write up everything that's wrong with it and get it repaired!!!

Read over the contract so you know how your supposed to receive the equipment. Example seats are not supposed to be ripped, create a list of stuff to be repaired and stay on top of getting it done. Check your tire presser during training to see if they need patching.

Get as much repaired before you leave to do your test out load.

It's neither a bad deal or good deal if your wanting to make decent money go work for a company. If your willing to sacrifice to get ahead and burn every hour legally available this is a chance to maybe accomplish that goal.

The issues I've had are ;

1) getting things repaired is a pain regardless of were you take the equipment
2) since I started I'm always hearing it's slowing down get your repairs done bla bla. It seems like it's slowing down ever 3 to 4 weeks for 2 to 3.
3) always something wrong with the truck
4) dispatch won't even hint at where they have loads they make it sound like it's the same everywhere. Maybe they aren't allowed to point you in a direction
5) they always need help in Ohio & West Virginia area.

With around 15 to 20k you could finance a truck and go to a number of companies to haul tanker and IMHO do much better than here.

I have struggled but I had a plan money set aside and enough sense to move around to find a spot, out of the 4 of us who went to South Texas from ordination I think I'm the only one left. 1 was fired, 1 didn't have enough money, the other guy I'm not sure he ever started never saw him after the day we got our trucks.

In the end if you want to be called an O/O or have some fantasy of owning your own business out of pride or some other delusional ideals this is not the place for you. Well really owning a truck is not for anyone with those ideas.

If your willing to sacrifice and put the business above all else you'll at least stand a chance of doing a little better and saving enough to purchase your own rig.