question about prime

Is that an insult or a compliment?

 

Is that a week?

 

Anyone know if they started hiring students out west again, I'll call them this afternoon if you guys don't know. Thanks.

 

It should be in a week. Trainees are paid the greater of $600 or $0.12 a mile while in training. 900 would be 7500 miles, which seems like a lot, but if the first paid load on that weeks check was a load that had been mainly run during the last payweek, but didn't get finished in time to get paid that week, 7500 would not be out of the question.

 

Yes, I had two paychecks over $900 in one week, and I believe 3 over $700. My trainer liked to run very hard, and I did too. A few times, we showed up 24hrs before our appointment time and begged to be unloaded early. If / when we were, we'd be ready for the next load, and our dispatcher kept us moving. We did not take our time getting to the shippers / recievers. We went back and forth from LA to PA over and over again. Produce season really helped out on that front. One of the weeks I got a $900 check it included a deadhead from Gary, IN to LA. Yes, I said Gary, IN to LA....deadhead. Trainer got paid .20 / mile to do that. Ended up losing money on that deal as he was a lease op. Craziness. Granted, $900 was not the norm, but the fact that I even saw that kind of a paycheck in training is pretty amazing.

I've only been solo a few weeks now, but my paychecks are about the same as when I was in training. Still waiting on that $900 check solo though...LOL! I called my trainer and told him I'm comin' back on his truck!

 

They happen. I get $1100 or $1200 as a company solo - but yeah, usually includes something that bleeds over from the previous week. $ 600 is bad, I don't complain about $700 - $800. Gonna rip the guts out of the pinch-hitter travel agent I have this week if he doesn't get a clue about how to do his job though...

 

How often do you get home and how long do you stay?

 

Company line is they want you out 3-to-4 weeks, no more than 4 home days at a stretch - you accrew 1 day per week. Also, you earn 5 paid vacation days every 125,000 miles... which you can take all at once.

That being said, it also depends on your finances. Home days aren't paid, so can you afford to take essentially a week off every month?? 4 home days are basically a killer for a paycheck. Also, OTR companies all work basically the same way... unless you have some kind of weekend-home guarantee. Don't know of many places that do that, especially since the economy crapped-out.

Lease-ops come and go as they please... that's the IRS rule on 1099-employees. However, the lease payment is due every week, no matter what happens in your life.

Personally, I stay out 6 - 8 weeks, and take somewhere between 2 to 4 days at a stretch. My FM always does a good job at getting me home - only had difficulty once, but still made it... that's based on the freight being available to get you there. Last holiday season, we were given the choice of Thanksgiving or Xmas - not both. Chose Thanksgiving, and they deadheaded me from North Platte NE to Denver, CO; got Xmas too!

 

you also get paid $500 dollar for that week of vacation.

BTW... the vacation mile counter doesnt start until upgrade to A seat...

Training miles contribute to pay raises mile markers... yes
Training miles contribute to vacation mile markers...no