Running With Schneider - 2 (As IC Choice for more than a year now!)

No, I know things seem fishy when it is hard to make it work. Western region is very tricky for an IC.. Market out here is very different.. If your not married to running in the West , I would run in the Midwest, South or East..Basically, stay east of the Mississippi for awhile and see how it works for ya..

 

That's how I see it..

 

But I still much rather park the truck and fly home, it always works out better financially that way.. I don't know if SNI has problems getting west to east bound loads or what! But getting back this week I'm going to eat it a lot.. Loads going from west to east are currently pretty limited.. Looking at other public load boards there are plenty of loads going west to east just not SNI type of freight I guess??

 

Yep that's what I did.. I do it by choice .. It is all personal preference ..

 

Lol ..In a very very secret location!

 

Just FYI, When I started this business we were in-between living in PA and Cali. Sense the crash of 2008 by 2009/2010 my wife and I were basically homeless. The job I had for over 18 years went belly up, used up all reserves and were desperate and needing to live with family in PA. . However we had strong roots in California. All of our belongs were still there and family. When I started as company driver we were in Cali still.. after a little more than year we were in the move process to PA .. At that time I discovered I could become an IC out there (they didn't have IC choice in the west back then)

Becoming IC when I started was more about discovery for me, there wasn't as much info about it as there is now.

As IC found myself running back and forth from Texas to Cali and figured why move all my stuff I was doing great and could be home every week.. So we rebuild our finances found nice place near freight lane in Cali and re established ourselves there. Then that freight lane from TX to CA and back dried up! Things change out here folks ..If you been IC for any length of time you will see loads disappear that use to be regular. Anyway I found I was running long miles and hours to make those runs. Now I found it is better for me to run lower miles, lowering costs and increase profits...That's a good business model! And the east/midwest is where I can do it the most efficiently..

I'm a truck driver with very supportive wife, who cares if your near where you live or not as long as your able to make it work for ya, then so be it!

For those that have other priorities at home ..that's different! ..Then you would want to be in that area. Personal Preference..What works for you?

 

True, It's a better place for company drivers cause you get more miles.. East of the Mississippi is better for choice.. That being said, you can make it work in the west but it depends on your income threshold some weeks I've done good some not so good.. In the Eastern area I do good must of the time with and occasional fluke week..

 

Best areas is east of the Mississippi ..For the most part.. Texas, Oklahoma and Missouri is ok.. West is really tough right now in my opinion. Where do you live?

 

That's a lot of info brother!.. Quick... Answers.. I would buy a new truck!..1.Monthly expenses ..need to figure it on a weekly average at about $1000 per week plus fuel cost.. 2. Expenses are truck payment, insurance, maintenance and fuel. 3.Running hard 11 on and 3 off in western?? Net pay monthly really difficult to say .. Depends on how well loads string together for you etc.. Anywhere from $2000 to $6000.. just a rough guess! 4. driving 55-60 never found that to save me much in cost if any at all. I drive those speeds as necessary and 61 to 65 not any noticeable savings at lower speeds.. (sorry all you lower speed fuel saving junkies) If one was to go balls out at 75 all the time,... Yeah..then you probably going to see a cost savings at the lower speeds. 5. Choice plan is pretty easy once you acclimate..6.. Not difficult really ..Just got to keep your head in the game, do your research and stay consistent. Taking a step like this can be scary, just keep reading and make sure it is something you really want to do..

Need to be a self starter ..I'm constantly planning, talking to other drivers to see how they do things and how you can use there knowledge and experience that fits you and always try to improve your business and self..! In short this is what works for me.