System adventures with the ducky

It's that time of the year. I've been lucky on dedicated system freight. The true system freight is slow. Couldn't even get a load from Neville Island, PA. Dead headed home 400+ miles.

 

I got my system run set for Wednesday. Its a good run that can put me into Cincy, Markham, or Memphis. Between those three I can usually keep running through the weekend.
I like this run, it goes from just outside Boston to Southern Ill, good miles and mostly flatland once I get through Western Mass. Customer unload, all I have to do is pop the dome lid.

 

I noticed it's been slower since September. And there's no pickups on weekends like there was. I can still make good money out in the system until they send me back to my home terminal (no layover at home). Anyone know when the system picks back up?

 

I was slammed running system all through October, so I haven't seen a slow down. I think I had only one 34 hour restart, which was my one day off at home.
Last year I ran most of November with my hometime a few days for T-day, and then I took a full week off (unpaid) in December and ran straight through New Years. I kept busy because everyone else was taking time off. The three paychecks I earned in December grossed me over $5200 and that was all system. If you are willing to run through the holidays you will become every dispatchers best friend in December and stay running. Just make sure you communicate with dispatch how long you want to run and that you don't have to be home.

 

So what you're saying is I am supposed to call inbound before they dispatch me, and tell them not to send me home? I never thought of that since I thought you just take the loads they give you. I don't like going out and being sent right back to the home terminal, especially after I just had 3 or 4 unwanted off days.

 

Yup, but keep in mind, if they want you on that load that's going to take you home you are stuck lol. Most of the dispatchers in terminals I frequent know that I like to stay running weeks on end. I don't normally have a return date for hometime, I've been out as long as 10 weeks without seeing the home terminal once.